Passaporte Nupcial

Lowe plays a smart-aleck mystery novelist who agrees to board the Orient Express to get the goods on an arms dealer (Lukas) for a newspaper editor pal. But when his passport is lifted by a pickpocket (Gallagher), he finds himself forced to pose as the husband of passenger Evans, unaware that she's a reporter who's also on Lukas' trail.

This isn't a strictly an espionage film, it's a mix of adventure, romance, silly antics and comedy. The emphasis is on the latter. Actually more like a rom-com and features an enjoyable duo Edmund Lowe and Madge Evans, their banter and antics are amusing, however it's a bit slow moving midway and a little muddled and lacking focus. However, overall a pleasant viewing.

I love this movie. I just caught it on TCM today and what a treat. Madge Evans and Edmund Lowe are reporters on a train following a munitions tycoon. The reasons for this are fairly thin, as is the resolution to the plot. But the movie's strength is in its fast pace and the chemistry between the two leads. When I first realized Lowe would be the leading man I prepared myself for disappointment. He's not exactly Cary Grant to look at. Evans is beautiful, of course. So I was worried this would be one of those old films with a beautiful young woman and a gross older man where the spark is just not there. These movies littered the 1930s and, more often than not, are duds. But don't worry the chemistry is there between these two leads. They have a lot of fun with the roles and it shows. It's fast, light, and fun with lots of great banter. Madge Evans, who I have seen before in a couple of roles, has never looked lovelier than here. There's also a great supporting cast, headed by Paul Lukas as the tycoon they're after. Overall I think it's a hidden gem and I recommend you catch it next time it's on.

An European munitions magnate has disappeared and various governments are alarmed. Reporters Kenneth Stevens and Patricia Booth from different newspapers board a train after getting the same tip. They join forces to pose as a married couple to track down the elusive magnate.

I don't know these actors but the lead couple has some good combative banter. It would be better if they are long time rivals and have some history together. This pairing could have had some legs. The moustache reveal is such a ridiculous move that it's actually funny. The movie gets sillier and sillier. The story has a few bumps and has trouble staying on track. It's less about the plot and more about the fun chemistry.

Espionage has reporters on rival newspapers, Edmund Lowe and Madge Evans om a train together and trailing European munitions king Paul Lukas on a story though I'm still not clear what specifically Lukas is supposed to have done. Circumstances and somewhat amusing ones at that have Lowe and Evans pretending to be husband and wife.

Lowe and Evans engage in some delightful banter between them. Funniest in the film is Billy Gilbert who plays a corpulent and somewhat gross Turk that Lowe is supposed to share a cabin with. That he would seek out Evans as a traveling companion is completely understandable.

Other than selling arms I'm not sure what Lukas was guilty of. Would that the snappy dialog had a better story to be in.

Espionage was more about two people (Edmund Lowe and Madge Evans) posing as a married couple than it was actual espionage. Evans is a reporter who steals her boss' passport so she can go to Europe and get a big story; Lowe is a writer sent by an editor for the same story.

There wasn't much to this. I wasn't familiar with Madge Evans - she reminded me a little of Irene Dunne, and she played her part well. Ketti Gallian was a stunning French actress who didn't make it in Hollywood.

Paul Lukas is the weapons manufacturer who is the object of the story - everyone winds up on a train, as Lowe and Evans attempt to find out Lukas' next move. But somehow that all gets lost amidst Lowe's violin playing, his disguises, knocks on the head, and Evans throwing him out of her compartment.

It was all okay but when I watch a film called Espionage, I want to see espionage. This was more of a rom-com.