

After one night, Poirot is later moved to Compartment 9.Īfter Ratchett's murder, Poirot's interview with MacQueen runs on the same lines as the novel. He had arranged to be alone in the lower berth of Compartment 4 but was surprised when Monsieur Bouc, the director of the line, insisted that Hercule Poirot shared the space as there was no other vacancy on board. MacQueen is among the few characters not introduced with the Armstrong Kidnapping scene but is only first seen when boarding the Orient Express with Ratchett. The portrayal is faithful to the original novel with some embellishments to his backstory. In the 1974 film, MacQueen is played by Anthony Perkins, an actor who was most famous for playing Norman Bates in the 1960 thriller Psycho. Portrayals Murder on the Orient Express (1974)Īnthony Perkins as MacQueen in the 1974 film. He also told Poirot that Ratchett had torn one up in a rage. He also showed Poirot "threatening letters" which he said Ratchett received. MacQueen told Poirot that since Ratchett did not know many languages, he sometimes acted more as a "courier" for his employer than as a secretary. MacQueen got the job as his secretary after the old secretary was fired. Ratchett had been staying in the same hotel and just had a row with his secretary.

Thereafter he supposedly spent the night talking with Colonel Arbuthnot.Īfter the murder of Ratchett, MacQueen told Poirot that he and some friends had come to the Middle-east to look into an oil concession but had failed badly. to take down a memoranda from Ratchett about some tiles and pottery purchased in Persia. However he was obliged to share the compartment with Poirot on the first night out of Istanbul because Monsieur Bouc, a director of the company had insisted that Poirot be accommodated.ĭuring the night of the Ratchett's murder, he had been summoned at about 10 p.m. He had booked as a single with a made-up booking for a fictitious "Mr Harris". Based on MacQueen's information, the group was able to board the same train as Ratchett to implement their plan to execute him enroute.ĭuring this journey MacQueen travelled in compartment 6-7 on the Calais coach. MacQueen's position gave him insight and control over the travel plans of his employer, who made frequent journeys between Europe and the Middle-east in pursuit of his art collecting hobby. Edward Masterman managed to gain employment as his valet and MacQueen became his secretary. Thereafter, other members of the group managed to infiltrate Ratchett's staff.

Another member of the group, the private detective Cyrus Hardman was assigned to find Cassetti who had by then the alias of Samuel Edward Ratchett. Linda Arden, Daisy's grandmother, gathered a group of interested parties for the purpose of avenging the crime and bringing the criminal to justice.
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MacQueen recalled that she was a lovely woman, "so gentle and heartbroken".Ī gangster named Cassetti was arrested and put on trial for the kidnap and murder of Daisy Armstrong but got off on a technicality because of his wealth and influence. Armstong more than once when his father met with the Armstrongs. MacQueen's father was the District Attorney in charge of the Armstrong case, advising the Armstrong family after the kidnap of Daisy Armstrong.

