Paramount Pictures

Remake! Today’s movie review changes direction (now Shanghai to Peking) and heavily copies 1932’s Shanghai Express including reusing several train shots from that film.

This film noir feature is a rather tepid affair, starring Joseph Cotton as Doctor Michael Bachlin and Corinne Calvet as Danielle Grenier. Still, there are some redeeming parts including a train-Jeep chase at the end, with guns a blazing.

It’s a mish-mosh of Southern Pacific Railroad locomotives and equipment done up with Chinese characters. Let’s check it out!

“Looks like Charlie Chan up there, man!” Nope. It’s white boy Marvin Miller, as the mysterious Kwon onboard the Tientsen-Pukow train, sporting heavy-duty Hollywood Oriental makeup. More about him later.

Our picture opens with mild-mannered Doc Bachlin bumping into ex-peasant, Commie-fanatic Wong (played by Benson Fong) at the ticket counter of Shanghai North Station. Wong does an impressive job pissing-off practically everyone he comes in contact with (It’s fun to play the heavy!).

Now aboard and ensconced in his compartment, Joseph Cotton looks warily down the corridor. Notice all the Noir black and white “stripes” on Joe and the interior. Intrigue will surely follow.

Good views of the Paramount station gate (Track 4) and passenger car filmed on the lot.

All Aboard! The train pulls out of town. These two views are lifted directly out of Shanghai Express 1932, right down to the locomotive number (SP 4324).

I believe this engine is actually SP #2428, a P-3 class 4-6-2 built by Baldwin.

Why, it’s YOU! Doc Bachlin’s ex-lover Danielle appears from out of his past, making eyes at him. Dani has quite the reputation and a string of trysts as long as your arm. A high-grade French prostitute, she is.

Interlude! While we’re on the subject, here’s a couple glam shots of Ms. Calvet (rahr-RAHR!). Must have been cold that day.

In the vestibule, Doc Bachlin pipes up saying, “I’m with the United Nations — World Health Organization” (as he hands her a cigarette). Back in the hallway, they meet up with Charlie… er… Kwon, who invites them to his table for dinner.

Three stripes, you’re out! Talk about Noir lighting…

Interior views of the dining car set. Joe invites the peasant/commie to his table for a chat. Like with everyone else, Wong insults his hosts and storms off in a huff. Bastard.

This train seems to be making an unscheduled stop. Wong explains these are Communist troops being loaded onboard for protection as they’re about to go thru “Injun Territory” (bands of irregulars often raid trains).

More views lifted from Shanghai Express 1932. Note the classic Vanderbilt tender with Chinese characters on the side.

Wouldn’t you know, a gang of rowdies blocks the tracks with a bonfire and everyone is unloaded.

Take me to your leader. GAH! It’s Kwon! Kwoooooon! It turns out he’s in the “import-export business” (smuggling medicine and weapons and reselling them at exorbitant profit). The 3-star general’s uniform is stolen to make him feel/look like a big shot.

NOT ONLY has Kwon tried to poison his wife, Li Elu (played by Soo Young), turned his son away from her, carried on with that…that… French tart…well, you know about fury of a woman scorned.

His final words before Li Elu knifes him are a snarling: “I am not the peasant son you married, I am an important man now, a great man! You no longer have any claim on me!”

Not a tremendously smart move on his part, as she stabs him in the back (and the front for good measure). Scratch one great man.

Seizing this golden opportunity, Doc Bachlin rounds up the Westerners and Jeeps over to the train, forcing the guard to wave a highball to the engineer.

The engineer of 4234 waves to acknowledge and starts the engine.

Where did THIS come from? Probably stock footage from another movie. It’s SP #3243, a Baldwin-built 2-8-2 Mk-5 class Mikado.

For comparison, here’s a picture of sister locomotive SP #3249.

Finally, Cotton drops the whole compassionate Doctor routine and starts using firearms! Somehow, he obtained a Tommy Gun and is determined to slay everyone who tries to catch them. Here he is blasting away from the vestibule of the last car, as the commies in the Jeep return fire. Blood! Gore! Down with the Hippocratic Oath!

Nicely-framed shot as the train picks up speed; Another Jeep-load of trouble pulls up to the coaches.

Rat-a-tat-tat! Joe keeps firing until every last commie bastard is left beside the tracks in an untidy heap. Did he really learn all this in Medical School?

Just a tinge of regret from the Killer Doc as our movie comes to a close. Yep, only the two top stars made it out alive in this picture. Happy New Year!

Here’s what IMDb has to say about Peking Express:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043912/

If you have ANY information about this movie you’d like to share, please contact me at: Lindsay.Korst@gmail.com, or leave a comment.  Thanks and enjoy the blog!

THE END