The Last Journey (1935) User Reviews

Excellent low budget British thriller

[chris_gaskin123 · 8/10 · 20 September 2005]

Although only an hour long, The Last Journey is a very gripping vintage British thriller.

A train driver, just about to undertake his last job before retiring discovers his fireman is having an affair with his wife, so he takes a gun and threatens him with it and he forces him to keep putting coal into the fire to make the loco go faster. As a result, the train misses all its stops and arrives at its destination early. One of the passengers manages to get the driver to slow down. There is a rather motley collection of passengers on board including a newly married couple on honeymoon, a pair of crooks, a woman who tells everyone not to drink alcohol, a couple with some very lively children, a Frenchman and a lone boy.

Despite its low budget and age, I enjoyed watching this movie. It is available in the UK on VHS as a double feature with The Ghost Camera.

A must for all vintage movie fans and also rail enthusiasts. Excellent.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

Astonishingly good for its budget and era

[SPLeo · 8/10 · 10 July 2022]

I caught this on Talking Pictures TV in the UK and was blown away by how good this low-budget thriller (£27,000 reportedly) turned out to be.

Yes, there's some ham acting typical of the era, and railway buffs quibble that safety devices on trains even then would have stopped the plot in its tracks, but the humour stands up well in the 21st century and I'll watch anything that features Godfrey Tearle.

The crowning glory, though, was the pace of the editing as the denouement approached. I was leaning forward in my seat, totally involved and gripped.

Hats off, then, to editor Lister Laurance. The astonishing thing is that he was only 23 when he cut this film.

Recommended.

Ambitious little thriller delivers

[stuarthill-20-770129 · 8/10 · 5 April 2011]

The plot is simple: A train driver, unable to accept retirement and wrongly imagining his wife is having an affair, hatches an idea in his fevered mind to give his last train passengers the ride of their lives.

The film develops a lickety-split pace once the train's eponymous journey begins, and doesn't let up, as character plots intermingle with typical B-movie haste, stirred up with brisk dialogue, editing and direction, while the mind of the troubled train driver unravels even quicker. Considering its age, the film-making is very sophisticated and the writer throws every type of thrill into the pot, many of which can be seen in movies forty + years hence:

--- spoiler alert (train chasing car - French Connection, Bi-Plane chasing train - Silver Streak, trusted husband loosing it and turning into murderous maniac - The Shining, unstoppable train - Silver Streak once more, character vignettes sketched in ahead of disaster - Poseidon Adventure) ---end spoiler alert.

Some of the camera-work employed in the car-train sequences would stand up in a Spielberg production. And all this in one short hour of B movie-making; B for "Blimey, what a little corker!"

Surprises in this thirties British support.

[Mozjoukine · 16 August 2002]

Despite the decades of subsidised film study in Britain, little is known about their pre-Korda years. Critics and thesis writers have been inhibited by the lack of plagiarisable material and the awfulness of much of what was about.

The neglect of Maurice Elvey's films is the most obvious result but here is a modest English program entertainment which reverses expectations. Script and performance are less than imposing as passengers with problems accumulate but the energy is startling in the staging of the story of the demented engine driver taking the Mulchester (!) local round the curves at lethal speed, filmed air to rail, road to rail and rail to rail as the racing car, plane and goods trains run level with the speeding passenger local, in the best silent serial traditions.Rail freaks will be delighted by the documentary like coverage of procedures and equipment.

Director Vorhaus developed a following when David Lean named him as mentor but most of his output is mediocre or worse. This one suggests Lean may have known something we don't.

Some good suspense in this action disaster movie

[vampire_hounddog · 6/10 · 29 September 2020]

On his last few days employed as an engine driver on an express train before he retires, Bob (Julien Mitchell) is not exactly looking forward to retirement and suspects his wife (Olga Lindo) of having an affair with a friend and colleague and plots his revenge, putting the lives of his passengers and everyone else in danger.

An interesting, if at times questionable action melodrama that leads to an exciting lengthy climax.

