March 1st, 2005

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Movies
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Train Scenes in Movies

I’m doing a lighting design (it’s one of my hobbies) for Pacific Theatre’s production of Last Train to Nibroc. It’s a pretty unexciting play–a love story set in the forties. It’s the kind of thing you could take your mother and grandmother to.

The play’s first scene takes place on a train heading east across the United States, just before dawn on December 28, 1940. In doing my research, I’m looking for movies that include interior scenes on trains of around this period. I’ll take any train movie scenes, but here are my ideal criteria:

  • Set on an American train
  • During the 1940s
  • At night
  • The film should be in colour–a modern movie depicting that period.
  • Ideally, a non-sleeping and non-dining compartment. What do you call those? A regular compartment where people sit.

I immediately thought of Trading Places (“You will help me get my rucksack down for the Swedish meatballs”) or Midnight Run, but too modern. My closest bet has been Biloxi Blues, but I don’t think it features scenes at night. Any suggestions?

Update: This was the first time I’ve ever AskedMetafilter–they were helpful as well.

Comments: 14 Responses so far

Marc Vandersluys
March 1st, 2005
6:22 pm

That’s a tough one. One question I have is (and it may be a silly one), Did trains change a great deal in the early 20th Century? I ask, because “Unforgiven” (1992) has a “regular car” train scene (albeit during the day), but it’s set in the 1890s. (Which makes me wonder why I commented at all).

I’m not familiar with a great deal of movies set in that particular time period, but I suppose you could take a look at some movies about WWII?

Just trying to help.

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Marc Vandersluys
March 1st, 2005
6:24 pm

I suppose they are all largely set in Europe, but Patton, Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, all come to mind.

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Bill Stilwell
March 1st, 2005
6:24 pm

Two Hitchcock films that I’m pretty sure have train scenes: Strangers on a Train and North by Northwest.

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Bill Stilwell
March 1st, 2005
6:26 pm

There is, of course, a list of films with train scenes on amazon.

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C.H.
March 1st, 2005
6:29 pm

I believe there was a short train-scene in ‘Where Eagles Dare’, (1968, starring Clint Eastwood) but maybe I’ve mixed it up with another similar film. –Been a while since I’ve seen it, btw..

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Trevor
March 1st, 2005
11:02 pm

Billy Wilder’s 1944 Double Indemnity has a nice train-ing sequence.

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Matt
March 1st, 2005
11:45 pm

My favorite movie of all time, Von Ryan’s Express, is set almost fully on a train. If you haven’t seen this movie, check it out. One of Sinatra’s finest works.

How it does or does not meet your criteria:

Set in Europe
During the correct time period
Takes place during the night and day.
In color but not colour :)
All different types of cars, boxcars, a caboose with both an office area and a sleeper area, and I believe one maybe two in a traditional car.

Another good movie would be The Great Escape. From what I remember, how it does or does not meet your criteria:

Set in Europe
During the correct time period
Takes place mainly during the day.
In color
The trains scenes take place on the type of car that you are looking for, can’t remember how many there are though.

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gillian
March 1st, 2005
11:57 pm

Ah, that would explain the weird sense of deja vu I was feeling today: seeing the same blog entry in two places.

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pedant
March 2nd, 2005
12:07 am

Darren may be looking for an American movie but we are still located in Canada where colour is properly spelled with a “u”.

Sorry, but it’s a pet peeve.

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Matt
March 2nd, 2005
12:12 am

pedant,
I know, I was just kidding. It’s not my fault that we bastardized the English language.

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Jason
March 2nd, 2005
10:22 am

I’ve been looking for resources on lighting design.

Are there any books or web sites that you’d recommend?

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Darren
March 2nd, 2005
10:28 am

Jason: In truth, I’ve never looked for LX design resources online. I’ve got a few books, and consult them when I need to.

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Mike M
March 2nd, 2005
10:42 am

Although I don’t remember if it specifies exactly, “The Natural” takes place somewhere around the 40s, and has several scenes that take place on a train in the US. I think at least one of those scenes takes place at night.

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cheryl
March 2nd, 2005
10:46 pm

Maybe I missed it, but has anyone mentioned “Strangers on a Train” (Hitchcock, 1951) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044079/

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