Night Train to Munich (1940)

When Germany invades Czechoslovakia, the German and the British intelligence services try to capture Czech scientist Axel Bomasch, inventor of a new type of armor-plating.

Director:

Carol Reed

Writers:

Gordon Wellesley (based on an original story by), Sidney Gilliat (screenplay) (as Sydney Gilliat)

Stars:

Margaret Lockwood, Rex Harrison, Paul Henreid

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Margaret Lockwood	...	Anna Bomasch
Rex Harrison	...	Dickie Randall a.k.a. 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)

Storyline

When the Germans march into Prague, armour-plating inventor Dr Bomasch flees to England. His daughter Anna escapes from arrest to join him, but the Gestapo manage to kidnap them both back to Berlin. As war looms, British secret service agent Gus Bennet follows disguised as a senior German army officer. His ploy is the not unpleasant one of pretending to woo Anna to the German cause.

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Plot Keywords:

prague czechoslovakia | homosexual subtext | hairy chest | romantic relationship | undercover operation | 

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Taglines:

Laughs! Thrills! Excitement!

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Genres:

Thriller | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Love-It-Loud Retrospective [Christian Sellers]

Country:

UK

Language:

English German

Release Date:

29 December 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Night Train

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century-Fox Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Full Range Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The very first scene is a fairly accurate depiction of the Berghof, Adolf Hitler's mountainside residence near Berchtesgaden and Obersalzberg in Bavaria. The home was famous for its huge picture window which overlooked mountain scenery and was often used to impress visiting foreign VIP visitors.

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Goofs

The wording of the British passport read out by Charters is incorrect as it is different from the American wording in three major ways.. Firstly, the passport holder is not referred to as him or her but as "The Bearer". Secondly, British passports uniquely in the world, not only request that those concerned assist the bearer to be allowed proceed without let or hindrance, but request and require it. Thirdly, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at the time of issue is never scheduled by name.

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Quotes

Caldicott: [Looking through papers in stationmaster's office] It's all in German.
Charters: [to telephone operator] What ? Well, how long then ? Oh, alright.
[to Caldicott]
Charters: Blasted junction's engaged by the military. They'll call me back.
Caldicott: These people seem to have no idea of business as usual.

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Crazy Credits

Paul Henreid is listed as Paul von Hernried in the credits.

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Connections

Featured in Century of Cinema: A Personal History of British Cinema by Stephen Frears (1995)

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Soundtracks

Das Lied der Deutschen
(uncredited)
aka "Deutschland über Alles"
Music by Franz Joseph Haydn
Variations played throughout

User Reviews

Small but effective Carol Reed film

"Night Train to Munich" (1940) is a smaller and lighter Carol Reed film, a little uncharacteristic, but nevertheless very good. The stars are Margaret Lockwood, Rex Harrison, Paul von Henreid, Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne. A Czech scientist is taken to England for safety so the Nazis won't get him or his work when the Czechs invade, but his daughter Anna (Lockwood) is captured and sent to a concentration camp. While there, she meets Karl Marsen (Paul Henreid as Paul von Henreid) who recognizes one of the Nazi officers at the camp as someone he knew, and the man helps both of them to escape. Once in England, she contacts her father through a performer, Gus Bennett (Harrison), in reality a government agent. Unfortunately, she and her father again fall into enemy hands, and Randell disguises himself as a Nazi officer in order to return to them England.

Very suspenseful with great chemistry between the two stars. What helps make this film, though, are Radford and Wayne of "The Lady Vanishes" fame, who are hilarious as two airhead train passengers, one of whom recognizes Harrison as British, though he's in Nazi regalia. The two were an extremely popular pair and appeared together in several films.

Very good.