Vintage quota quickie

[chrismartonuk-1 · 7/10 · 22 June 2008]

The low budget British B film of the 30's is a much derided genre and conventional wisdom has it they did much to damage the image and prestige of the domestic film industry. But, as in any genre, there was scope for the occasional gem by an innovative writer and director. This is one such example. When most British films of the time - and for a long while afterwards - invariably consist of long dragging master shots, THE LAST JOURNEY is composed of rapid fire editing and quick, inventive clips that ratchet up the tension. There are occasional striking compositions through the fiery opening to the train's furnace as the deranged driver goes about his business. There are a motley group of passengers each with their own soap-opera problems. One such is Judy Gumm - a strikingly attractive British ingénue whose career promised much but went nowhere after she married a short time later. Another group of con men and woman have to deal with an inconvenient - and unconscious - detective - who turns a blind eye to them at the end and allows them to escape. There are several high tensions scenes of the engineer escaping across the roof's of the carriages and the Doctor who clambers into the cab to use psychology to calm the insane driver.

This comes close to being a B British disaster movie and its helter skelter editing - no scene seems to last longer than a minute - maintains a hectic pace that leaves the viewer on the edge of his seat. It's a worthy example of how to make something out of very little and a lesson to British filmmakers everywhere. Few of the actors on display will be familiar - except for Godfey Tearle as the heroic Doctor who later crops up in ONE OF OUR AIRCRAFT IS MISSING. The extensive location shooting provides an intriguing glimpse of a lost prewar world. Two excellent books are worth mentioning. QUOTA QUICKIES by Steve Chibnall for the BFI amply demonstrates just how much wheat there was amongst the chaff of the prewar British B film - and some surprising names eg Errol Flynn - and THE UNKNOWN 30'S edited by Jeffrey Richards has a whole chapter devoted to Bernard Vorhaus.

Sub-Hitch exciting comedy-thriller

[trimmerb1234 · 7/10 · 26 December 2010]

This, had Hitch directed it, would have been considered one of his lesser efforts yet it has many of the elements and one of the stars, (Godfrey Tearle) of his "39 Steps" and lacks nothing in pace or sly humour. Hugh Williams was very much in the Robert Donat mould, albeit a national rather than international star.

www.britishpictures.com warns against the easy dismissal of British films post 1927 as "quota quickies" arguing that "The big budget Things To Come, for example, can't be regarded as a quota-quickie yet producer Alexander Korda came to Britain because of the protection the quota offered." while fully accepting that there were dreadful low budget efforts which came into being because of the quota.

This is all round, not less than a middle-ranking film in terms of stars,ambition, writing, direction and budget. Reminiscent of silent car/train chase films this steams along at a rattling pace but manages to amuse with the semi-comic conman and woman who get caught up in the plot.

Thoroughly entertaining but lacking the brilliance of the Master.

An absolute must-see movie for all railway buffs!

[rastar330 · 9/10 · 29 November 2004]

A definite must for railway buffs (in fact it would easily figure on the top ten), thanks to the wholehearted co-operation of the Great Western Railway which has produced some absolutely staggering scenes and effects. Aside from a bit of obvious under cranking right at the very beginning of the movie, technical credits are extremely proficient. Direction and camera-work strike even a casual viewer as especially skillful. The script is serviceable enough too, though some of the players, particularly Julien Mitchell as the mad engineer, are inclined to over-do things a little. Olga Lindo is also a bit of a pain as the overly sympathetic wife, but that's the fault of the script. Judy Gunn makes a pleasant heroine, and it's nice to see Eve Gray laying on the charm as a confidence girl.

Train of Events

[richardchatten · 8/10 · 19 April 2022]

In the spring of 1986 I enjoyed the pleasure of sitting in a large audience on London's South Bank thoroughly lapping up this Twickenham quickie dynamically directed by Bernard Vorhaus who was actually there to introduce the film.

Vorhaus singled out for praise the unique Sydney Fairebrother, his one major regret being making a passenger's stutter a source of humour; while Elliot Makeham is cast spectacularly against type as a "dirty little rat" in a bowler.

Bernard Vorhaus' 'The Last Journey' (1935): A Gripping Railroad Thriller that Transcends Time

[bubblybosun · 10/10 · 17 March 2024]

Step aboard the cinematic journey of a lifetime with 'The Last Journey' (1935), directed by the visionary Bernard Vorhaus. Set against the backdrop of a thrilling train expedition, this forgotten gem of the silver screen takes audiences on a pulse-pounding ride filled with suspense, intrigue, and unexpected twists.

As the locomotive hurtles through the picturesque countryside, tensions run high among the eclectic group of passengers onboard. Vorhaus masterfully crafts a narrative that delves into the depths of human nature, exploring themes of love, betrayal, and redemption against the backdrop of a rapidly unfolding mystery.

