Name: Death Was a Passenger
Genre: Short, Drama, War
Duration: 18 min
Rating: 6.3
Cast: Harriette Johns, Terence Alexander, Roland Brand

'Death Was A Passenger' is a polished little 18 minute short film from 1958, included on the BFI's 'Short Sharp Shocks Vol. 1', starring Harriette Johns and Terence Alexander.

Johns is a French Nun and Alexander a British business man who sit opposite each other on a train and recognise one another.

They begin talking and it turns out that during WW2 they also met on a train when Alexander was attempting to escape the Germans after being shot down and she, and the other French passengers in the compartment, attempt to help him.

I've seen someone wondering, in their review, why it was included on this disc as there is nothing occult, macabre or weird about it, but that's not actually true. There is one moment where you go "hold on, did she actually mean that?". I won't spoil it, but I found it interesting, even if it is a little too twee at the end.

What I will say is that the print quality is lovely, the black and white is rich and considering it's just a set, how real it all feels. Set/effect designers and foley artists were so talented back in the day, so even without cheap looking green screen or video projection it still looks and sounds like a real steam train travelling through the countryside.

A lovely inclusion on the set.

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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The war genre features armed conflicts, both historical and fictional, and the experiences of individuals and groups involved in warfare. This genre explores the physical, emotional, and moral challenges faced by soldiers, civilians, and others affected by war.

A man meets a nun on a train journey. They recognize each other. In flashback, we learn how they first met on a different journey.

Alex Gallier in Death Was a Passenger (1958)

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Terence Alexander, Armand Guinle, Harriette Johns, and Marigold Russell in Death Was a Passenger (1958)

Terence Alexander in Death Was a Passenger (1958)

Death Was a Passenger

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