Orient Express is a 1954 drama film directed by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia and starring Silvana Pampanini, Henri Vidal, Folco Lulli, Eva Bartok, and Curd Jürgens. It was made as a co-production between Italy, France and West Germany.
It was shot at the Farnesina Studios of Titanus in Rome and on location in the Dolomites. The film's sets were designed by the art director Ottavio Scotti.
Contents
Plot
The plot revolves around a two-day stop at a village in the Alps by passengers on the Orient Express.
Reviews
The national and international reviews were mostly bad. Below are three examples:
"Intermezzo" wrote: "The Italian and German film industries collaborated in the production of this film, which, judging by the results, did not deserve so much fervor of international activity."
Der Spiegel wrote: “After 150 long meters, the express gets stuck in an avalanche of snow and the film gets stuck in a conglomeration of boredom and acting mistakes (Silvana Pampanini and Eva Bartok), which proves once again that co-productions are often not just a cost - but also bring about a reduction in quality.”
The Lexikon des Internationales Films states: "One of the first major international co-productions with German participation after the Second World War: with popular film stars, but without speed, excitement and credibility."
Cast
Silvana Pampanini as Beatrice Landi
Henri Vidal as Jacques Ferrand
Folco Lulli as Filippo dal Pozzo
Robert Arnoux as Jean Tribot aka Mr. Davis
Eva Bartok as Roxane
Curd Jürgens as Bate
Michael Lenz as Giovanni
Liliane Bert as Agnès, the pharmacist
Olga Solbelli as Olga, la ricevitrice postale
Gemma Bolognesi
Arturo Bragaglia
Giuseppe Chinnici
Liliana de Curtis
Anita Durante
Ugo Filipponi
Ivo Garrani
Mimma Gheducci
Iga Ritzenfeld
Sandro Ruffini
Tullio Tomadoni