A More Colorful Version
Added 10/7/2008
This is an updated version of Alfred Hitchcock's 1937 suspense film. Their was no longer any diplomatic reason to censor the identity of that central European power. The heroine how had an American nationality (Cybill didn't do accents). The story echoes an Eric Ambler novel from that era. A person who is just going about their own business finds themselves involved in a dangerous intrigue; and survives.
Who could suspect an elderly music teacher as a spy? They could fade into the background. Using a song to convey a message is an example of a plain language code. The topic of this film is making a person disappear and replacing that person with a substitute to prevent the trick from being discovered. This has been used in other stories to promote a deception ("The Prisoner of Zenda").
Could a wealthy heiress who chose to travel alone in Europe actually be another government operative? Recall that newspaper reporter in "Foreign Correspondent". Or was her travel done for personal pleasure and to escape her society? This film shows how the right to bear arms was exercised by travelers in those days. One of the first effects of Nazi rule was to prohibit and confiscate firearms in order to oppress the people. (The Nazis were the mercenaries of the big corporations.) Who could have imagined these laws would come to Great Britain and America after the war?
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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A remake of a "classic Movie" with Great Actors & Funny
Added 3/13/2008
This is a war era comedy movie, where a Rich Young Lady (played bt Cybil Shepard) is on her way to get married to another rich man but love and espionage enter the picture and Cyil Shepard gets involved in a basic spy thriller and her love takes a detour. Adding to the comedy end is famed actors Elliott Gould and Angela Lansbury , Herbert Lom and of course, The wonderful Cybil Shepard, but I dont want to tell you anymore, as you really have to see the movie.I own both the original and this one and do enjoy the comedy Much Better.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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In some respects better than the original
Added 6/14/2006
Why pay the $125 quoted here when this entertaining thriller is readily available on DVD from Region 2 (Europe) retailers. Armed with a region-free player and you have access to a whole wealth of movies that are not released yet in Region 1 for example HIGH ROAD TO CHINA (Region 2), SILVER BEARS (Region 4) and THE FOURTH PROTOCOL (Region 2) to name just a few.
In regards to this entertaining movie I actually prefer this version to the original Hitchcock classic, it is made highly enjoyable and entertaining due to the presence of so many famous faces from British and American television. Witness the two cricket fans - who can watch this scene and not think about the two actors in their familiar DAD'S ARMY roles?
Cybill Shepherd would later go on to much success in the show MOONLIGHTING and of course Angela Lansbury eventually found worldwide fame for her turn as the female sleuth in MURDER SHE WROTE. Here Lansbury plays a nanny turned spy who is attempting to get back to Britain with some vital information.
Set in pre-WWII Germany this movie chronicles the trip of Cybill Shepherds character back to the UK to be reunited with her fiance. On the train she befriends a Ms. Froy and another American (played by Elliott Gould). However, things go awry when Ms. Froy seemingly vanishes into thin air and nobody on the train seems to have any memory of her. Is Shepherds character losing her marbles - Gould certainly seems to think so...that is until he spots something out of the train window for a fleeting second.
Its a superb story and very satisfying. I really enjoy this charming thriller.
5 out of 5 people found this helpful.
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effective remake of Hitchcock's final British movie
Added 4/17/2005
This is a very effective remake of Hitchcock's THE LADY VANISHES, Alfred Hitchcock's last British-made movie before plying his trade in America.
Cybill Shepherd plays madcap heiress Amanda, who gets caught up in a whirlwind adventure of danger and espionage, when her train companion Miss Froy (Angela Lansbury) mysteriously disappears en route through Germany.
Unbeknownst to Amanda and the rest of the passengers, the seemingly innocent and quaint Miss Froy is on a mission to deliver an important code to the British Intelligence. The decision to place the story at the eve of World War 2 makes the adventure and tension even more palpable.
