WHO’S WHO ON BRANAGH’S ORIENT REMAKE
NOW Michelle Pfeiffer THEN Lauren Bacall, right Now 59, Pfeiffer is the perfect age to play the serial widow. She and Bacall share the glacial glamour the role demands. To her right is the conductor, played by Marwan Kenzari. 04 06 05 WITH 13 suspects trapped on a train with a dead body and famous detective Hercule Poirot, Murder on the Orient Express is an audacious whodunit.
The first film version, made in 1974, was a grand affair featuring the top talent of the day.
Now, as well as directing the film, Kenneth Branagh has cast himself as the Belgian sleuth.
The original was nominated for six Oscars, with Ingrid Bergman the only winner. How does Branagh’s cast compare to the original line-up? BEDDOES NOW Derek Jacobi THEN John Gielgud, right Playing the butler demands a theatrical legend but Jacobi and Gielgud are the outstanding talents of their respective ages. The character’s name has been changed from Beddoes to Edward Masterman. 11 07 06 NOW Kenneth Branagh THEN Albert Finney, left Director Branagh also takes on the iconic facial hair of the famous Belgian detective. Finney was nominated for an Oscar for his performance. NOW Leslie Odom Jr THEN Sean Connery, right This could be a breakthrough role for Odom, who is a Broadway musical star rather than a stage actor. Post-Bond, Connery was already a huge name in 1974. 07 08 08 11 PILAR ESTRAVADOS/GRETA NOW Penélope Cruz THEN Ingrid Bergman, right In 1947, director Sidney Lumet wanted Bergman to play Princess Dragomiroff but she was desperate for the role of timid missionary Greta. Cruz’s character has a different name but the same role. 09 09 10 10 NOW Johnny Depp THEN Richard Widmark, above Captain Jack Sparrow has traded in his tricorn and pigtails for a sharp suit. Noir star Widmark brought a similar raffish charm to the role in 1974.