The lady on the train
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The lady on the train |
| Original title | Lady on a train |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1945 |
| length | 89 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Charles David |
| script |
Edmund Beloin Robert O'Brien |
| production | Felix Jackson |
| music | Miklós Rózsa |
| camera | Elwood Bredell |
| cut | Ted J. Kent |
| occupation | |
| |
The Lady on the Train is an American crime comedy from 1945. The screenplay is based on the novel of the same name by Leslie Charteris .
action
The writer Nicki Collins is on the train to see her aunt in New York. Shortly before arriving, she witnesses the murder of the shipowner Joseah Waring through the train window. The police do not believe Nicki because she is known as a mystery crime writer. Nicki starts the research himself. Waring's death is reported in a newsreel. Here, however, it is stated that Waring was killed in an accident while decorating the Christmas tree at his property on Long Island. Nicki sneaks into the property, but is caught by Arnold Waring, the shipowner's nephew. Arnold thinks Nicki is the nightclub singer Margo Martin, his uncle's fiancée.
Nicki plays along and pretends to be Margo. She is present at the opening of the will. In his last will, the shipowner passed his family over and bequeathed his entire fortune to his fiancée. Nicki looks for Joseah's rooms and comes across the bloody shoes that the murder victim was wearing. Mr. Saunders, the shipowner's secretary, instructs the chauffeur Danny to retrieve the incriminating material from Nicki's hotel room. Nicki visits the nightclub where Margo is performing. When Arnold also enters the club, Nicki is forced to lock the singer in her dressing room and perform in her place.
Nicki is ambushed by Saunders and Danny, but rescued by fellow writer Wayne Morgan. Saunders is killed in the process. Nickie and Wayne sneak out of the club in their bloody shoes, while Wayne's fiancée Joyce Williams breaks up with him. The next morning they are both arrested on suspicion of murder. Wayne's servant Maxwell cleans the murder victim's shoes, thereby destroying evidence of Joseah Waring's murder. Arnold can get Nicki out of prison, but she flees from him because she thinks he is the killer. She seeks protection from Jonathan Waring, Arnold's brother, who is, however, the real murderer. Nicki realizes the truth when she realizes that Jonathan's room is the room where Joseah's murder took place. Jonathan explains to her that he will kill her and blame his brother for the murder.
Arnold can save Nicki. But Wayne, who was also released from prison, now thinks Arnold is the murderer and gives Jonathan his weapon back. However, Wayne was followed by the police, who can now arrest Jonathan. Nicki and Wayne get married. Wayne, however, has to tell his wife the end of his latest book in order to begin his honeymoon.
criticism
The lexicon of international films sees the work as a "fast-paced crime comedy which, in addition to suspense, also has some wit to offer."
Bosley Crowther of the New York Times found that Deanna Durbin could not be blamed for her hideous ("unholy") performance alone. The film is an empty and carefree little story.
The Variety , however, described the film as a mystery-comedy, ready to have fun, both for the crime novel as well for comedy fans.
Awards
In 1946 , Bernard B. Brown was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Sound category.
background
The Universal Pictures production premiered on August 3, 1945 in Los Angeles. In Germany, the film was first shown on May 11, 1991 as part of a TV premiere on the DFF channel .
Web links
- The lady on the train in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ The lady on the train. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed August 29, 2017 .
- ↑ Review of the New York Times (English)
- ↑ Critique of Variety