The ensemble cast delivers powerhouse performances, bringing to life a diverse array of characters with their own secrets and motivations. From the enigmatic stranger to the star-crossed lovers, each passenger adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, keeping viewers guessing until the final frame.

What truly sets 'The Last Journey' apart is its ability to keep audiences on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Vorhaus expertly ratchets up the tension with each passing moment, building to a heart-stopping climax that will leave viewers breathless.

With its timeless themes and captivating storytelling, 'The Last Journey' remains as riveting today as it was upon its release nearly a century ago. So, climb aboard and experience the thrill of the ride - you won't want to miss this unforgettable journey through cinematic history. 👍👍

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

[1930s_Time_Machine · 4/10 · 27 January 2024]

Despite the artistic and financial constraints of working at Twickenham Studios Bernard Vorhaus was determined to make an entertaining little picture out of this albeit with not the most talented bunch of actors. It's not a classic but it's a really fun watch.

Not unlike FRIDAY 13TH made a couple of years earlier, this 'disaster about to happen' story enlivens its drama by focussing on the individual little stories of the unfortunate passengers, making them real people on this train bound for its final destination. That earlier film was however made by a proper studio, had a proper script, proper actors and of course the ultimate dream girl, gorgeous Jessie Matthews. This however, made with a budget that Gaumont-British would probably spend just on Miss Matthews' tea and biscuits has something special - the amazing Bernard Vorhaus. This director with an array of imaginative camerawork and clever editing, which gets faster and faster with some scenes lasting just a few seconds towards the end, creates a real sense of tension and genuine concern for those passengers whom you've quickly come to know and actually care for. It's a remarkable demonstration of talent.

Like those early Warner Brothers films where every millimetre of expensive celluloid had to be used to tell the story rather than any of that background of mood building nonsense! Vorhaus build's the characters and packs the life stories of about five groups of people into this even before the action starts. It's an impressive achievement and although this type of story has subsequently been done dozens of times better, this is still pretty enjoyable.

This film has a no-nonsense approach but somehow it's also a quite whimsical. It shares that subtle subversive dark humour that was common in a lot of English films from the thirties. For example even as the runaway train is hurtling towards disaster, as it rushes past a group of people waiting on a platform, it blows off someone's toupee which lands on the face of a bemused woman. It is full of little endearing moments like this whilst not detracting from the overall building tension.

Unlike the few 'classics' that Twickenham made, this is really of interest only to those of you who want a little taste of what life might have been like in 1936. If that's you, you might enjoy this.

One for railroad buffs!

[JohnHowardReid · 8/10 · 12 May 2018]

Director: BERNARD VORHAUS. Screenplay: H. Fowler Mear, John Soutar. Based on an original screen story by J. Jefferson Farjeon. Photography: William Luff, Percy Strong. Supervising film editor: Jack Harris. Film editor: Lister Laurance. Art director: James A. Carter. Hair styles: Charles. Music director: W.L. Trytel. Production supervisor: John Brahm. Assistant director: James Davidson. Sound recording: Baynham Honri, Leo Wilkins. Visafone Sound System. Producer: Julius Hagen. Filmed with the full and courteous co-operation of the Great Western Railway. Cars supplied through the courtesy of Messsrs A.C. (Acedes) Cars, Ltd.

A Twickenham Film Studios Production, released in the U.K. through Twickenham Film Distributors: October 1935. U.S. release through Olympic Pictures. Not copyrighted in the U.S.A. Not theatrically released in Australia. 66 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: The driver of an express train suffers a breakdown.

COMMENT: A definite must-see for railway buffs (in fact it would easily figure on the top ten), thanks to the wholehearted co-operation of the Great Western Railway which has produced some absolutely staggering scenes and effects.

Aside from a bit of obvious under-cranking right at the very beginning of the movie, technical credits are extremely proficient. Direction and camerawork strike even a casual viewer as especially skillful. The script is serviceable enough too, though some of the players, particularly Julien Mitchell as the mad engineer, are inclined to over-do things a little. Olga Lindo also seems a bit of a pain as the overly sympathetic wife, but that's the fault of the script.

Judy Gunn makes a pleasant heroine, and it's nice to see Eve Gray laying on the charm as a confidence girl.