PLOT
Hercule Poirot, the famous Belgian detective, looks forward to taking a break from his work after solving a theft in Jerusalem. Travelling to Istanbul, Poirot meets his friend Bouc, director of the Orient Express. Receiving a telegram from London about an impending case, Poirot must return home, Bouc offering him a place on-board the Express. Poirot has to share a compartment in the fully booked train, but gains his own on the second night.
Poirot is approached by Samuel Ratchet, an unpleasant American businessman, to act as his bodyguard during the three-day journey, having received threatening letters from an unknown party. That night, Poirot hears strange noises coming from Ratchet's compartment, and witnesses a woman in a red kimono running down the hallway. An avalanche occurs, causing the train to derail, stranding the passengers.
The next morning, Poirot learns Ratchet was murdered the previous night, stabbed twelve times. Poirot and Bouc investigate the murder, the latter not among the suspects, having slept in another carriage. Evidence indicates that Ratchet was murdered by a lone man, with one passenger, Mrs Hubbard, claiming that a man was in her room during the night. Poirot discovers a partially destroyed note, connecting Ratchet to the kidnapping and murder of Daisy Armstrong. Ratchet is identified as John Cassetti, Daisy's murderer, her death leading to her mother Sonia dying of premature child labour, and her father, colonel Armstrong, committing suicide shortly after. The family's innocent nursemaid was arrested, but hung herself whilst in police custody.
More evidence is found, including a bloodstained handkerchief with the letter 'H' on it, and the button of a conductor's uniform found in Mrs. Hubbard's compartment. The uniform is later found, as is the kimono, discovered in poirot's own suitcase. Mrs Hubbard is stabbed in the back, but survives, unable to identify the culprit. Through interviews, Poirot discovers several of the passengers have direct connections to the Armstrong family. Whilst interviewing governess Mary Debenham, Poirot is confronted by Dr. Arbuthnot, claiming responsibility for the murder. Arbuthnot tries to shoot Poirot, misses, and then flees. Poirot realizes Arbuthnot never meant to kill him.
Poirot assembles all the suspects outside the train, offering two theories to how Ratchet died. The first is simple, Poirot concluding that an assassin disguised as a conductor snuck on the train, murdered Ratchet and fled. However, the second is more complex. Every suspect is related to the Armstrong's and the subsequent trial in some way, including the conductor Pierre Michele, and all stabbed Ratchett during the night in an act of justice. The evidence was planted by the passengers to convince Poirot of the lone killer theory. Poirot challenges the passengers to shoot him, since he is the only one who can expose their plot. Mrs Hubbard, actually Daisy's grandmother Linda Arden, grabs the gun but instead tries to take her own life. The gun proves to be unloaded, Poirot wishing to see how the suspects would react.
During this time, the Express is fixed by a rescue team. Poirot concludes that there is no justice to be found in the case, and Ratchet deserved his fate. He presents his first theory to the Yugoslavian police as the correct one, allowing the passengers to leave. Poirot disembarks from the train only to be approached by a messenger, learning about a death upon the Nile, and is asked to investigate it. Poirot takes on the case as the Orient Express departs.
The next morning, Poirot learns Ratchet was murdered the previous night, stabbed twelve times. Poirot and Bouc investigate the murder, the latter not among the suspects, having slept in another carriage. Evidence indicates that Ratchet was murdered by a lone man, with one passenger, Mrs Hubbard, claiming that a man was in her room during the night. Poirot discovers a partially destroyed note, connecting Ratchet to the kidnapping and murder of Daisy Armstrong. Ratchet is identified as John Cassetti, Daisy's murderer, her death leading to her mother Sonia dying of premature child labour, and her father, colonel Armstrong, committing suicide shortly after. The family's innocent nursemaid was arrested, but hung herself whilst in police custody.
More evidence is found, including a bloodstained handkerchief with the letter 'H' on it, and the button of a conductor's uniform found in Mrs. Hubbard's compartment. The uniform is later found, as is the kimono, discovered in poirot's own suitcase. Mrs Hubbard is stabbed in the back, but survives, unable to identify the culprit. Through interviews, Poirot discovers several of the passengers have direct connections to the Armstrong family. Whilst interviewing governess Mary Debenham, Poirot is confronted by Dr. Arbuthnot, claiming responsibility for the murder. Arbuthnot tries to shoot Poirot, misses, and then flees. Poirot realizes Arbuthnot never meant to kill him.
Poirot assembles all the suspects outside the train, offering two theories to how Ratchet died. The first is simple, Poirot concluding that an assassin disguised as a conductor snuck on the train, murdered Ratchet and fled. However, the second is more complex. Every suspect is related to the Armstrong's and the subsequent trial in some way, including the conductor Pierre Michele, and all stabbed Ratchett during the night in an act of justice. The evidence was planted by the passengers to convince Poirot of the lone killer theory. Poirot challenges the passengers to shoot him, since he is the only one who can expose their plot. Mrs Hubbard, actually Daisy's grandmother Linda Arden, grabs the gun but instead tries to take her own life. The gun proves to be unloaded, Poirot wishing to see how the suspects would react.
During this time, the Express is fixed by a rescue team. Poirot concludes that there is no justice to be found in the case, and Ratchet deserved his fate. He presents his first theory to the Yugoslavian police as the correct one, allowing the passengers to leave. Poirot disembarks from the train only to be approached by a messenger, learning about a death upon the Nile, and is asked to investigate it. Poirot takes on the case as the Orient Express departs.
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