Night Train to Munich (1940)

Director:

Carol Reed

Writers:

Sidney Gilliat (screenplay)
Frank Launder (screenplay)

Release Date:

29 December 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | War

Plot:

When the Germans march into Prague, armour-plating inventor Dr Bomasch flees to England. His daughter Anna escapes from arrest to join him...

Plot Keywords:

Escape | Nazi | England | Spy | Czechoslovakia

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Margaret Lockwood	...	Anna Bomasch
Rex Harrison	...	Gus Bennett
Paul Henreid	...	Karl Marsen (as Paul von Hernried)
Basil Radford	...	Charters
Naunton Wayne	...	Caldicott
James Harcourt	...	Axel Bomasch
Felix Aylmer	...	Dr. John Fredericks
Wyndham Goldie	...	Dryton
Roland Culver	...	Roberts
Eliot Makeham	...	Schwab
Raymond Huntley	...	Kampenfeldt
Austin Trevor	...	Captain Prada (as Austen Trevor)
Kenneth Kent	...	Controller (as Keneth Kent)
C.V. France	...	Admiral Hassinger
Frederick Valk	...	Gestapo Officer (as Fritz Valk)

Also Known As:

Gestapo
Night Train (USA) (alternative title)
Night Train to Munich (USA)

Runtime:

USA:90 min | UK:95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Full Range Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:A

Filming Locations:

Gaumont-British Studios, Lime Grove, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK

Company:

Twentieth Century Productions Ltd.

Trivia:

The second of four cinematic appearances by Charters and Caldicott (played by Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne). They first appeared in The Lady Vanishes (1938), also written by Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder. They later appeared in Crook's Tour (1941), and in Millions Like Us (1943), which was also written by Gilliat and Lauder.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Whilst on the train Rex Harrison's character refers to the English / British being led by Churchill. However as this part of the film is set in Sept 1939 the Prime Minister was Neville Chamberlain. At the time Churchill was merely a back-bench MP until the 3rd Sept when he was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty and given a seat on the War Cabinet.

Quotes:

Charters: I bought a copy of Mein Kampf. Occurred to me it might shed a spot of light on all this... how d'ye do. Ever read it?
Caldicott: Never had the time.
Charters: I understand they give a copy to all the bridal couples over here.
Caldicott: Oh, I don't think it's that sort of book, old man.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Where Eagles Dare (1968)

Soundtrack:

It's True

A traitor? A double agent? A gentleman?

Carol Reed directs this thriller in the Hitchcock tradition. A Czech scientist(James Harcourt)and his daughter(Margaret Lockwood)are pursued by Nazis. The pair escape to England, but Lockwood is captured and placed in a concentration camp in hopes of influencing her father to cooperate with the Germans. The lovely Lockwood escapes to rejoin her father only to have the pair kidnapped and taken back to Germany. A British agent(Rex Harrison)in disguise as a German officer infiltrates the German high command and tries to get the couple out of Germany by way of a night train to Munich. Nazi faithful Paul Henreid does his best to spoil the escape. My favorite scene involves the cable-car in the Swiss Alps. Harrison is outstanding. Supporting cast includes: Basil Radford, Naunton Wayne, Roland Culver and Austin Trevor. The intelligent script is witty with room for a little deadpan humor.