Murder on the Orient Express 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

Kino Lorber’s 4K UHD Blu-ray release of Murder on the Orient Express offers a highly impressive visual experience, despite the challenges posed by Geoffrey Unsworth’s use of diffusion filters and unique cinematographic style. The native 4K restoration is sourced directly from the original camera negative and features both Dolby Vision and HDR10 grading. The result is a presentation that adheres to the film's intended aesthetic while offering significant upgrades in clarity and color balance over previous releases. The aspect ratio remains faithfully presented at 1.85:1, ensuring a pristine transfer devoid of dirt or dust. The 100GB disc leverages HEVC/AVC codecs, maintaining a bitrate between 50 and 75Mbps. While improvements in sharpness are evident, the pervasive film grain, intended to retain the film's original look, is managed artfully, providing a clean and organic vision.

Despite the inherent softness due to diffusion, the new restoration pleasantly enhances contrast and detail without compromising the film’s original ambiance. Previous shortcomings from older releases, such as color inconsistencies and black crush in shadowed scenes, have been effectively addressed. Colors throughout are more balanced, eliminating previous inaccuracies like undesired pink hues, particularly noticeable in skin tones. The Dolby Vision grade complements the stylized visuals by enhancing specular highlights and ensuring shadows are well-managed, although it does not dramatically alter the overall color dynamics compared to its predecessors. Textures in production design are more pronounced, offering an enriched visual experience without dampening the nostalgic aesthetic Unsworth crafted.

Overall, this release provides the most compelling video presentation to date for Murder on the Orient Express on home video, skillfully preserving its artistic integrity while delivering contemporary visual upgrades. While minor encoding optimizations could enhance darker sequences further, the transfer stands out as an enduring testament to the film’s visual grandeur.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of Murder on the Orient Express presents audio through English DTS-HD Master Audio tracks in both 5.1 Surround and 2.0 Stereo configurations, accompanied by optional English SDH subtitles. The 5.1 track excels in creating an immersive auditory environment, utilizing dynamic contrasts and deep bass to enhance the film’s period atmosphere. Dialogue remains consistently clear, primarily centered for easy comprehension. The soundscape effectively incorporates environmental sounds and Richard Rodney Bennett’s evocative score, with audio effects expertly channelled through Front/Center and surround channels, enveloping the listener in the tight quarters setting of the film.

The 2.0 Stereo track offers a surprisingly robust experience, sounding marginally louder than its 5.1 counterpart. While some might perceive it as a mix-down, the stereo presentation is handled with noticeable care and attention to detail, ensuring that dialogue and music remain rich and expressive. Despite a minor dropout noted at 45:33, it mostly maintains an impeccable fidelity without anomalies, serving as a solid listening option. However, it lacks the multi-channel depth of the original mono track, which some purists might miss.

In summary, although the omission of the original theatrical mono mix can disappoint dedicated audiophiles, this release’s DTS-HD Master Audio offerings present a refined and engaging auditory experience. The carefully crafted sound design significantly enhances the viewing experience, making the 5.1 mix particularly recommended for an enveloping cinematic encounter. Both tracks deliver clear dialogues and luscious support to the film's score and sound effects, catering effectively to differing audio preferences.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray edition of "Murder on the Orient Express" offers a comprehensive array of extras that enrich the viewing experience through archival and contemporary insights. Highlighting these features is a meticulously crafted audio commentary by film historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson, which provides an in-depth analysis of the film's production, historical context, and significance within Sidney Lumet's oeuvre. The disc also includes a compelling four-part documentary, "Making Murder on the Orient Express," presenting interviews with luminaries such as director Sidney Lumet and stars including Sean Connery. Additionally, an exclusive interview with producer Richard Goodwin offers revealing anecdotes about the film's production challenges and successes. Notably, a touching featurette, "Agatha Christie: A Portrait," presents Mathew Prichard discussing his grandmother's legacy. Collectively, these extras offer an engaging and scholarly exploration of this cinematic classic.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Insightful discussion by Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson.
• Agatha Christie: A Portrait: Mathew Prichard discusses his grandmother’s legacy.
• Making Murder on the Orient Express: Four-part documentary on the making of the film.
• Interview with Producer Richard Goodwin: Behind-the-scenes recollections by Richard Goodwin.
• Trailer: Vintage U.S. trailer for the film.

Sidney Lumet's 1974 adaptation of "Murder on the Orient Express" is a distinguished entry in the Agatha Christie film adaptation landscape. With its opulent production design and an all-star international cast, it established a new benchmark for Christie adaptations. The film is shot in color, departing from the traditionally modest black-and-white Christie productions, and became a box-office sensation. Geoffrey Unsworth's warm, soft cinematography and Tony Walton’s intricate period-evocative sets and costumes amplify the film's nostalgic allure. Richard Rodney Bennett's orchestral score further enriches the atmospheric tension.

Albert Finney's portrayal of Poirot is eccentric yet compelling, standing in sharp contrast to portrayals by David Suchet and Peter Ustinov. Finney masterfully oscillates between irritable introspection and commanding presence, supported by finely-tuned performances from a constellation of stars like Lauren Bacall, Sean Connery, Ingrid Bergman, and Vanessa Redgrave. Bergman’s Oscar-winning portrayal is notably well-executed, embodying a humor that punctuates the suspenseful narrative. Director Lumet balances these heavyweight personalities with agility, allowing each actor to craft nuanced characterizations that engage despite an overcrowded ensemble.

Distilling Christie's complex narrative into a tightly scripted film, screenwriter Paul Dehn achieves an impressive narrative arc. The film's plot, beginning with impactful flashbacks illustrating Daisy Armstrong's kidnapping, gradually evolves on the luxurious Orient Express, culminating in Poirot's incisively penned resolutions. Lumet’s direction embraces the cerebral essence of the whodunit genre, creating a claustrophobic tension that mirrors the train's narrow confines. Although contemporary audiences might crave faster edits and action, Lumet’s methodical pacing imports a classic charm aligning with Christie's original intent. The meticulous interplay of humor, drama, and intrigue secures "Murder on the Orient Express" as both a cinematic treasure and a faithful testament to Agatha Christie's storytelling prowess.

Kino Lorber's 4K UHD release of the 1974 classic "Murder on the Orient Express," directed by Sidney Lumet, is a must-have for any cinephile. This new 4K restoration executed by Paramount offers the highest quality presentation of the film yet, uncovering the refined intricacies of its celebrated production design. The UHD version boasts an exquisite visual enhancement with sharper details and more vibrant colors that surpass its already excellent Blu-ray predecessor. Cinematography enthusiasts will be pleased to see the luxurious period detail and stylistic touches rendered with great fidelity. Audio options are robust, providing a deeply immersive experience that complements the film's intricate plot.

The performances, particularly Albert Finney's portrayal of Hercule Poirot, remain a highlight. Despite some criticisms of his transformation into the Belgian detective, Finney's Oscar-nominated turn leads an iconic ensemble cast, alongside Ingrid Bergman's Oscar-winning performance. The screenplay is a testament to Agatha Christie's storytelling prowess, making "Murder on the Orient Express" one of the finest mystery films ever made. The UHD release is further enhanced by a rich array of supplemental materials, including both new and archival extras that delve into the production's storied history.

In conclusion, while some may debate the necessity of upgrading from Blu-ray to 4K given the similar quality, this release stands out as a definitive edition for its visual and auditory improvements. Kino Lorber has succeeded in renewing a classic film for modern audiences without sacrificing its original charm and detail. Whether you’re revisiting an old favorite or discovering it for the first time, this release is highly recommended for fans of Agatha Christie and classic cinema alike.