Berlin Express
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Berlin Express | |
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Directed by | Jacques Tourneur |
Produced by | Bert Granet |
Written by | Curt Siodmak (story) Harold Medford |
Starring | Merle Oberon Robert Ryan Charles Korvin |
Music by | Frederick Hollander |
Cinematography | Lucien Ballard |
Editing by | Sherman Todd |
Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures Inc. |
Release date(s) | May 1, 1948 (U.S. release) |
Running time | 87 min. |
Language | English |
IMDb profile |
Berlin Express is a black-and-white 1948 film directed by Jacques Tourneur. The film was shot on location in post-World War II Frankfurt and Berlin, Germany as well as Paris, France. During the opening credits a full-screen notice read: "Actual scenes in Frankfurt and Berlin were photographed by authorization of The United States Army of Occupation, The British Army of Occupation, The Soviet Army of Occupation"
While on a train to Berlin a German doctor is killed when a bomb goes off in his compartment. The murder is witnessed by an American, a French woman, a Russian soldier and a British man who are questioned in the killing. When it's found out that the man killed was a decoy for the real doctor, a man admired for trying to unite Germany, the group from the train begin working together trying to find the real doctor in the streets of post-war Germany. Not all on the team are whom the seem to be.
The film is memorable today for showing the bombed out streets of Frankfurt, Germany. Costume designer Orry-Kelly dressed Oberon for the film. Actress Oberon was married to the films cinematographer Lucien Ballard at the time of shooting.
Also prominent in this film are fine exterior and interior shots of the IG Farben Building[1] in Frankfurt.
[edit] Cast
- Merle Oberon as Lucienne
- Robert Ryan as Robert Lindley
- Charles Korvin as Perrot
- Paul Lukas as Dr. Bernhardt
- Robert Coote as Sterling