The Last Express (film)

The Last Express
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Otis Garrett
Screenplay by	Edmund Hartmann[1]
Based on	The Last Express by Baynard Kendrick
Produced by	Irving Starr[1]
Starring	Kent Taylor Dorothea Kent Don Brodie Paul Hurst Addison Richards Greta Granstedt Robert Emmett Keane J. Farrell MacDonald
Cinematography	Stanley Cortez[1]
Edited by	Maurice Wright[1]
Production companies	Crime Club Productions, Inc.[1]
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release dates	October 12, 1938 (1938-10-12) (New York) October 28, 1938 (1938-10-28) (United States)
Running time	63 minutes
Country	United States[1]
Language	English

The Last Express is a 1938 American mystery film directed by Otis Garrett and written by Edmund Hartmann. It is based on the 1937 novel The Last Express by Baynard Kendrick. The film stars Kent Taylor, Dorothea Kent, Don Brodie, Paul Hurst, Addison Richards, Greta Granstedt, Robert Emmett Keane and J. Farrell MacDonald. The film was released on October 28, 1938, by Universal Pictures.[2][1]

Plot

Cast

• Kent Taylor as Duncan MacLain
• Dorothea Kent as Amy Arden
• Don Brodie as Spud Savage
• Paul Hurst as Al Springer
• Addison Richards as Frank Hoefle
• Greta Granstedt as Gladys Hewitt
• Robert Emmett Keane as Howard Hewitt
• J. Farrell MacDonald as William Barton
• Edward Raquello as Paul Zarinka
• Al Shaw as Shane
• Sam Lee as Trilby
• Charles Trowbridge as District Attorney Meredith
• Al Hill as Marshall
• Frances Robinson as Gracie
• John Miller as Eddie Miller
• Henry Brandon as Pinky

Production

In 1937, Universal Pictures made a deal with the Crime Club, who were publishers of whodunnits.[3] Over the next few years Universal released several mystery films in the series.[3] The Last Express was one of the entries in the series.[4]

Release

The Last Express opened in New York in the week of October 12, 1938.[1] It was released further on October 28, 1938.[1]

Reception

Archer Winsten of the New York Post found the film to be "unusually baffling".[4]

References

Footnotes

1. "The Last Express". Catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
2. Erickson, Hal. "The Last Express (1938) - Otis M. Garrett". AllMovie. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
3. Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 175.
4. Weaver, Brunas & Brunas 2007, p. 574.

Sources

• Weaver, Tom; Brunas, Michael; Brunas, John (2007) [1990]. Universal Horrors (2 ed.). McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-2974-5.

External links

• The Last Express at IMDb