Night Train To Munich (1940)

dir. Carol Reed. Set in 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II. Anna Bomasch (Margaret Lockwood) is the daughter of an inventor who’s research is highly sought after by both British and German secret agents. Anna and her father become caught in the middle of a deadly game of counterintelligence. Frequently compared to Hitchcock’s THE LADY VANISHES (1939), but very different in structure and atmosphere. The dazzling Margaret Lockwood plays the female lead in both films, both involve intrigue on a train, and both feature the cricket mad comedy duo Charters and Caldicott. Like Hitchcock’s film, there is a wonderful use of miniatures for special effects. The most surprising element of this film is the humour, I found it hilarious. The two male leads are outstanding and very amusing – Paul Henreid who people will recognise as Victor Laszlo in CASABLANCA (1942), and Rex Harrison, who much later was Professor Henry Higgins in MY FAIR LADY (1964). There are some delightful twists and turns in the plot, so if a Hitchcock style adventure, from the director of THE THIRD MAN (1949) appeals, get yourself a ticket on the NIGHT TRAIN TO MUNICH!