Peking Express

Solid film starring Joseph Cotton, Corinne Calvet, Edmund Gwenn, and Marvin Miller.

Peking Express appears to be a remake of Shangai Express, This time it concerns train passengers headed for Peking in the Communist era.

This is a propaganda film, with much being espoused by the Joseph Cotton character, but it is still absorbing. He plays Michael Bachlin, a World Health Organization doctor en route to operate on a patient. On the train, he runs into his ex-lover Danielle (Calvet) who might have been entertaining the troops in order to survive. She and Michael are still in love, though Danielle feels it's too late.

Also on the train is a communist reporter (Benson Fong) who constantly argues with Michael about the revolution. There is also an elderly priest (Gwenn) and a gang of thieves led by Kwon (Marvin Miller). They have stolen medicine intended for the WHO to sell on the black market. Kwon's wife is on the train, brutally injured when he tries to kill her.

With all those characters and the background of communism, the movie held my interest. Calvet is beautiful, and she and Cotton had good chemistry. Cotton, as a no-nonsense doctor, is terrific.