The Lady Vanishes (1979), dir. Anthony Page, Hammer Film Productions
Welp, that is it. By this point, Hammer had pretty much done everything they could do but in the end it just didn't matter. The company would limp into the 80's, albeit in a smaller format, so why not end it by remaking a classic?
August 1939
A group of travelers await a train in their scenic Bavarian hotel.
Amanda Kelly (Cybil Shepard): American heriess, a bit madcap with a wild reputation that has followed her to Europe, along with half a dozen surnames.
Robert Condon (Elliot Gould): American, photographer by profession. Smartass by nature.
Miss Froy (Angela Lansbury): English, retired governess on her way back to England
Dr. Hartz (Herbert Lom): German, a medical doctor.
Baroness Kisling (Jean Anderson): German, upperclass noble with a slew of servants.
Charters (Arthur Lowe) and Caldicott (Ian Carmichael): VERY English and in quite the rush to catch an upcoming crickett match you know.
Mr. Todhunter (Gerald Harper): English diplomat who is traveling with...
"Mrs." Todhunter (Jenny Runacre): who is totally his real wife so mind your bussiness.
After small talking with nearly everyone, Amanda opts to take a quick nap in her compartment. She had been chatting with Miss Froy, so when she sees that the older woman is gone, she naturally starts asking questions. The kick? Everyone on the train denies ever seeing or even hearing of the missing Englishwoman. Amanda throws with Robert, who is skeptical to say the least. After the train picks up a heavily bandaged accident victim, Miss Froy starts making the rounds on the train but it clearly is someone else.
After Amanda is attacked by an unknown assailant, Robert now believes her. Who's going to believe him? They suspect the bandaged 'victim' might be the real Froy, but how to prove it? When the train is diverted to a separate track and SS Officer Helmut von Reider (Wolf Kahler) makes it clear he wants Froy, what can our heroes do?
Not the worse ending a studio can have, even if the idea is a bit pointless. The original still held up, so all this does is invite far too many comparisons plus the added comedy can grate on one's nerves after a bit.
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