Horror Express
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- Publication date
- 1973
- Usage
- Public Domain
- Topics
- horror, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Telly Savalas
In 1906, on a train racing through Siberia, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing are engulfed in nightmare when a frozen missing link comes to life. |
You can load the mpeg2 file into DVDAuthorGUI (a free program) and, with the push of a button, quickly create the structure of a DVD to watch on your television (after burning with ImgBurn or the like).
- Addeddate
- 2008-05-08 17:11:38
- Closed captioning
- no
- Color
- color
- Director
- Eugenio Martín
- Ia_orig__runtime
- 87 minutes
- Identifier
- Horror_Express
- Run time
- 1:27:00
- Sound
- sound
- Year
- 1973
comment
Reviews
Reviewer:
EvilDaystar
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
June 27, 2020
Subject: Undervalued Classic
Subject: Undervalued Classic
First to address one reviewers claim that the movie is not Public Domain.
At least in the US, it IS in the public domain.
The film was published in 1974. Works published between 1925 and 1977 required a copyright notice to benefit from copyright protection.
The producers failed to include that notice in this film thereby depriving this film of copyright ... at least in the US.
That being said. This is an amazing little gem of a movie.
At least in the US, it IS in the public domain.
The film was published in 1974. Works published between 1925 and 1977 required a copyright notice to benefit from copyright protection.
The producers failed to include that notice in this film thereby depriving this film of copyright ... at least in the US.
That being said. This is an amazing little gem of a movie.
Reviewer:
Reflecting Moon
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
August 5, 2019
Subject: Not public domain
Subject: Not public domain
I love any movie that pairs Christopher Lee with Peter Cushing, but unfortunately, this is not a public domain movie.
Reviewer:
max4movies
-
favoritefavoritefavorite -
May 17, 2019
Subject: Solid Mystery Horror Movie with Great Performances but a Middling Plot
Subject: Solid Mystery Horror Movie with Great Performances but a Middling Plot
Thanks for the great quality!
As I'm familiar with the original short story "Who Goes There", I wasn't really blown away. But I like the movie's atmosphere and the believable performances. Anyway, if you're wondering what a crossover between The Thing [1982] and Murder on the Orient Express [1974] looks like, give it a go ...
Also, check out my review: http://movie-discourse.blogspot.com/2019/05/horror-express-gb-1972.html?view=flipcard
As I'm familiar with the original short story "Who Goes There", I wasn't really blown away. But I like the movie's atmosphere and the believable performances. Anyway, if you're wondering what a crossover between The Thing [1982] and Murder on the Orient Express [1974] looks like, give it a go ...
Also, check out my review: http://movie-discourse.blogspot.com/2019/05/horror-express-gb-1972.html?view=flipcard
Reviewer:
CSS Dixieland -
favoritefavoritefavorite -
April 1, 2017
Subject: Horror Express - Panico en el Transiberiano
Subject: Horror Express - Panico en el Transiberiano
Review by P. A. Stonemann, CSS Dixieland
Horror Express, film written and directed by Gene Martin
Cast:
Cristopher Lee as Professor Alexander Saxton
Peter Cushing as Medical Doctor Wells
Telly Savalas as Cossack Captain Kazan
Helga Line, Silvia Tortosa, Alberto de Mendoza, Julio Pe¤a, Angel del Pozo
Evaluation: THREE STARS
Produced in the 1970's, this is one of the best Spanish films of those years,
which is not to say much, because most of them were of very low quality, but
this one really surprises for being a good work, and deserves an analysis.
It was exhibited in Spain as 'Panico en el Transiberiano', spoken in Spanish.
The version available in the Internet Archive is in English, with subtitles
in Spanish that contain a few errors, or that contradict the dialogues. For
instance, the name of Professor Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (a real-world person,
one of the early pioneers of Astronautics) is given wrongly as 'Yockonski',
and the Mesozoic Sauropod Brontosaurus (Diplodocus) is called 'Pentosaurus'.
Also, the subtitles refer to the railway station where the travel begins as
in the Russian Territorial Concession in Peking, but two dialogues mention
Shanghai: one between Saxton and Wells, and another dialogue of those two
characters with a beautiful woman spy (yes, the film is complete, including
beautiful female spies and all that sort of thing). Here the subtitles are on
better ground, for it would make no sense to begin travel in Shanghai. It has
to begin in Peking, crossing Mongolia, and connecting at Ulan Ude, near the
Baikal Lake, with the Trans-Siberian Railway Line from Vladivostok to Moscow.
