Lecture on "Murder on the Orient Express" Film Adaptations

Introduction

Speaker: Danny Boyd
Event: Cinema Sticks
Topic: Film adaptations of "Murder on the Orient Express" by Sidney Lumet (1974) and Kenneth Branagh (2017)

Director: Sidney Lumet, prominent figure in American new wave cinema
Key Scene: Five-minute long, single shot without cuts
Actress: Ingrid Bergman won an Academy Award for her role, with one of the briefest Oscar-winning performances
Style and Technique:
- Focus on editing, staging, and camera work
- Observational style, allowing audience to engage with the scene
- Emphasis on characters and their circumstances
- Creates a sense of claustrophobia by focusing on the compactness of the train setting
Character Introductions:
- Introduced sequentially, in the same location, giving each character ample screen time
- Pierre, the conductor, acts as a connecting thread among characters
Interrogation Sequence:
- Suspects presented in sequence, with equal time to explain their stories
- Long, complete shots provide audience with full information
Summation Scene:
- 30-minute monologue with limited cutting
- Use of dual shooting technique to present key lines in different styles
- Allows viewers to reconsider information under a new lens

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Style and Technique:
- Dynamic, kinetic, and larger scale
- More cuts and varied shots compared to Lumet’s version
- Frequent changes of environment, sacrificing some smaller details
Character Introductions:
- Introduced quickly with forward momentum
- Less time spent on individual characters
Interrogation Sequence:
- Edited in parallel, with some questions left unanswered
- Information presentation is abbreviated or obscured
Summation Scene:
- Takes place off the train
- Typical shot-reverse-shot technique
- Focuses on directing viewer's attention

Differences:
- Lumet’s film is simpler, focusing on plot, performances, and viewer engagement
- Branagh’s film is more modern and dynamic, appealing to a wider audience
Conclusion:
- Original adaptation is more confident and faithful to Agatha Christie’s tradition
- Offers viewers more control over engagement with the plot

Danny Boyd highlights the importance of simplicity and faithfulness to source material
Sponsorship Mention: MUBI, a streaming service offering curated films
- Recommendation: "The Last Picture Show" from the same generation as Lumet's films

Danny Boyd encourages viewers to explore more films and offers a MUBI trial at a dedicated link.