Horror Express (1972)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Eugenio Martín

Writers (WGA):

Arnaud d'Usseau (screenplay) and
Julian Zimet (screenplay) (originally as Julian Halevy)

Release Date:

January 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Can it be stopped?

Plot:

An English anthropologist has discovered a frozen monster in the frozen wastes of Manchuria which he believes may be the Missing Link...

Plot Keywords:

Monster | Anthropologist | Train | China | Fossil

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Christopher Lee	...	Prof. Sir Alexander Saxton (as Cristopher Lee)
Peter Cushing	...	Dr. Wells
Alberto de Mendoza	...	Father Pujardov
Silvia Tortosa	...	Countess Irina Petrovska
Julio Peña	...	Inspector Mirov
Ángel del Pozo	...	Yevtushenko (as Angel del Pozo)
Helga Liné	...	Natasha
Alice Reinheart	...	Miss Jones
José Jaspe	...	Conductor Koniev
George Rigaud	...	Count Maryan Petrovski (as Jorge Rigaud)
Víctor Israel	...	Luggage Worker
Faith Clift	...	American Passenger
Juan Olaguivel	...	Creature (as Juan Olaguibel)
Barta Barri	...	First Telegraphist
Peter Beckman

Also Known As:

Pánico en el Transiberiano (Spain)
Panic in the Trans-Siberian Train (International: English title)

Runtime:

USA:90 min | USA:88 min | Spain:84 min

Country:

UK | Spain

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (1990) | Australia:M | Norway:15 | Spain:13 | UK:15 (video rating) (1994) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Estudios Madrid 70, Daganzo, Madrid, Spain

Company:

Benmar Productions

Trivia:

Peter Cushing arrived in Spain for filming and immediately told producer Bernard Gordon that he could not do the picture, as he felt it was too soon after his wife's death. Christopher Lee convinced Cushing to stay on by reminiscing with him about the previous films they'd worked on together, much to the relief of Gordon.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Mirov shouldn't be carrying an automatic pistol, as the Tsarist police and military used the Nagant M1895 revolver.

Quotes:

Father Pujardov: Where there is God, there is always a place for the cross. Even on this stone floor, just so. But Satan is evil, and where there is evil, there is no place for the cross.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Stargate (1994)

A great B-movie, if that is not a contradiction of terms

This movie sets itself a modest purpose: to keep us entertained for one and a half hours. It succeeds brilliantly, as long as we allow it to succeed, that is, as long as we are willing and eager to be entertained.

This is one of only two thrillers that I know of, in which almost the entire story takes place on board a train: the other is Murder on the Orient Express. The setting works very well in both movies, but I found Horror Express to be more satisfying. At the beginning, as the cast of characters got settled in the train, I got settled in my chair, eager for the journey to start. During the journey, there is enough suspense to keep the viewer interested, but nobody (except the very young or the very sensitive) needs to worry about being scared, or grossed out by gore. I must admit to not having paid too close attention to the plot, but this probably contributes to the enjoyment, and it means that I can enjoy seeing it again.

In short, this movie is jolly good fun as long as you are not too demanding in terms of plot or character development. One of my favorite horror movies.