Sleeping Car *** (1933, Madeleine Carroll, Ivor Novello) – Classic Movie Review 12,040

Director Anatole Litvak’s 1933 British black and white romantic comedy film Sleeping Car stars Madeleine Carroll and Ivor Novello.

Enjoyable, nicely played hit 1930s British romantic comedy in which Ivor Novello plays Gaston Bray, a womanising French sleeping car attendant on a trans-European train, who falls for a rich, beautiful young widow passenger, the young British aristocrat Anne Howard (Madeleine Carroll). But, at least at first, she just wants to use him as a means to live in France after discovering that unless she marries a French citizen her stay in France will be cut short because of driving offences.

Sleeping Car is a pleasant surprise as a pleasing, light-hearted, entertaining vintage film. Carroll and Novello are well paired and it is good to see them in their vivacious prime.

The film went missing shortly after its release only to be discovered nearly 60 years later lying in dusty reels at Pinewood studios with no labels.

It was restored by the National Film Archive and re-launched (minus a few scenes) at the 1992 London Film Festival, running 75 minutes instead of the original 82 minutes.

It is shot at Gaumont-British Studios, Lime Grove, Shepherd’s Bush, London, where the art direction is by Alfred Junge.

Also in the cast are Laddie Cliff, Kay Hammond, Claud Allister, Stanley Holloway, Vera Bryer, Ivor Barnard, Pat Fitzpatrick, Sam Keen, Richard Littledale, Peggy Simpson, and Bobbie Comber.

Sleeping Car is directed by Anatole Litvak [Anatol Litwak], runs 82 minutes or 75 minutes, is made by Gaumont British Picture Corporation, is released by Ideal Films (1933) (UK), is written by Michael Gordon (scenario), Roland Pertwee (dialogue), Franz Schulz (story) and Anatole Litvak (story), is shot in black and white by Günther Krampf and Glen MacWilliams, is produced by Michael Balcon, is scored by Louis Levy, and designed by Alfred Junge.

Sonnie Hale is assistant director.

The theme song ‘Oh How Wonderful’ is composed by Noel Gay (music) and Clifford Grey (lyrics).

The jewellery is by Lacloche Frères.

The cast are Madeleine Carroll as Anne, Ivor Novello as Gaston, Kay Hammond as Simone, Claud Allister as Baron Delande, Laddie Cliff as Pierre Concombe, Stanley Holloway as Francois, Ivor Barnard as Durande, Vera Bryer as Jenny, Pat Fitzpatrick, Sam Keen, Richard Littledale, Peggy Simpson, and Bobbie Comber.

Ivor Novello is portrayed by Jeremy Northam in Robert Altman’s 2001 film Gosford Park.

Ivor Novello is portrayed in a none too flattering light by Jeremy Irvine in the 2021 biographical drama film Benediction written and directed by Terence Davies.

Novello starred in two silent films directed by Alfred Hitchcock, The Lodger and Downhill (both 1927). He appeared in his own lavish West End productions of musicals such as Glamorous Night (1935) and The Dancing Years (1939).

The 39 Steps (1935).

Madeleine Carroll is remembered for her role in Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps (1935).

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,040

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