Shanghai Express (1932)
I have a soft spot for movies taking place on trains and adding Dietrich to the mix makes for a lovely picture. Trains is a wonderful setting for forcing a group of varied characters together in a confined setting, and a story about where they are coming from and where they are going naturally follows. The look, feel and texture of everything is a feast. The masterfully composited black and white frames, the constant soundtrack of the moving train, the small smoked filled corridors and cabins, and everyone is exquisitely dressed and doing their best high strung theatrical acting. I was expecting a more low key train romance drama, so was pleasantly surprised how it developed into a dramatic hostage situation on top. Dietrich doesn’t quite have the same scene stealing screen presence she has in The Scarlet Empress, but the film as a whole is definitely worth revisiting because there are plenty of small details to relive.
Rating: 4