JohnHowardReid
Although he directed numerous TV assignments, actor Robert Douglas directed only the one theatrical feature. This is it! And it's a must- see for train buffs, of course, even though it was mostly filmed in the studio. I tend to mostly agree with my colleagues at the Monthly Film Bulletin and The New York Times – though not about Dorinda Stevens. For me, Edina Ronay, who played Julie, was the truly nifty number in the film. I thought Miss Stevens a bit past her prime and Aliza Gur nowhere near as attractively costumed as she is at the climax and one or two other places. Despite its "B" budget, there are some other pleasing touches in the film which vindicate the producer's decision to release it theatrically instead of sending it straight to the box: The climax in the Dunkirk waterworks, for example. Eric Pohlmann plays the villain with his usual aggressiveness. Available on a very good Fox DVD which includes both the widescreen and full screen versions.
Woodyanders
Retired American OSS officer Alan Holiday (an earnest and credible performance by Leslie Nielsen) lives in London, England. He's visited on New Year's Eve by the beautiful Catherine Carrel (a charming portrayal by breathtaking brunette knockout Aliza Gur), who claims to be a friend of Holiday's former boss Jules Lemoine (a solid turn by Hugh Latimer). Lemoine convinces Holiday to carry out a secret mission that involves retrieving an important tape. Director Robert Douglas, working from a compact script by Harry Spalding, relates the enjoyable story at a brisk pace and treats the silly material with admirable seriousness. This movie further benefits from such amusing goofy touches as Holiday eluding detection by wearing Groucho Marx-style glasses and a guy in a bear suit. Eric Pohlmann makes a strong impression as hefty and lethal brute Krogh. Moreover, there's some mighty tasty eye candy provided not only by Gur, but also by lovely blonde Dorinda Stevens and the insanely yummy Edina Ronay. Kenny Graham's swinging jazz score hits the groovy spot while the sharp black and white cinematography by Arthur Lavis gives the picture a crisp noirish look. The tight 65 minute running time ensures that this film never gets tedious or overstays its welcome. A fun little quickie.
blanche-2
"Night Train to Paris" is a British B movie that stars Leslie Nielsen back in his TV days, when he was a reliable leading man. It wasn't until later that his persona took on the comedy that gave him an incredible second career. Here he plays Alan Holiday, an ex-OSS officer living in London and now apparently working as some sort of travel agent. After a series of murders, it falls to Holiday to deliver a magnetic computer tape to Paris on New Year's Eve. The ruse employs a photographer and models on a night train. Throughout the trip, the tape is hotly pursued.This film is benign enough with neither the plot nor the execution giving Alfred Hitchcock any sleepless nights. The train scenes are well done, however.It's all pretty silly, with Nielsen donning one of those combo nose and eyeglasses jobs to disguise himself, and the tape being tossed around like an old sandwich. The standout is Edina Ronay as one of the models. Her beauty and attitude embody the '60s London. She's a real bright spot.Mindless entertainment.
wdixon
This is a real "sleeper" (no pun intended), a tight, compact suspense film that really keeps moving throughout its economical running time. The cast is uniformly superb, the direction is assured and fluid, and the film is a reminder of just how many quality low-budget films were made even into the 1960s, before the collapse of the double-bill and the end of black and white as a commercial medium. Well worth looking for; I don't know if the film is available on tape. It should be.
AD
