History Fridge / MurderOnTheOrientExpress2017

** This also explains why they didn’t kill Poirot after killing Ratchett to prevent him from solving what happened, they were all unwilling to kill an innocent person even though there was a real chance he could figure out what happened and have them arrested.

** This also explains why they didn’t kill Poirot after killing Ratchett to prevent him from solving what happened, they were all unwilling to kill an innocent bystander even though there was a real chance he could figure out that some or all of them were responsible and have them arrested.

** This also explains why they all didn’t kill Poirot after killing Ratchett to prevent him from solving what happened, they were all unwilling to kill an innocent bystander even though there was a real chance he could figure out that some or all of them were responsible for Ratchett’s death and have them turned in.

** This also explains why they all didn’t kill Poirot after killing Ratchett, they were all unwilling to kill an innocent bystander even though there was a real chance he could figure out that some or all of them were responsible for Ratchett’s death and have them turned in.

* What happened to the captain who stole the priceless relic and tried to frame three holy men after the mob got him? Given that three groups of people were on the verge of a riot because of the accusations against their religious leader and Peroit pointed out that the captain set them up to fall for his crime, they may have killed him if the guards couldn’t rescue him in time.

* [=McQueen=] is revealed to have been stealing money from Ratchett for years since he has been employed by the man. Given how many people are involved in this conspiracy to kill him, it seems likely not all have the financial means to get to Istanbul for the trip. [=McQueen=] likely helped with some of them by using Ratchett's own money to help pay for their travel rather than one of the richer conspirators pay for things.

* Second time watching this, one notices Helena is ''not'' among the people who stabbed Casetti. When you think about it, this is understandable on three levels. First, it's established that poor Helena is ''afraid'' of Casetti, afraid of how he indirectly killed her sister Sonya. She's too frightened to face the man who keeps her up at night. Second, Count Andrenyi (who seemingly has no direct attachment to the Armstrongs other than their relationship to his wife) possibly came along because, given his protectiveness of Helena, he meant to stab Casetti on her behalf. Thirdly, even if she couldn't stab Casetti, she still played a role in the conspiracy with the kimono Hardman lent her.

* Sharp eyes will notice Poirot actually has ''two'' mustaches. This is a visual cue that Poirot hides his true self behind a facade.

* The suspects are also seated as a visual reference to Leonardo da Vinci's ''The Last Supper'', except there's ''12'' of them -- there's no Judas.
** Or there's no Jesus... and Linda Arden is sitting in Judas' position. Part of her despairing rant even notes that she considers the rest of the passengers good people who she inspired to do a bad act. Judas also realizes what he just did to Jesus and hanged himself; Linda Arden realizes the lengths she went through to get revenge and attempted to shoot herself.
** There's a Jesus. It's Poirot, passing judgment on the suspects, (or at least attempting to) acting as the voice of the other person who knows the truth - "[their] God".
* The SecretTestOfCharacter is how Poirot resolved his ToBeLawfulOrGood dilemma. Had someone attempted to shoot him, he'd have turned them in. Not only did no one try to kill him, Linda Arden proved she was willing to pay the ultimate price, proving to Poirot they understood the depths of their crime. Additionally, it proved that even though they killed Casetti, they were unwilling to commit another murder, even if the fate of them all depended on it. The fact that they all, to a man, shouted, "No!" when Linda turned the gun on herself also counted. This showed Poirot that they were still good people, whose moral sense had not been compromised.

* Why does everyone seem so suspicious of everyone else? It's not because they think one of them's a murderer. It's because they think one of them might crack and expose what they've all done to Poirot.
** Similarly, why they all stare suspiciously at [=MacQueen=] when he comes back from his first interview with Poirot; they likely suspect that he's the most probable weak link.

* [=MacQueen=] is shocked and dismayed Poirot is bunking with him because it's probable a 13th conspirator was going to be there instead of him.
** Actually, there ''was'' a 13th passenger with a reservation (one Mr Harris) who never made it in time, and whose seat was then assigned last minute to Poirot. This man was nothing but a name, a way to ensure all the carriage was booked by the conspirators and Ratchett and thus no outsider would interfere nor be affected by the murder. The reason why [=MacQueen=] is taken aback by Poirot's presence on the train is because no one was ''supposed'' to be there in the first place.
** And also because it throws a spanner into the plan; even if [=MacQueen=] isn't aware that he's now bunking with the greatest detective in the world, it's nevertheless someone else who could throw everything out of order.

* When his identity is revealed, Hardman makes a point of apologising to Poirot and his fellow investigators for the bigoted comments about race he made in his undercover identity, even though the person he made them towards and regarding -- Dr. Arbuthnot -- is not present. Of course, since Arbuthnot actually knows and is working with Hardman, Arbuthnot is probably well aware that Hardman was just acting and is not actually a racist, and so no apology to him is likely needed. The apology was so that ''Poirot'' would not be left with the wrong idea.

** Actually, there ''was'' a 13th passanger with a reservation (one Mr Harris) who never made it in time, and whose seat was then assigned last minute to Poirot. This man was nothing but a name, a way to ensure all the carriage was booked by the conspirators and Ratchett and thus no outsider would interfere nor be affected by the murder. The reason why [=MacAueen=] is taken aback by Poirot's presence on the train is because no one was ''supposed'' to be there in the first place.

