Rome Express

It is a very British movie and some of the accents are difficult to understand. I expected subtitles because "The Rank Collection" usually has subtitles. And oddly it doesn't have subtitles because Conrad Veidt has the hardest accent to understand, with him being a very central character. But it does give you the feel of a Hitchcock film. I enjoyed watching it and trying to understand and follow the story. Sometimes Amazon lets you enlarge and read the back of a dvd, then you can be sure of SDH, but unfortunately sometimes they only allow you to enlarge the front picture of a dvd, which tells you nothing.

Considered by some to be the prototype for many famous train-board thrillers to follow ('The Lady Vanishes' and 'Night Train to Munich,' among others), 'Rome Express' (UK, 1932) is a solid, briskly paced ensemble piece that was as critically well-received within its class as 'Grand Hotel' was in its during the period. One can argue that its plotting and characterizations-- like those of 'Grand Hotel'-- are somewhat cartoonish by later standards, but it's exceptionally well-shot within its confined spaces (particularly for an early talkie) and boasts admirably kinetic performances by a top-drawer cast, including standouts (soon-to-be stalwarts) Conrad Veidt, Finlay Currie and Cedric Hardwicke. VCI's print (4x3) is reasonably clean with clear audio and no extras. Film merits 3 1/2 stars, as does presentation/price.Note - I don't know what another reviewer found to be 'vulgar' and 'pornographic' about RE, unless he got this movie confused with another or is being ironic. (There is a brief scene near the very beginning at the train station that juxtaposes two nuns against a cart carrying, among other things, French fashion magazines whose covers show drawings of partially clothed models-- oh, Gaumont!-- but if you consider moments of innocent humor like these offensive I dare not tell you about the wiener dog being processed through baggage... well, just turn away.)

Although the plot is loose and rambling, this film (1932) is worth watching primarily for its affinities with Alfred Hitchcock's The Lady Vanished (1938). The actor who plays the blackmailer in Blackmail and the actress who plays the heroine in The Secret Agent both appear in Rome Express. There are some witty montages, as when the film cuts between several characters downing bottles and the engine wheels. Conrad Viedt is very good as the villain. And Cedric Hardwick is wonderful as an actress's publicity agent. I don't know if the director Walter Forde knew Hitchcock, but I am positive beyond a shadow of a doubt that Hitchcock saw this film and learned from it. Another notable feature of Rome Express is the multi-lingual dialogue with no subtitles. The first ten minutes or so is all in French, since the train is departing from Paris. There is also a little German and plenty of Italian. Enough of the non-English languages is paraphrased by other characters for it to be clear to English-only viewers. Hitchcock went one better in The Lady Vanishes by making up a fake European country and a fake language.

Conrad Veidt is a sinister villain in this story about art theft, murder, poker, and romance on, of course, the Rome Express. Consistently interesting, and Esther Ralston is stunning. This was apparently the first notable crime-on-a-train movie, showing the way for many others, from The Lady Vanishes to Murder on the Orient Express to Horror Express to The Big Bus.

Fast-moving, very entertaining action with an excellent cast. Far out in front: the scene-stealing Conrad Veidt as Zurta. He deserved an Oscar nomination for his supporting performance here. It’s a pity his ethnicity and accent kept him from ever being nominated.Favorite line: Shocked by Zurta’s cold brutality, a cohort says in panic: “Why did you do it? Are you mad?” Smiling, Veidt says offhandedly, “No. Only annoyed.”

This is a tense Hitchcockian story of robbery, intrigue and of course murder. It all takes place on a train which makes for a very enjoyable setting. It is a plot seen in many movies where thieves, blackmail victims etc. are brought together on the train with no where to run and therein comes the action. This movie spawned several other movies such as "The Lady Vanishes" and "Sleeping Car to Trieste" which were very successful. All in all it is a very enjoyable movie.

This is a good thriller and it's VERY British. It has a trailblazing reputation and many films were made that were imitations of it. You must stay with it to enjoy it.

This film is likely the first that takes place almost entirely aboard a moving train and was thus very innovative, as well as influential on later films such as "Shanghai Express" and "The Lady Vanishes."

The first film produced at the newly built "Gaumont-British" sound studios in Shepherds Bush, in 1932. The entire Film including the train journey was shot in the Gaumont studios (Lime Grove). Oh! the marvels of Cinematography.

A very good film of the period, setting the tone for later dramas set on trains. Conrad Veidt is a genuine screen presence in his first British films ably supported by a host of varied characters.

Good film all round intresting as you follow through

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Note: this review is for the Region 1 DVD which seems to be of very similar quality to the Network release of Nov 2015. Confusingly, Amazon have listed together the reviews for two different issues of DVD, a VHS tape and a Blu-ray.FILM REVIEW: Anyone who loves dramas set on trains, especially the romance of steam trains, will love this. Ditto anyone who loves the glamour of the 1930s, which the various stories here illustrate beautifully, with peril and skullduggery thrown in very nicely. This is apparently one of the first films to milk the inherent drama of different types of people brought together on a train, and spawned a lot more similar efforts, eg, Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes and Murder on the Orient Express. It was later remade as Sleeping Car To Trieste, which I am looking forward to buying, although, if the reviews are to be believed, it lacks the oomph of the original.UPDATE DEC 2015: When I wrote this review almost two years ago, I was very inexperienced and neglected to mention that the DVD transfer is not bad for a 1932 film - nice clear black and white print and tolerable sound quality, but no subtitles. Technical details are not my strong point, but the picture appears to have been cropped a little at the top and bottom, but I only noticed this when the credits were rolling at the beginning, although no information was lost. While I can only comment on the Region 1 DVD, judging by one review for the Network version, the quality of both releases seems to be very similar, ie, slightly cropped but good picture, sound quality OK not perfect, and no subs.