That it is indeed Peking, it is confirmed by mention in two other dialogues
of General Wang, another real-world person, who was one of the War Lords of
China in the years before the Republic of Sun Yat Sen and the rising of the
Kuo Ming Tang. There are flaws in the film, and as said, some errors in the
translation of the subtitles, but not to the point of confusing the story.
Loyal to the title of the film, the story is, unsurprisingly, one of terror.
A paleontological expedition led by Professor Alexander Saxton of the British
Royal Society (interpreted by Cristopher Lee) finds a well preserved hominid
fossil in the Province of Szechuan, Manchuria, in the year 1906 (last years
of rule of the Manchurian Dinasty in China), and takes the fossil in a big
crate on board the Trans-Siberian Railway, for transporting it to Europe.
The fossil has been frozen inside a cave for two million years. It is a Homo
Erectus (Pithecanthropus, Sinanthropus Pekinensis) from the early Pleistocene.
Then it is discovered that the fossil is not really dead. As a matter of fact,
it is a frightening monster, and as frightening monsters often have remarkable
tendency to do, it escapes from its cage and begins killing people one by one
in the train, baffling the surmises of the not-too-brilliant Inspector Miroff.
But it is no ordinary monster. This one can absorb the minds of its victims,
erase their brains, turn their eyes into a spotless white, and even transfer
itself to another body. Passengers are slow to realise their predicament, but
thanks to Professor Saxton, to Doctor Wells (interpreted by Peter Cushing),
and to a few others who prove to be a little more clever than the rest, they
finally figure out what is afoot, and begin to take some 'providences'.
They kill the Pithecanthropus and believe that the horror is all over, only
to be shocked again when it transpires that, unfortunately, the monster had
already impersonated one of the characters. The Sinanthropus had been only
another victim. To make matters unbearable, a mad Orthodox monk, Pujardoff,
is convinced that the monster is an incarnation of the Devil, and complicates
things. Religious superstition is unavoidably entwined in many weird stories.
In spite of their misguided efforts, the situation gradually becomes worser
and worser, until a unit of Cossack Soldiers commanded by the swashbuckling
and sarcastic Captain Kazan (interpreted by Telly Savalas), is by telegraph
ordered to board the train immediately and to set matters straight at once.
The plot (written by Gene Martin) is not very sophisticated, but the actors
interpret their roles with authenticity, if not really with a very credible
behaviour under such horrid circumstances. There are stereotypes and cliches,
such as the Polish Count Petrovsky and an elegant, glamorous young Countess.
There are absurdities that would hardly happen in a real situation. Saxton at
one point suggests to form groups for reciprocal protection. Experience shows
that such 'advice' is unnecessary. Humans instinctively tend to flock together
in face of peril or of the unknown, they do not need to be told to do so. Yet,
they do not do it in the film until near the end, including Saxton himself.
Also, Saxton and Wells perceive that the monster can only attack from a dark
place. Yet, when the monster cuts the electric lights off, they conveniently
take a long time for finding a hand lamp. In the early XX century electric
lights were made of carbon rods, and were still uncommon, common lights were
by gas. In spite of that, Saxton and Wells leave the Cossacks in the dark.
The Cossacks themselves prove to have bad military tactics. They do not watch
their sides and rear, and are caught from behind. No real officer would order
all his men watch only the front, and forget other possible venues of attack.
But what mainly degrades the film is a ridiculous tour de force at the end,
where the monster suddenly displays telepathic powers (before that telepathic
show, the monster always needed some proximity contact with its victims).
Spanish cinematography knew better times (in the 1940's and 1950's), but this
production stood out in the Spanish screens of the 1970's, for in spite of
its shortcomings, it is well done. It was originally distributed in English
for the international market, and in Spanish for their own domestic market.
It means that, in each language, the voices of some actors are really their
own, while other actors are dubbed by speakers of the respective language.
Cristopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Telly Savalas, Helga Line, and some others,
are heard in English with their real voices. Most are Spanish actors posing
as Cossacks, Russians, or Poles. Some actors are still well known in Spain.
The charming Spanish actress Silvia Tortosa is here at the best of her career.
The film stands out for its excellent photography. It is filmed with rich
resources and minute attention to detail: all kinds of atrezzo, furniture,
machines, vehicles, uniforms, small objects, civilian clothes, hair-dressing,
make-up, set decoration, on-location filming, all credibly portray the real
environment of China and the Romanoff Russian Empire in the early XX century.
