Orient Express: Stuck on a Train with People You'd Rather Avoid

Is it worth the ticket?

If you have a thing for old black-and-white dramas where everyone is constantly smoking and looking out windows with profound sadness, you’ll probably find something to like here. If you need pacing that feels like it wasn't filmed in the Stone Age, you might want to skip it. It's not for the action crowd, and it certainly isn't for people who need a neat, happy ending tied up with a bow.

There is something about the *Orient Express* that just feels heavy. It’s not just the train; it’s the way the characters look at each other like they’re waiting for the other person to drop their mask.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Orient Express (1934) through its definitive frames.

I found myself staring at the background extras more than the leads. There’s a guy in the third car who looks like he forgot why he was even on set. It’s honestly the most relatable part of the whole production.

The story tries to juggle a Jewish businessman, a chorus girl, and a communist all in one go. Sometimes the dialogue feels like it’s being shouted through a megaphone from across the platform. It’s not subtle. Then again, who goes to a movie like this for subtlety?

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Orient Express (1934) through its definitive frames.

Some random thoughts while watching:

• The lighting in the dining car makes everyone look like they’re about to confess to a murder.
• I’m still not sure what the journalist was actually writing down half the time.
• The train whistles are louder than the actual plot points.
• If you liked the vibe in The Bat Whispers, you might appreciate the shadows here, even if the stakes feel lower.

It’s funny how movies from this era handle 'dramatic tension.' They just have people stand really close to each other and talk fast. It works, I guess? But sometimes I wanted someone to just yell or throw a drink. It’s all very polite misery.

The middle section drags quite a bit. I think I checked my phone twice. It’s one of those films that really wants you to know it’s *important* because it’s based on a book. We get it. You have literature.

Still, there’s a weird, rainy atmosphere that sticks with you. It feels like a precursor to the stuff you see in Closed Doors—that same sense of being trapped in a room with your own bad decisions. 🚂

Don't expect a masterpiece. Expect a long ride with some people you'd probably avoid at a party. It's imperfect, a little bit dated, and honestly, kind of exhausting. Just like a real train trip.