When justice fails, does a detective have the moral right to lie?
In short: In Kenneth Branagh's 2017 adaptation of Agatha Christie's classic, Hercule Poirot faces an impossible dilemma. After solving a murder on a snowbound train, he discovers the victim was a child killer who escaped the law. Poirot must choose between his rigid commitment to the truth and a deeper sense of justice.
The 2017 production of Murder on the Orient Express, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh, reimagines the 1934 novel for a modern audience. The narrative follows Poirot as he investigates the death of Edward Ratchett, a businessman revealed to be John Cassetti, the man responsible for the kidnapping and murder of the infant Daisy Armstrong. This tragedy had previously triggered a cascade of suicides among the Armstrong family and their staff, leaving a trail of grief that eventually brought the suspects together on the Orient Express.
The film's climax reveals that the passengers were not random travelers but a coordinated group of individuals connected to the Armstrong family, each playing a role in the murder of Cassetti. Poirot uncovers their identities through meticulous interrogation, identifying figures like the former actress Linda Arden, posing as Caroline Hubbard, and various former employees and friends of the Armstrongs. The suspects had collectively decided to execute the man who had evaded legal punishment for his heinous crimes.
Faced with this moral quandary, Poirot tests the suspects' characters by offering them a chance to kill him, ultimately realizing that the law is insufficient in this specific case. He chooses to present a false theory to the authorities, allowing the passengers to escape justice for their vigilante act. This decision marks a significant departure for the detective, who must reconcile his professional duty with the realization that some crimes are beyond the reach of the legal system. The film concludes with Poirot accepting a new case, leaving behind the weight of his first moral compromise.
Beyond the narrative, the production itself was notable for its technical ambition. It was one of the few films in recent decades to be shot using 65 mm cameras, a choice that required a meticulously crafted, full-scale prop train. This attention to detail extended to the cast, which featured an ensemble of high-profile actors, and the inclusion of an original song, 'Never Forget,' which Branagh felt provided the necessary emotional reflection for the finale.
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