* Pilar claims she's a light sleeper. As proven in the flashback, the reason she became a light sleeper is that the last time she dozed off, she lost her charge Daisy.

* The beginning of the movie mirrors the story. A guilty party hires Poirot thinking they won't solve the case, yet he ''does''.
** Not quite, since the person who both gets Poirot aboard the train and then asks him to solve the case is Bouc, who is innocent.

* When refusing to protect Ratchett, Poirot makes a point that he got himself in trouble for getting mixed up with the wrong people. He's not too far off the mark. But ironically, the kind of people Ratchett's in trouble with aren't gangsters. On the contrary, ''he himself'' is a gangster, and the people he's in trouble with all happen to be ''non-gangsters''.

** Or there's no Jesus... [[spoiler:and Linda Arden is sitting in Judas' position. Part of her despairing rant even notes that she considers the rest of the passengers good people who she inspired to do a bad act. Judas also realizes what he just did to Jesus and hanged himself; Linda Arden realizes the lengths she went through to get revenge and attempted to shoot herself.]]
** There's a Jesus. [[spoiler: It's Poirot, passing judgment on the suspects, (or at least attempting to) acting as the voice of the other person who knows the truth - "[their] God".]]
* The SecretTestOfCharacter is how Poirot resolved his ToBeLawfulOrGood dilemma. Had someone attempted to shoot him, he'd have turned them in. Not only did no one try to kill him, Linda Arden proved she was willing to pay the ultimate price, proving to Poirot they understood the depths of their crime. Additionally, it proved that even though they killed Casetti, they were unwilling to commit another murder, even if the fate of them all depended on it. The fact that they all, to a man, shouted, "No!" when [[spoiler: Linda turned the gun on herself]] also counted. This showed Poirot that they were still good people, whose moral sense had not been compromised.

* Poirot steps in camel excrement in the beginning of the film. While most people would realize it was disgusting, Poirot only notices how things are out of balance and steps in the poop with his other foot and is satisfied despite both of his shoes being dirtied and ruined. [[spoiler:At the end of the film, Poirot does the reverse: he steps into a situation that is out of balance with a crime committed, but is forced to notice how messy and uncomfortable the situation is and ends with choosing a solution that cleans up the situation instead of restoring balance.]]
* [[spoiler:Poirot is upset by the lack of balance at the solution of the case: people committed murder by revenge and a definite crime, but Casetti was bad enough the passenger's morals are still higher. He also hates having to live with himself at letting the murderers go. But a balance is still in place in a way: both sides have to live with a decision that will torment them and both have thus received punishment for their actions.]]

** There's a Jesus. [[spoiler: It's Poirot, passing judgment on the suspects, acting as the voice of the other person who knows the truth - "[their] God".]]
* The SecretTestOfCharacter is how Poirot resolved his ToBeLawfulOrGood dilemma. Had someone attempted to shoot him, he'd have turned them in. Not only did no one try to kill him, Linda Arden proved she was willing to pay the ultimate price, proving to Poirot they understood the depths of their crime. Additionally, it proved that even though they killed Casetti, they were unwilling to commit another murder, even if the fate of them all depended on it. The fact that they all, to a man, shouted, "No!" when [[spoiler: Linda turned the gun on herself.]] also counted. This showed Poirot that they were still good people, whose moral sense had not been compromised.

* The SecretTestOfCharacter is how Poirot resolved his ToBeLawfulOrGood dilemma. Had someone attempted to shoot him, he'd have turned them in. Not only did no one try to kill him, Linda Arden proved she was willing to pay the ultimate price, proving to Poirot they understood the depths of their crime. Additionally, it proved that even though they killed Casetti, they were unwilling to commit another murder, even if the fate of them all depended on it. This showed Poirot that they were still good people, whose moral sense had not been compromised.

* Poirot steps in camel excrement in the beginning of the film. While most people would realize it was disgusting, Poirot only notices how things are out of balance and steps in the poop with his other foot and is satisfied despite both of his shoes being dirtied and ruined. At the end of the film, Poirot does the reverse: he notices a situation is out of balance and a crime committed, but is forced to notice how messy and uncomfortable the situation is [[spoiler:and ends with choosing a situation that cleans up the situation instead of restoring balance.]]

** Similarly, why they all stare suspiciously at [=McQueen=] when he comes back from his first interview with Poirot; they likely suspect that he's the most probable weak link.

* [=McQueen=] is shocked and dismayed Poirot is bunking with him because it's probable a 13th conspirator was going to be there instead of him.
** Actually, there ''was'' a 13th passanger with a reservation (one Mr Harris) who never made it in time, and whose seat was then assigned last minute to Poirot. This man was nothing but a name, a way to ensure all the carriage was booked by the conspirators and Ratchett and thus no outsider would interfere nor be affected by the murder. The reason why [=McQueen=] is taken aback by Poirot's presence on the train is because no one was ''supposed'' to be there in the first place.
** And also because it throws a spanner into the plan; even if [=McQueen=] isn't aware that he's now bunking with the greatest detective in the world, it's nevertheless someone else who could throw everything out of order.