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The Lady Vanishes (1979)

Director: Anthony Page

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From Time Out Film Guide

Comparisons are odious, but this remake of Hitchcock's thriller continually begs them by trampling heavily over its predecessor. The original anticipated, with some poignancy, a Europe at war. This version uses hindsight entirely to disadvantage. In fact, its picture of 1939 Europe reflects nothing more than current market demands. Thus the plot - madcap American heiress enlists support of Life magazine photographer when cosy English nanny disappears on train in Nazi Germany - serves merely as the packaging for American stars, British support, and German villains still swaggering from the glorious victories of Cabaret and The Sound of Music. Cybill Shepherd and Elliott Gould cover their lack of chemistry with a lot of noise. The film-makers have trouble with their suspense - did she imagine it? who cares? - and it's left to Arthur Lowe and Ian Carmichael, as the cricket lovin' Blimps, to provide solid middle-order batting.

Author: CPe

Time Out Film Guide


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