Night Train to Munich (1940)

Director:

Carol Reed

Writers:

Gordon Wellesley (based on an original story by)
Sidney Gilliat (screenplay) ...
(more)

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:

Nazi | Escape | England | Train | Nazi Germany

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins

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. Fredericks
Wyndham Goldie	...	Dryton
Roland Culver	...	Roberts
Eliot Makeham	...	Schwab
Raymond Huntley	...	Kampenfeldt
Austin Trevor	...	Capt. Prada (as Austen Trevor)
Kenneth Kent	...	Controller (as Keneth Kent)
C.V. France	...	Admiral Hassinger
Frederick Valk	...	Gestapo Officer (as Fritz Valk)
Morland Graham	...	Teleferic Attendant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Edward Baxter	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Jane Cobb	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Arthur Denton	...	Deckchair Attendant (uncredited)
Ian Fleming	...	Official at Home Office, MI5 (uncredited)
Irene Handl	...	Station Master (uncredited)
Bryan Herbert	...	Inspector on Train (uncredited)
Adolf Hitler	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
David Horne	...	Official at Prague Steel Works (uncredited)
Allan Jeayes	...	Prisoner in Concentration Camp Lineup (uncredited)
Albert Lieven	...	Concentration Camp Guard (uncredited)
Howard Marion-Crawford	...	SS Officer Checking Passes (uncredited)
G.H. Mulcaster	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Charles Oliver	...	SS Officer at Concentration Camp (uncredited)
Winifred Oughton	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Wally Patch	...	Fisherman (uncredited)
J.H. Roberts	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Billy Russell	...	Adolf Hitler (uncredited)
Torin Thatcher	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Wilfred Walter	...	Official at Prague Steel Works (uncredited)
John Wengraf	...	Concentration Camp Physician (uncredited)
Ben Williams	...	Train Steward (uncredited)
Pat Williams	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Pardoe Woodman	...	Minor Role (uncredited)

Directed by
Carol Reed

Writing credits
Gordon Wellesley		(based on an original story by)
Sidney Gilliat		(screenplay) (as Sydney Gilliat) and
Frank Launder		(screenplay)

Produced by
Edward Black	....	producer

Original Music by
Louis Levy		(uncredited)
Charles Williams		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Otto Kanturek		(photography)

Film Editing by
R.E. Dearing

Art Direction by
Alex Vetchinsky		(as Vetchinsky)

Production Management
Maurice Ostrer	....	in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roy Ward Baker	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Douglas Peirce	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Maurice Carter	....	assistant art director (uncredited)

Sound Department
B.C. Sewell	....	sound supervisor
Sydney Wiles	....	recording (as S. Wiles)

Camera and Electrical Department
Davis Boulton	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Louis Levy	....	musical director

Other crew
Michael Gordon	....	cutting
Leslie Frewin	....	publicist (uncredited)
Jo Harcourt	....	continuity (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Productions Ltd. (presents)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1940) (UK) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1940) (USA) (theatrical)
• Better Television Distribution (2006) (worldwide) (TV)
• Criterion Collection, The (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Hollywood Classics (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Kino Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Madacy Entertainment (1994) (Canada) (VHS)
• Madacy Entertainment (1997-1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Roan Group, The (USA) (laserdisc)

Also Known As:

"Night Train" - USA (alternative title)

Runtime:

USA:90 min | UK:95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Full Range Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | Australia:M | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Twentieth Century Productions Ltd.

Trivia:

Until now (as of 2011), this film has not been released in Germany at all.

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; he would not become Prime Minister until May 1940.

Quotes:

Kampenfeldt:[trying to decide the guilt of someone accused of treason - downbeat] This is a fine country to live in.
[upbeat]
Kampenfeldt:This is a *fine* country to live in.
[to camera]
Kampenfeldt:This is a bloody awful country to live in!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Where Eagles Dare (1968)

Soundtrack:

Your Heart Skips a Beat

An exciting precursor to James Bond himself.

Carol Reed's wonderful and interesting style of suspenseful film (seen in all its glory in 'The Third Man') is evident in this early spy flick. Rex Reed is an OSS operative who must journey deep into the heart of the Third Reich to rescue an important scientist before the Nazis can make full use of him. The characters are not just two-dimensional although they may seem that way; they use every trick and opportunity to get through their sticky situation. The sudden appearance of two of the characters from Hitchcock's 'The Lady Vanishes' is a real treat, too!

The story itself is very intricate, with crosses and double-crosses and random occurances causing problems in our hero's way. The film is successfully able to weave genius storytelling, great acting, and effective cinematography to make it an intriguing spy film that is surely ahead of its time! And the finale is certainly an indicator of what the James Bond films would bring us years later.

Even though it was filmed in the beginning of WWII, it is not a stereotypical, or dull, film. A must-see!