I have just read an announcement that took my mind back 42 years to a set visit at Elstree Studios. I understand Kenneth Branagh is to direct and star in a remake of Murder On The Orient Express, with himself taking on the role of the master sleuth Hercule Poirot. The all-star cast will include Judi Dench, Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer to name just a few.

I dread to think what the film will cost when you consider the original was made at Elstree Studios for less than two million pounds. The 1974 version has fond memories for me for two reasons.

As a young writer I was able to visit the set and interview the legendary Hollywood multi Oscar winner Ingrid Bergman as she sat knitting between takes. In fact Ingrid went on to win another Oscar for her role in the film, although personally I could not understand why - but the Academy Awards are always a mystery.

I had an enjoyable chat with Miss Bergman mainly because we talked about the films she had made in Borehamwood in the 1950s, about which she was seldom asked. They included another Oscar-winning performance in Anastasia, which relaunched her film career after a personal scandal. Ingrid requested we did not concentrate on Casablanca as everybody asked her about it. She told me: "It was not a favourite of mine. Bogart was in a poor mood much of the time and they were still rewriting the script during shooting, which does not help you create your character. For instance, at the finale was I supposed to stay with my husband or go with Rick. "

The second reason is when I was helping show Prince Charles around Elstree Studios in 1999, when he accepted the invitation to open the two new sound stages, the film came into our conversation. He told me: "The last time I was here was a private visit with Earl Mountbatten to the set of Murder On The Orient Express."

The cast of the original was star studded to say the least. Albert Finney played Poirot and thankfully is still with us aged 80, although he has not made a film in recent years.

Alas, most of the other stars have since gone to that great studio in the sky, although Michael York, Jacqueline Bisset, Vanessa Redgrave and Sean Connery are still going strong, albeit Sean is now retired and hopefully enjoying life.

Richard Widmark played the baddie. I met him a year later at Elstree on a Hammer film called To The Devil A Daughter but he was not a happy bunny on that production. Alas, he is no longer with us along with Orient Express co-stars Lauren Bacall, Martin Balsam , Anthony Perkins, Wendy Hiller John Gielgud and Rachel Roberts, one time wife of Rex Harrison. Rachel had a very sad death as in 1980 she decided to commit suicide by taking an overdose while lying out in her Hollywood garden. Alas in a confused state she stumbled back to the house and fell through a glass screen and was found that way the next day.

The early 1970s were a bad time for Elstree Studios and it came very, very close to closure. The film business was in a mess, which is why you could assemble such a great cast for Orient Express for what is today peanuts. Luckily the film went on to enjoy box office success and Elstree survived by severe but necessary changes in regard to staffing levels and work practices. Alas the stages on which Murder On The Orient Express now lie under the Tesco car park, but the Studio has been rebuilt and lives to fight another day.

One final thought, young Kenneth Branagh. Why not give the surviving cast members cameo roles in your new version just for the sake of nostalgia. Until we meet again my fellow travellers down memory lane, look after yourself because I need my readers!