THE MAN WHO WATCHED TRAINS GO BY

UK, 1952, 82 minutes, Colour.
Claude Rains, Marta Toren, Marius Goring, Herbert Lom, Anouk Aimee, Felix Aylmer, Ferdie Mayne, Lucy Mannheim, Eric Pohlman, Gibb Mc Laughlin.
Directed by Harold French.

Georges Simenon was one of the most popular crime writers of the 20th century. There were many film and television versions of his novels, French interpretations, British interpretations, from Jean Gabin as Maigret to Rowan Atkinson as Maigret.

This is a brief British film from the 1950s, written and directed by Harold French who directed many films in the UK, especially a number of Terence Rattigan stories.

The setting is Holland, the train to Paris, Paris itself – and the film made in colour.

Claude Rains is very good as Dutch accountant, faithful to 18 years work, taking walks to the railways to watch the trains going by, knowing all the details, especially the trains going to Paris where he had never been. He seems a good man, trying to help an out of work friend, but dominated at home by a rather rough wife.

He has to face a moral challenge, discovering that his boss, Herbert Lom, was having an affair, and the company was going to ruin. When he confronts his boss, there is an altercation, a case full of money, the boss falling into the river and drowning.

The repressed accountant suddenly feels free, with the money, a ticket to Paris – but encountering the police inspector from France, Marius Goring, in interviews, chess games, then on the train to Paris.

Claude Rains is able to show the change in personality of the accountant, finding his way with the help of a prostitute, hiding in a hotel in concealing the money, tracking down the woman that his boss was having the affair with, but the policeman on his trail wanting to save him.

The film is a kind of moral fable about rigidity and repression, what happens when barriers are removed, the temptation to live the high life but also experiencing the consequences.

1. Georges Simenon story? Psychology? Crime?

2. The Dutch settings, the town, business? The train to Paris? The scenes in Paris, city, apartments, police? The musical score?

3. The international cast?

4. Kees Podinga, Claude Rains’ screen image, age, his work for 18 years, faithfully keeping the books, his relationship with de Koster, trustworthy, the visit of Lucas, the interrogations? His attempt to help Mr Merkemans and the refusal of a job? His life at home, the severity of his wife and her eating manner, his son? Going out, chess, playing with Lucas, De Koster and the wrong move, his losing? His seeing de Koster kissing Michelle? Not telling the truth? Going back to the office, de Koster stealing the money, the confrontation, de Koster falling into the river and drowning?

5. Podinga and his moral dilemma, taking the money, finding the ticket, going to Paris? The satisfaction – and the possibility of breaking out of his staid and repressed life? On the train, the encounter with Lucas, the verbal playing games, the chess, the chess board on the case with the money? His getting off the train?

6. Lucas, investigator, the visit to the town, the interrogation, chests, cat and mouse with Podinga, going to see Michelle, getting her to help? His being on call, his wife, wanting to save Podinga, the confrontation, Podinga on the train line and its approach?

7. Michelle, her plan with Louis, to get the money, seducing de Koster, back in Paris, Podinga’s arrival, her smooth way of manipulating him, discovering where he was from the prostitute, going to see him, smooth talker, their going out, the restaurant, dancing, his being in love? At her apartment, her betraying him to Lucas? His tricking her, her going to Louis, the confrontation, his killing her?

8. Podinga in Paris, getting the information from the prostitute, going to the hotel without a passport? Hiding the money in the car? Out on the town, his excitement, getting back through the window, with Michelle, the exuberance, the restaurant, dancing, the meal, money? Going back with Michelle? Her betrayal? The confrontation with Louis, with Michelle, his killing her? The escape, Lucas and the pursuit, the train and his death?

9. The moral of the story, the rigid and fragile person upholding morality, the break, decisions, breaking out, the consequences?