Watch The Man Who Watched Trains Go By

The Man Who Watched Trains Go By (also known as Paris Express) is a 1952 British film, directed by Frenchman Harold French, and based on the 1938 novel of the same name by Georges Simenon. The movie stars Claude Rains as Kees Popinga, a dutiful Dutch clerk who sees his life suddenly spiral out of control when his boss disappears after embezzling the company's funds. As the police start investigating the case, Kees panics and decides to flee, taking a train to Paris with his wife (Marta Toren) and their daughter.

Once in Paris, Kees tries to blend in as a tourist, but his anxiety and guilt start to consume him. He becomes obsessed with watching trains go by and analyzing their speed and direction, a metaphor for his own life being lost on the tracks. Meanwhile, the police detective (Herbert Lom) assigned to the case starts to suspect Kees is involved in the embezzlement and follows him to Paris.

As Kees tries to avoid the detective and cover his tracks, he meets a variety of colorful characters, such as a seductive singer (Marius Goring) and an eccentric art dealer (Felix Aylmer) who share his love for trains. However, Kees's past catches up with him, and he has to face the consequences of his actions in a thrilling finale on a crowded train platform.

The movie is a stylish and atmospheric film noir, with beautiful shots of Paris and the trains that evoke a sense of nostalgia and melancholy. Claude Rains gives a nuanced performance as a man who is torn between his loyalty to his family and his sense of duty, and Marius Goring steals the show as a charismatic villain who lures Kees into a web of deception and danger.

The Man Who Watched Trains Go By is not just a crime thriller, but also a character study and a commentary on the human condition. It raises questions about morality, identity, and the price of conformity in a society that values order and rules above individual freedom. It is a movie that invites the viewer to reflect on their own choices and priorities, and to appreciate the beauty and fragility of life.

The Man Who Watched Trains Go By is a 1952 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 17 minutes.