The film is somewhat dated, the lugubrious music is typical of horror films of
the 1970's, and the end is also typical of that breed of suspense thrillers.
In the score given by this review, one star is taken out because of the plot,
which could have been more credible, and another star because of the absurd
twist of telepathy near the end, which is out of place and contradicts the
previously shown capabilities of the monster. Apart from that, it is a film
that will probably be of interest to lovers of classic mystery and horror.
Review by P. A. Stonemann, CSS Dixieland
Free for copy or distribution, under the regulations of the Internet Archive
Horror Express, film written and directed by Gene Martin
Cast:
Cristopher Lee as Professor Alexander Saxton
Peter Cushing as Medical Doctor Wells
Telly Savalas as Cossack Captain Kazan
Helga Line, Silvia Tortosa, Alberto de Mendoza, Julio Pe¤a, Angel del Pozo
Evaluation: THREE STARS
Produced in the 1970's, this is one of the best Spanish films of those years,
which is not to say much, because most of them were of very low quality, but
this one really surprises for being a good work, and deserves an analysis.
It was exhibited in Spain as 'Panico en el Transiberiano', spoken in Spanish.
The version available in the Internet Archive is in English, with subtitles
in Spanish that contain a few errors, or that contradict the dialogues. For
instance, the name of Professor Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (a real-world person,
one of the early pioneers of Astronautics) is given wrongly as 'Yockonski',
and the Mesozoic Sauropod Brontosaurus (Diplodocus) is called 'Pentosaurus'.
Also, the subtitles refer to the railway station where the travel begins as
in the Russian Territorial Concession in Peking, but two dialogues mention
Shanghai: one between Saxton and Wells, and another dialogue of those two
characters with a beautiful woman spy (yes, the film is complete, including
beautiful female spies and all that sort of thing). Here the subtitles are on
better ground, for it would make no sense to begin travel in Shanghai. It has
to begin in Peking, crossing Mongolia, and connecting at Ulan Ude, near the
Baikal Lake, with the Trans-Siberian Railway Line from Vladivostok to Moscow.
That it is indeed Peking, it is confirmed by mention in two other dialogues
of General Wang, another real-world person, who was one of the War Lords of
China in the years before the Republic of Sun Yat Sen and the rising of the
Kuo Ming Tang. There are flaws in the film, and as said, some errors in the
translation of the subtitles, but not to the point of confusing the story.
Loyal to the title of the film, the story is, unsurprisingly, one of terror.
A paleontological expedition led by Professor Alexander Saxton of the British
Royal Society (interpreted by Cristopher Lee) finds a well preserved hominid
fossil in the Province of Szechuan, Manchuria, in the year 1906 (last years
of rule of the Manchurian Dinasty in China), and takes the fossil in a big
crate on board the Trans-Siberian Railway, for transporting it to Europe.
The fossil has been frozen inside a cave for two million years. It is a Homo
Erectus (Pithecanthropus, Sinanthropus Pekinensis) from the early Pleistocene.
Then it is discovered that the fossil is not really dead. As a matter of fact,
it is a frightening monster, and as frightening monsters often have remarkable
tendency to do, it escapes from its cage and begins killing people one by one
in the train, baffling the surmises of the not-too-brilliant Inspector Miroff.
But it is no ordinary monster. This one can absorb the minds of its victims,
erase their brains, turn their eyes into a spotless white, and even transfer
itself to another body. Passengers are slow to realise their predicament, but
thanks to Professor Saxton, to Doctor Wells (interpreted by Peter Cushing),
and to a few others who prove to be a little more clever than the rest, they
finally figure out what is afoot, and begin to take some 'providences'.
They kill the Pithecanthropus and believe that the horror is all over, only
to be shocked again when it transpires that, unfortunately, the monster had
already impersonated one of the characters. The Sinanthropus had been only
another victim. To make matters unbearable, a mad Orthodox monk, Pujardoff,
is convinced that the monster is an incarnation of the Devil, and complicates
things. Religious superstition is unavoidably entwined in many weird stories.
In spite of their misguided efforts, the situation gradually becomes worser
and worser, until a unit of Cossack Soldiers commanded by the swashbuckling
and sarcastic Captain Kazan (interpreted by Telly Savalas), is by telegraph
ordered to board the train immediately and to set matters straight at once.
The plot (written by Gene Martin) is not very sophisticated, but the actors
interpret their roles with authenticity, if not really with a very credible
behaviour under such horrid circumstances. There are stereotypes and cliches,
such as the Polish Count Petrovsky and an elegant, glamorous young Countess.
