Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

Movie Time: 127 minutes

1. INCITING INCIDENT

Detective Hercule Poirot (Albert Finney) is looking for a way back to England but the Orient Express is unusually filled to capacity. Poirot's friend Bianchi (Martin Balsam), who owns the train line, offers him a spot. (00:16:15)

2. LOCK IN (End of Act One)

Shortly after the departure of the train, Poirot meets Ratchett (Richard Widmark), a wealthy American businessman who offers him a great sum of money for a job. Poirot declines as he claims he has no need for his money and little interest in the job. The next morning Poirot discovers that Ratchett had been murdered the night before. (00:37:18)

3. FIRST CULMINATION (Midpoint)

With the train stuck in the Balkans due to heavy snow, Poirot decides to interrogate the suspects one by one. (00:50:17)

4. MAIN CULMINATION (End of Act Two)

After interrogating the suspects and coming to a conclusion, Poirot gathers everyone in the train car to explain his theories about the murder. He explains that the simple explanation is that the murder was mafia related and the suspect has fled the train. (01:34:44)

5. THIRD ACT TWIST

Poirot mentions that there is another, more complicated explanation of the murder. He has realized that all of the suspects have a motive for murdering Ratchett since all of them are related in a way to the Armstrong kidnapping, which was orchestrated by Ratchett. Poirot explains in detail the events that led him to believe that all twelve of the suspects were involved. (01:50:56)