Horror Express *** (1972, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Telly Savalas, Alberto de Mendoza, Helga Liné, Silvia Tortosa ) – Classic Movie Review 3778

Director Eugenio [Gene] Martin’s Spanish-British 1972 thriller is an enjoyable express ride down the track of terror, in a tale jam packed with enough incidents for half a dozen regular horror films.

Christopher Lee stars as Sir Alexander Saxton, a British anthropology professor bringing back the remains of a Missing Link-type monster from the frozen depths of Siberia aboard a trans-Siberian express at the turn of the last century (it is 1906). Soon the monster thaws out and starts to slaughter the passengers one by one, turning them into zombies. The monster’s evil seems impossible to stop – even the train’s emergency cord won’t stop it!

Peter Cushing joins in the thrills as a rival scientist, Doctor Wells, while Helga Liné as spy Natasha, Silvia Tortosa as Countess Irina Petrovski and Telly Savalas as Cossack fighter Captain Kazan are soon among the zombies.

It may seem daft at times, it is but done with some intelligence and a good splash of humour. The train was originally made for Nicholas and Alexandra (1971). Original screenplay credit to Julian Halevy was a blacklist pseudonym for Julian Zimet, writing with Arnaud d’Usseau.

Also in the cast are Alberto de Mendoza as Father Pujardov, Jorge [George] Rigaud as Count Marion Petrovski, Angel del Pozo, Julio Peña, Alice Reinheart as Miss Jones and José Jaspe as Conductor Konev, with Juan Olaguivel as the Creature.

The film was released two days after Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972), which also stars Lee and Cushing.

Telly Savalas also involved with the same production team’s Westerns A Town Called Bastard (1972) and Pancho Villa (1972).

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3778

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