There are absurdities that would hardly happen in a real situation. Saxton at
one point suggests to form groups for reciprocal protection. Experience shows
that such 'advice' is unnecessary. Humans instinctively tend to flock together
in face of peril or of the unknown, they do not need to be told to do so. Yet,
they do not do it in the film until near the end, including Saxton himself.
Also, Saxton and Wells perceive that the monster can only attack from a dark
place. Yet, when the monster cuts the electric lights off, they conveniently
take a long time for finding a hand lamp. In the early XX century electric
lights were made of carbon rods, and were still uncommon, common lights were
by gas. In spite of that, Saxton and Wells leave the Cossacks in the dark.
The Cossacks themselves prove to have bad military tactics. They do not watch
their sides and rear, and are caught from behind. No real officer would order
all his men watch only the front, and forget other possible venues of attack.
But what mainly degrades the film is a ridiculous tour de force at the end,
where the monster suddenly displays telepathic powers (before that telepathic
show, the monster always needed some proximity contact with its victims).
Spanish cinematography knew better times (in the 1940's and 1950's), but this
production stood out in the Spanish screens of the 1970's, for in spite of
its shortcomings, it is well done. It was originally distributed in English
for the international market, and in Spanish for their own domestic market.
It means that, in each language, the voices of some actors are really their
own, while other actors are dubbed by speakers of the respective language.
Cristopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Telly Savalas, Helga Line, and some others,
are heard in English with their real voices. Most are Spanish actors posing
as Cossacks, Russians, or Poles. Some actors are still well known in Spain.
The charming Spanish actress Silvia Tortosa is here at the best of her career.
The film stands out for its excellent photography. It is filmed with rich
resources and minute attention to detail: all kinds of atrezzo, furniture,
machines, vehicles, uniforms, small objects, civilian clothes, hair-dressing,
make-up, set decoration, on-location filming, all credibly portray the real
environment of China and the Romanoff Russian Empire in the early XX century.
The film is somewhat dated, the lugubrious music is typical of horror films of
the 1970's, and the end is also typical of that breed of suspense thrillers.
In the score given by this review, one star is taken out because of the plot,
which could have been more credible, and another star because of the absurd
twist of telepathy near the end, which is out of place and contradicts the
previously shown capabilities of the monster. Apart from that, it is a film
that will probably be of interest to lovers of classic mystery and horror.
Review by P. A. Stonemann, CSS Dixieland
Free for copy or distribution, under the regulations of the Internet Archive
Reviewer:
Peter Cushing Hammer Horror
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
November 12, 2015
Subject: Christopher lee
Subject: Christopher lee
R.I.P CHRISTOPHER LEE
Reviewer:
bluemax0
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
June 27, 2011
Subject: great
Subject: great
Christopher Lee & Peter Cushing. nothing more needs to be said.
Reviewer:
Darkon31
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
December 8, 2010
Subject: Train to the endland
Subject: Train to the endland
"You work with the devil" : mean we are all in that train for the end of mankind. A great movie i still have in memory. The memory of our being is not going through our ADN cells, but by our brain and conscience (remember the prophetie).
Reviewer:
Ed Jr
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
January 3, 2010
Subject: Oldies but goodies
Subject: Oldies but goodies
Just great. Lots of fun. Christopher Lee is now 87 and still going strong.
Reviewer:
nigeldavahah
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
August 20, 2009
Subject: this is a must see
Subject: this is a must see
fun fun fun "it would be a mistake to kill me"
Reviewer:
Shadows_Girl
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 24, 2009
Subject: "Different Type of Team-up" hah!
Subject: "Different Type of Team-up" hah!
Were you people raised in a cave or something? They made many MORE films together in NON Dracula roles than they ever did otherwise.
The Skull, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Gorgon, (this film) and Dr. Terror's House of Horrors all come to mind and I'm sure I could think up several others if I wished.
This, however, is a pretty good film...too bad it's still under copyright and having it here will probably see the Internet Archive go the way of divx Stage 6 and other services.
The Skull, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Gorgon, (this film) and Dr. Terror's House of Horrors all come to mind and I'm sure I could think up several others if I wished.
This, however, is a pretty good film...too bad it's still under copyright and having it here will probably see the Internet Archive go the way of divx Stage 6 and other services.
