Review of The Paris Express

I was really disappointed to see that no effort was made to cast the Dutch roles in this film with convincing Dutchmen (or women). I am not sure why they thought anyone would believe that this predominately British Cast could pass as Dutch when then not only don't look the part, but don't sound the part either. That aside the story was about a by the book bookkeeper named Kees Popinga, who discovers that his boss (the owner of the company, Julius de Koster) has bankrupted the business and is going run with the rest of the money and his French mistress Michèle. When Kees confronts Julius, his boss has an accident and dies. Kees then takes the money and boards a train to France where he seeks out Julius' French mistress, who initially doesn't give him the time of day. All the while Kees is being followed and badgered by a Paris inspector named Lucas. When the inspector lets it slip that Kees has Julius' money, Michèle...who was only bilking Julius of his money for her real boyfriend the wastrel Louis, changes her tune about Kees Popinga...the mild mannered bookkeeper from Groningen.

I was irritated by the portrayal of the Dutch and the disdain shown by the French. I notice that they did use French speaking actors to play the French roles...making the lack of Dutch accents even more noticeable. To be honest, I am not the biggest Claude Rains fan and him playing the very non-Dutch Kees Popinga did not win me over. Slow moving, but great cinematography...I think train aficionados will enjoy this film. I preferred the title The Man Who Watched Trains to The Paris Express. I wish they had handled Groningen and the Dutch aspects of this film with more care and this really keeps it from being recommend in my book.