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Murder on the Orient Express. By Agatha Christie Presented by Brooke Blair and Katie Brown. Body. Detective Hercule Poirot boards the Orient Express, only to find a messy murder mystery case awaits his attention.
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Murder on the Orient Express By Agatha Christie Presented by Brooke Blair and Katie Brown
Body • Detective Hercule Poirot boards the Orient Express, only to find a messy murder mystery case awaits his attention. • After interviewing all the passengers he discovers each has something to hide and a motive to kill Mr. Ratchett, aka Cassetti • By the time the Yugoslav police arrive Poirot has pinned down the murderer and closed the case for good.
Movie Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTYA01glGqo
Characters • Hector MacQueen, Ratchett’s secretary- (friend of the Armstrongs) • Edward Masterman, Ratchett’s valet- (Mr. Armstrong’s valet)
Samuel Ratchett – Cassetti (crime lord/kidnapper) • Pierre Michel, Conductor – (Nurse Susanne’s father) • Count and Countess Andreyi (Helena Armstrong, Mrs. Armstrong’s sister)
Characters • Mrs. Hubbard – (Linda Arden, Mrs. Armstrong’s mother) • Hildegarde Schmidt, maid to the princess – (cook for the Armstrongs)
Characters • Antonio Foscarelli- (The Armstrong’s chauffer) • Mary Debenham- (Daisy Armstrong’s governess)
Characters • Greta Ohlsson- (Daisy’s nurse) • Colonel Arbuthnot- (Mr. Armstrong’s best friend who saved his life in the war)
Characters • Princess Dragonmiroff- (good friend of Mrs. Armstrong) • Cyrus Hardman- (in love with Daisy Armstrong's nurse Susanne)
Our Favorite Part • Poirot discovers Countess Andreyi has altered her passport. She admits to her alias and her real identity as Helena Goldenberg. “No, Rudolph. Let me speak. It is useless to deny what the gentleman says…Her voice had changed. It still had the southern richness of tone, but it had become suddenly more clear cut and incisive. It was, for the first time, a definitely American voice… ‘I am Helena Goldenberg, the younger sister of Mrs. Armstrong’”(233).
CULTURE • Evident in the 1930’s satire writing style, including traditional eastern European characters like the Princess Dragomiroff • Foscarelli is accused by Poirot’s friend of being the murderer because he is Italian, (thus associated with the mob) • Europeans were very loyal to their countries and disliked all countries that weren’t there own
IDENTITY • Identity is an alias • Characters are actually characters in disguise. • Ex: Mrs. Hubbard acts as an overbearing mother, but in reality is the regal and somber Linda Arden
Message 12 passengers, 12 jury members • Mocks our modern jury system • Questions our sense of justice • Justice is perceived in the eyes of the judger
Recommendation YES • For someone who loves mystery, surprises, and suspense. • Amazingly detailed character development. • You’ll never be able to guess the murderer. • Fun escape from a boring summer day, transports you back in time.
Final Thoughts There is a fine line between what is just and what is unjust. What is your definition of justice?