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John Brabourne and Murder On The Orient Express

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100 Years of Elstree Studios - Part Fifteen

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With his familial links to Prince Philip through his marriage to Earl Mountbatten's eldest daughter, it is no wonder John Knatchbull, Baron Brabourne, brought Princes Charles and Edward to the set of Murder On The Orient Express in 1973. His professional name was John Brabourne and he was a very successful film and TV producer. He had two Oscar nominations for producer for Romeo And Juliet and A Passage To India, and was chairman of Thames Television at one stage. 

Agatha Christie was not happy with previous film adaptations of her novels, and it took Brabourne and Mountbatten to persuade her reluctantly to agree to this production. She did later say that Albert Finney was her Poirot, apart from his too-small moustache.

The interior scenes were shot at Elstree Studios, directed by Sidney Lumet and photographed by Geoffrey Unsworth. The film was hugely successful in the States with its all-star cast. And Mountbatten, Charles and Edward and Brabourne spent a day in 1973 visiting the filming. Unfortunately we haven't come across any photos yet, but we are still looking.