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The Sleeping Car Murders

The Sleeping Car Murders (Compartiment tueurs)

Movie · 1965 · 4 people

Costa-Gavras directed the 1965 mystery film The Sleeping Car Murders, in French Compartiment tueurs. It was his first feature as a director and is classed as neo-noir; it has also been called an early film noir. Shot in French and running 95 minutes, it is based on Sébastien Japrisot's novel of the same name, and Costa-Gavras wrote the screenplay together with Japrisot.

The cast brings together well-known French performers of the day: Yves Montand, Simone Signoret, Michel Piccoli, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Catherine Allégret, Jacques Perrin, Charles Denner and Pascale Roberts head the billing. Pierre Mondy, Bernadette Lafont, Monique Chaumette, Christian Marin, Claude Dauphin and Daniel Gélin also appear. The story revolves around an investigation into murders committed on a train.

The film predates the politically oriented work Costa-Gavras later became known for. It won the US National Board of Review award for best foreign film and was nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award. It is sometimes called The Sleeping Car Murder; its German title is Mord im Fahrpreis inbegriffen and its Spanish one Los raíles del crimen.

DirectorCosta-Gavras

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Cast

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Jean-Louis Trintignant Jean-Louis Trintignant Character Actor · died at 91 Bernadette Lafont Bernadette Lafont Actor · died at 74 Charles Millot Charles Millot Actor · died at 81 Dominique Zardi Actor · died at 79

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Through different eyes

Cinephile Looks at script, editing and directing choices; keeps a distance from formula films.

Costa-Gavras's first feature, made before the political cinema he would become known for, is a train-murder mystery adapted from Sébastien Japrisot's novel. Co-writing the script with Japrisot shows in how soundly and economically the investigation is built, and the 95-minute running time avoids any padding. A cast that puts Yves Montand, Simone Signoret, Michel Piccoli and Jean-Louis Trintignant in one film is like a showcase of French cinema at the time. The neo-noir label fits. That crowded cast, though, can leave the feeling that some characters are only there to fill space. Even so, it shows striking confidence for a debut.

Yeşilçam Nostalgic A viewer raised on the classics, looking for warm storytelling and strong acting.

Seeing great names like Simone Signoret and Yves Montand in the same cast is a pleasure in itself for lovers of older cinema. An investigation into murders on a train is a world away from the warm family dramas of Yeşilçam; cool curiosity rules here rather than feeling. Still, a good novel underneath and the skill of the actors keep you watching. Those looking for a story that touches the heart may find it a little distant, but for fans of the classic whodunit it is an elegant choice.

Action & Thriller Fan Puts pace, tension and set pieces first; little patience for slow drama.

Murders on a train followed by an investigation: an ideal setup for suspense. At 95 minutes it doesn't overstay its welcome either. But don't expect chases or fights; the tension lives in the investigation and the whodunit itch. Being from 1965, the rhythm is calmer than today's thrillers. Puzzle-mystery fans won't be bored, though.

These are not reader reviews: they are short editorial takes written from different viewer perspectives with AI assistance. Reader reviews are below.

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