Reviewer:
orc0294
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
November 21, 2008
Subject: Solid Cushing/Lee team up
Subject: Solid Cushing/Lee team up
Like others have said it was nice to see a different type of team up between the two. Also enjoyed the short cameo by Savalas who always seems to play great characters. Downloaded the 490 mb mpeg4 and it played really well on my zune.
Reviewer:
arcturus
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
August 18, 2008
Subject: quite good actually...
Subject: quite good actually...
It was great to see Cristopher Lee and Peter Cushing together without them(actually)going at each other fang and stake.
Reviewer:
Robin (UK) -
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
August 17, 2008
Subject: Classic Horror Great
Subject: Classic Horror Great
This was one of the first horror movies that I watched at the cinema turning the grand age of 18. I loved it then and my thoughts have not changed. The Lee and Cushing partnership works just as well on train as it did in a castle in Transilvania It was good to see them not playing their cape and stake parts! Telly Savalas surprised me with his role, I have seen him in other films, playing the bad guy in a James Bond film and does anyone remember 'capricorn One?, both were good but this was a much better part for him.
Reviewer:
gmonk
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
July 31, 2008
Subject: B-Movie excellence
Subject: B-Movie excellence
I know, my subject title is an oxymoron. This really is a great piece of horror film though. Decent performances, good costuming and an interesting 'monster'. Loved every second of it!
Reviewer:
CyberWasted
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
July 2, 2008
Subject: Now this is Horror Cinema!
Subject: Now this is Horror Cinema!
Horror Express is easily one of my all time favourite classic horror films. It has all the hallmarks of greatness. Firstly it stars 2 supremo horror actors, the late great Mr Peter Cushing and the equally brilliant Mr Christopher Lee. Secondly it has a story to die for including, a alien entity that is bought aboard the the Express train frozen in a "missing link" monster. (But frozen not for long!) An evil being that drains the memories of the living through simply staring and hypnotizing its prey, turning them into white eyed corpses. Mouth watering creature and camera effects, man this is one creepy entity. A finale that includes a horde of undead zombies amassing towards a trapped group of passengers on a speeding coal fired locomotive. And much, much more. Oh and lest we forget a strong supporting cast including Telly Savalas. Horror Express quite simply has some of the most memorable and genuinely chilling scenes and imagery of any horror film, period. An absolute horror classic. Don't miss this gem. I've seen it no less than 5 times since I first discovered it a few years back and it never ceases to feel fresh or pack the same powerful punch as the first viewing. This is a very rare feat.
Reviewer:
human
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
June 10, 2008
Subject: A classic among B-movies
Subject: A classic among B-movies
As low-budget schlock theatre pictures go, this one hangs together surprisingly well. This was an excellent example of sets and miniatures being effectively recycled from a bigger budget picture. The slightly psychedelic cinematography and weird synthesizer music are artifacts of the era in which it was produced. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee turn in credible performances and Telly Savalas is, well, Telly Savalas. Kept waiting for him to whip out a Tootsie Pop and say "Who loves ya, Baby!"
Reviewer:
moonvisage
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
June 9, 2008
Subject: incredible
Subject: incredible
This movie is incredible.one of the creepiest and best made movies ever.I am seriously stunned archive.org has managed to get it on their site.
Reviewer:
seerofeverything
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
June 9, 2008
Subject: Excellent!
Subject: Excellent!
I watched this film when I was a kid dirung the 70's. It scared the hell out of me, and it still does. This used to be featured on "Fright Night Theater" then, and it still stands out in my memories. This was classic acting by the polular Perter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Let's not forget the exceptional work by Alberto de Mendoza as a Rasputinesc priest. I highly recommend this film as an absolute must for horror film buffs. Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, and Telly Savalas. What more can you ask for?
Reviewer:
ThobiasV -
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 25, 2008
Subject: Surprisingly good
Subject: Surprisingly good
This movie surprised me a lot. I did not expect to find a movie s
this good in the library. It is perhaps not the best work ever done by Lee and Cushing, but absolutely worth watching. It makes for an interesting one hour and thirty minutes.
Adding to that, the quality of this download is acceptable for watching on an iPod or, as I did, a 1024x768 screen.
The movie is a three, but gets a four because of Lee and Cushing.
this good in the library. It is perhaps not the best work ever done by Lee and Cushing, but absolutely worth watching. It makes for an interesting one hour and thirty minutes.
Adding to that, the quality of this download is acceptable for watching on an iPod or, as I did, a 1024x768 screen.
The movie is a three, but gets a four because of Lee and Cushing.
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