Whose seat did Hercules Poirot take?
I just saw the new version of Murder on the Orient Express. At the very beginning of the film, Hercules Poirot manages to get a seat on the train because someone did not check in on time. Near the end of the film we learn that
all of the passengers on the train knew each other and were gathering to kill Cassetti.
It would then make sense that the missing passenger was also a member of this group. This would also explain why MacQueen seemed so surprised by Poirot's arrival.
Do we know who this missing person was, either from the book, previous film, or interviews?
Best Answer
In most versions of Murder on the Orient Express, a director of the train train company (M. Bouc) gives up his 1st class accomodation to Hercule Poirot as he is alighting in Italy.
The wikipedia entry for this movie does not explicity cover this but when combined with the entry for the novel it seems clear.
Receiving a telegram from London about an impending case, Poirot must return home, with Bouc offering him a place onboard the fully booked Express.
On the second night of the journey, as he is only travelling to Italy, M. Bouc gives up his first class-compartment to Poirot, who is going to Calais. This gives Poirot the compartment next to Mr. Ratchett.
In the novel a "A.M.Harris" is listed but does not arrive.
“No. 7 berth—a second-class. The gentleman has not yet come, and it is four minutes to nine.”
“Who is it?”
“An Englishman,” the conductor consulted his list. “A M. Harris.”
“A name of good omen,” said Poirot. “I read my Dickens. M. Harris he will not arrive.”
“Put Monsieur’s luggage in No. 7,” said M. Bouc. “If this M. Harris arrives we will tell him that he is too late—that berths cannot be retained so long—we will arrange the matter one way or another. What do I care for a M. Harris?”
From the novel it seems that Harris was, in fact, non-existent. MacQueen attempts to protest when Poirot is assigned the compartment but the conductor is forced to confirm....
Poirot noticed the apology in his tone with some amusement. Doubtless the man had been promised a good tip if he could keep the compartment for the sole use of the other traveller. However, even the most munificent of tips lose their effect when a Director of the Company is on board and issues his orders.
Pictures about "Whose seat did Hercules Poirot take?"
Who are the passengers with Poirot on the first train?
Hercule Poirot, private detective and retired Belgian police officer, boards the Taurus Express train to Stamboul (Istanbul). On the train there are two other passengers, Mary Debenham and Colonel Arbuthnot.What berth is Poirot assigned to?
M.O.T.E.QuestionAnswerWhat berth is Poirot assigned to? Who is his roommate?Compartment No. 7, and his roommate is MacQueen.After Bouc and Mr. Ratchett's travelling companion leave the dining car, which passenger approaches Poirot?M. Ratchett32 more rowsWho is M Bouc How does he know Poirot?
M. Bouc is a something of a big shot at the train company that runs the Orient Express, and he's an old friend of Poirot's. He is Poirot's companion and sidekick during the investigation, a type you'll often see in detective fiction \u2013 he's kind of like Sherlock Holmes' Watson.Who was the killer on the Orient Express book?
Here's the big spoiler: they all did it! Murder on the Orient Express is the participation trophy murder. Everyone got a stab. You see, "Ratchett" is actually Lenfranco Cassetti, a man who kidnapped and murdered an American toddler named Daisy Armstrong.Poirot: Nyaraló gyilkosok (S08.E01)
More answers regarding whose seat did Hercules Poirot take?
Answer 2
Christie was a voracious reader and enjoyed Dickens. In the book MOTOE, Poirot says "M. Harris will not arrive. I read my Dickens." The implication is that Harris is like Mrs. Harris in "Martin Chuzzlewit," a made-up character, and Poirot has intuited this person is not real because he is a reader of Dickens. Of course This is Christie giving us a clue. It was a fake booking to ensure the train was only filled with Ratchett, our victim, and the murderers.
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