Night Train to Murder

I remember seeing this TV film when it was first broadcast. I can't believe Morecambe and Wise finished up making this nonsense. They were lumbered with average material, as were the supporting cast. The story is about as clichéd as it gets: the gathering of a family for the reading of a will at a large country house. There's murder afoot, along with secret passages, a master of disguise, foggy nights and family skeletons. It's clearly a pastiche of traditional crime fiction. Authors like Agatha Christie and Edgar Wallace spring to mind - except they made the above clichés entertaining and thrilling. Eric Morecambe does not look well but he's a real trooper.

A will to be read at midnight, a maniac made up to look like the Phantom of the Opera, all the heirs being murdered, and Morecombe and Wise.

Eric Morecombe is even reading the story of what's going on in a cheap book, which pastiches a bunch of mysteries of the 1940s. They're playing a couple of mediocre music hall song-and-dance men, and there's a lot of potential in this TV movie. Unfortunately, there's no energy in the performances, and a dull pace of editing. It's the last time that that Morecombe and Wise worked together. Eric Morecombe was in poor health when they made this and there's little energy in their performances. He would die five months later at the age of 58. Ernie Wise would make one more solo appearance the following year, and follow his longtime partner in in 1999, aged 73.

Morecombe and Wise had formed their comedy partnership in 1941, and had prospered many years with the combination of schoolboy humor and soft amiability. The only chemistry in evidence between them is in the concluding scene, when they are walking away from the camera on a long road, singing old songs and telling old jokes to each other. It was a good moment to go out on. It's too bad the movie isn't much good.

One need not be familiar with Morecambe and Wise to enjoy this film, though it's also well worth noting that 'Night train to murder' boasts other idiosyncrasies that surely impact viewership. As one should well expect, it's a very British sense of humor on hand, including quips and references of a cultural and contemporary historical nature that mean some of the comedy here just won't land outside a very particular audience. There's something to be said for a feature that inherently struggles with broad appeal through different times and places - but then, this also knows and tells us very plainly what it is, with no pretense otherwise. And at that, the core of the title is built on more generalized precepts: send-ups of renowned books, movies, or TV shows; absurdism, wordplay, and witty repartee; upended expectations, and touches of physical comedy to taste.

There are some rough patches in the feature at times, whether as a matter of a joke overstaying its welcome, slack pacing, excessive reliance on references, or otherwise. Moreover, some of the humor is based on nigh-cartoonish levels of silliness that may be a bit much for some to abide. There's also no mistaking that the production values leave a bit to be desired, accordingly a significant bump in the road at the time this was being made and released - and heightening the air of artifice about it all. Still - much more so than not, however, 'Night train to murder' is fun and entertaining - cleverly written, and finely executed. Everyone in the cast gives strong, animated performances full of personality and poise, tailored purely to the irreverence and frivolity on display. Even for viewers not distinctly familiar with British TV or movies, there are some unexpected and recognizable names and faces here, and it's a joy to watch them all. Why, to that point, I stumbled across this owing to Lysette Anthony's prominent role, and I'm pleased to see her so ably inhabit the part.

It's also worth noting admirable consideration for all the little details that round out the production. Filming locations, set design and decoration, hair and makeup, and costume design are plainly fetching. Notable care went into the sound design, and beyond the writing, the orchestration of each scene is also terrific. I rather must say I had mixed expectations before I began watching, and even as the feature started playing. In fairness, it's hardly perfect, and I find I want to like it more than I do; there's just no getting around some of the indelicacies as they present. Yet for a feature that could have easily gone much more wrong in many more ways, I simply had a good time. At length - it's no revelation, but if a "good time" is all that 'Night train to murder' can claim, then that's enough for me.

As Morecambe and Wise films go as a comedy this isn't there best but still a good film all the same, as a thriller it's a tad lacking and I believe the comedy suffers to try and give it a thrillers edge. The acting isn't totally up-to scratch, by all the cast, the few gags that are in it are liberally spread, and there but if you blink you will miss them. You can tell parts were dubbed, and only true Morecambe and Wise fans will appreciate this film. Seeing that I am not heavily in to thrillers and haven't read any books of which this "send-up of some of the great thriller writers, including Edgar Wallace, Raymond Chandler and Agatha Christie" is based on, so I may have missed some of the gags. Even though it's not the best of the films they made together but worth a watch!

There are those who say the comedy of Morecambe & Wise did not translate well to the big screen. People who know about this sort of thing tend to disagree. The 1983 romp "Night Train To Murder" was actually made for TV; it stars the guys as themselves, and is set in the aftermath of the Second World World. Eric's niece turns up out of the blue followed by a dodgy solicitor who tells her she is one of the heirs to a £10 million estate. That was when £10 million was worth £10 million! So off they all go to Scotland where someone doesn't want her or any of the other heirs to get their hands on the money.

Forget about the silly plot, the gags come fast and furious, and not only from Eric. You may not understand the in-jokes, like the lawyer Mackay played by Fulton Mackay, but quite a few of Eric's jokes are near the knuckle.

Does it have a happy ending? Sadly, Eric died the following year too young at just 58; Mackay three years later at 64. Ernie Wise lived to a reasonable age of 73, but their legacy will live forever.