Night Train to Munich (Gestapo) (1940)

91% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
71% of users liked it
(723 ratings)

Rex Harrison astonished his fans by donning a Nazi uniform in the British suspenser Night Train (originally titled Night Train to Munich). Actually he's a British agent, working undercover to rescue a Czech inventor from the Gestapo. The inventor's daughter (Margaret Lockwood) becomes the unwitting… More Rex Harrison astonished his fans by donning a Nazi uniform in the British suspenser Night Train (originally titled Night Train to Munich). Actually he's a British agent, working undercover to rescue a Czech inventor from the Gestapo. The inventor's daughter (Margaret Lockwood) becomes the unwitting pawn of a genuine Nazi (Paul von Hernreid, just before he became Paul Henreid) during a long train ride from Germany to France and back again. Director Carol Reed never denied that his inspiration for Night Train was Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes (both films were written by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat). The homage was solidified by the presence in Night Train of two carryovers from the Hitchcock film: those ardent British cricket fans Charters and Caldicott (Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne). Night Train was liberally adapted from the Gordon Wellesley novel Report on a Fugitive. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Carol Reed
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Aug 31, 1940 Wide
On DVD: Jun 29, 2010

Critic Reviews

Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide
Takes awhile to catch fire. It's always engaging, though, and builds by stages to a riveting climax at the Swiss border that would have done the Master of Suspense proud.
Sean Axmaker, Parallax View
What is does offer is a mix of wit and wiles, a genuinely startling sequence in a concentration camp... and sprightly performance by Rex Harrison...
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
testament to the skillful manner in which British filmmakers were able to produce entertaining yarns during increasingly dark times
Christopher Long, Movie Metropolis
A cracking good story with no pretenses at anything other than pure entertainment and some mild rabble-rousing about the Nazi menace.
Simon Abrams, Slant Magazine
Come for Carol Reed's name, stay for Rex Harrison's performance and a few good cheap shots at the Nazis.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Very cogently a follow-up to the scoop of The Lady Vanishes
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
One of the finest spy films ever.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
The cast and script are fine, but Reed fatally lacks Hitchcock's light, witty touch and his effortless ability to create suspense out of ordinary circumstances.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Superb thriller in the Hitchcock mode.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A good mix of comedy and adventure.
, Film4
Reed's direction lacks the light touch, but he makes good use of the train, and there's an exciting climax set in a cable car.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

A bit methodical in its presentation but still a classic rendering of intrigue and high drama. Rex Harrison and Paul Henreid are superb!
Michael G

Night Train to Munich has its moments but its generally pretty dull. Margaret Lockwood helped keep me interested but outside of the nifty miniature-based finale, the comic relief and the irony of seeing Victor Laszlo play a Nazi, I wasn't exactly enthralled. Night Train to Munich… More
Night Train to Munich has its moments but its generally pretty dull. Margaret Lockwood helped keep me interested but outside of the nifty miniature-based finale, the comic relief and the irony of seeing Victor Laszlo play a Nazi, I wasn't exactly enthralled. Night Train to Munich isn't exactly awful but I can't for the life of my figure out why there's a Criterion edition of this.
Ken S

A lot of fun, but not quite as good as Lady Vanishes. Chalders and Caldicott are AWESOME!
Stella D

this is a spin-off of the lady vanishes by the same writers and even includes the humorous english travelers chalders and caldicott, as well as leading lady margaret lockwood albeit as a different character. one of the more successful attempts at pulling off hitchcock style… More
this is a spin-off of the lady vanishes by the same writers and even includes the humorous english travelers chalders and caldicott, as well as leading lady margaret lockwood albeit as a different character. one of the more successful attempts at pulling off hitchcock style lighthearted adventure. rex harrison is charming and hilarious in one of his first leading roles. the film's title was changed from gestapo for obvious reasons. it was the last fun british film made about the conflict for some time. there's no doubt the plot gets somewhat outlandish. still worth checking out for fans of the original
Nicki M

Decent older film. Wasn't quite my type of thing, but really couldn't find fault with it. May be a little dated for some tastes, it was for me, though I could appreciate it.

Cast

            Margaret Lockwood as Anna Bomasch

            Rex Harrison as Gus Bennett

            Paul Henreid as Karl Marsen

            Basil Radford as Charters

            Naunton Wayne as Caldicott

            Felix Aylmer as Dr. John Fredericks

            James Harcourt as Axel Bomasch

            Wyndham Goldie as Dryton

            Roland Culver as Roberts

            Eliot Makeham as Schwab

            Raymond Huntley as Kampenfeldt

            C.V. France as Adm. Hassinger

            Austin Trevor as Capt. Prada

            Kenneth Kent as Controller

            Morland Graham as Attendant

            Ian Fleming as Brit. Intelligence Official

            Irene Handl
            
            David Horne as Czech Armament Co. Official

            Albert Lieven as Concentration Camp Officer

            G.H. Mulcaster
            
            Charles Oliver
            
            Wally Patch as Pier Fisherman

            John H. Roberts
            
            Torin Thatcher
            
            Frederick [Fritz] Valk as Gestapo Officer

            Wilfred Walter
            
            John Wengraf as Concentration Camp Doctor

            Bill Russell
            
            Pat Williams
            
            Pardoe Woodman
            
            Winifred Oughton
            
            Maurice Ostrer
            
See full cast