There's too many of these self-conscious references (to air travel, the internet, VCRs, taking the Express out of mothballs, Ross Perot) and they become annoying. The topical references that acknowledge the world has changed since the thirties really achieve naught, except perhaps alleviating some writers fear that the material is passé. For this retelling, a decision was made to update the material to the contemporary era. Rare for a murder mystery, the unfolding of the solution provides a startling, satisfying emotional payload. But still, despite those limitations, there is much pleasure in the earlier version the wordless flashback prologue of a kidnapping is beautifully done. This prevented it from being a very deep film, and Sidney Lumet is really only a workmanlike filmmaker.
Obligations to the all-star cast caused most of the problems, as the writers and editors jockeyed to give everyone an equitable amount of screen time, an actorly moment and some close-ups. The 1974 movie of this book was a mixed bag.
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