Cybill Shepherd and Elliott Gould put a refreshing 'screwball' spin to their performances while Angela Lansbury is sensational as Miss Froy. The rest of the cast includes Herbert Lom, Arthur Lowe, Rosalind Knight, Ian Carmichael and Madge Ryan.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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arguably better than the original
Added 1/3/2004
Underappreciated as it is, this remake of the Hitchcock's 1938 classic truly embodies my idea of how a well-crafted and entertaining movie should be. The story is able to make flesh creep and the screenplay even manages to improve on the original plotline by taking some bold departures but sticking all the way to the master's spirit and style. (E.g. the very effective motif of the Hitler-moustache - and the whole idea of transferring the story to nazi Germany.) The settings - real train, real land -, the camera work, the music are all great, adding to the thrill of the ride. The cast is a jackpot, Cybill Sheperd throwing out sparks. All in all: this is a highly ingenious remake that makes the old original seem pale and puerile by comparison. I'm sure Hitchcock himself wouldn't had done it better, if he'd considered a self-remake (as it was the case with The Man Who Knew Too Much). I want this on DVD!!!
4 out of 4 people found this helpful.
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A More Colorful Version
Added 10/7/2008
This is an updated version of Alfred Hitchcock's 1937 suspense film. Their was no longer any diplomatic reason to censor the identity of that central European power. The heroine how had an American nationality (Cybill didn't do accents). The story echoes an Eric Ambler novel from that era. A person who is just going about their own business finds themselves involved in a dangerous intrigue; and survives.
Who could suspect an elderly music teacher as a spy? They could fade into the background. Using a song to convey a message is an example of a plain language code. The topic of this film is making a person disappear and replacing that person with a substitute to prevent the trick from being discovered. This has been used in other stories to promote a deception ("The Prisoner of Zenda").
Could a wealthy heiress who chose to travel alone in Europe actually be another government operative? Recall that newspaper reporter in "Foreign Correspondent". Or was her travel done for personal pleasure and to escape her society? This film shows how the right to bear arms was exercised by travelers in those days. One of the first effects of Nazi rule was to prohibit and confiscate firearms in order to oppress the people. (The Nazis were the mercenaries of the big corporations.) Who could have imagined these laws would come to Great Britain and America after the war?
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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A remake of a "classic Movie" with Great Actors & Funny
Added 3/13/2008
This is a war era comedy movie, where a Rich Young Lady (played bt Cybil Shepard) is on her way to get married to another rich man but love and espionage enter the picture and Cyil Shepard gets involved in a basic spy thriller and her love takes a detour. Adding to the comedy end is famed actors Elliott Gould and Angela Lansbury , Herbert Lom and of course, The wonderful Cybil Shepard, but I dont want to tell you anymore, as you really have to see the movie.I own both the original and this one and do enjoy the comedy Much Better.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
In some respects better than the original
Added 6/14/2006
Why pay the $125 quoted here when this entertaining thriller is readily available on DVD from Region 2 (Europe) retailers. Armed with a region-free player and you have access to a whole wealth of movies that are not released yet in Region 1 for example HIGH ROAD TO CHINA (Region 2), SILVER BEARS (Region 4) and THE FOURTH PROTOCOL (Region 2) to name just a few.
In regards to this entertaining movie I actually prefer this version to the original Hitchcock classic, it is made highly enjoyable and entertaining due to the presence of so many famous faces from British and American television. Witness the two cricket fans - who can watch this scene and not think about the two actors in their familiar DAD'S ARMY roles?
Cybill Shepherd would later go on to much success in the show MOONLIGHTING and of course Angela Lansbury eventually found worldwide fame for her turn as the female sleuth in MURDER SHE WROTE. Here Lansbury plays a nanny turned spy who is attempting to get back to Britain with some vital information.
Set in pre-WWII Germany this movie chronicles the trip of Cybill Shepherds character back to the UK to be reunited with her fiance. On the train she befriends a Ms. Froy and another American (played by Elliott Gould). However, things go awry when Ms. Froy seemingly vanishes into thin air and nobody on the train seems to have any memory of her. Is Shepherds character losing her marbles - Gould certainly seems to think so...that is until he spots something out of the train window for a fleeting second.
Its a superb story and very satisfying. I really enjoy this charming thriller.
5 out of 5 people found this helpful.
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