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Director Sydney Lumet (12 Angry Men, Network) takes on Agatha Christie and delivers a light-hearted soufflé of a murder mystery. I always tend to enjoy ensemble films within a claustrophobic setting, so being trapped on the Orient Express during a blizzard with Lumet’s star-studded cast was a real treat. Albert Finney headlines the venerable collection of stage and screen actors as Christie’s famous detective Hercule Poirot. Lauren Bacall is put to terrific use as a loud-mouthed actress, Wendy Hiller is delightfully wicked as a Russian princess, and Ingrid Bergman puts in a surprising, Oscar-winning turn as an anxious zealot. The rest of the players include Sean Connery, John Gielgud, Vanessa Redgrave, Jacqueline Bisset, Martin Balsam, Michael York, and Anthony Perkins.

Academy Award: Best Supporting Actress (Ingrid Bergman)

Oscar Nominations: Best Actor (Albert Finney), Best Cinematography, Best Score, Best Costume Design, and Best Adapted Screenplay