''Night Train'' is a 1998 Irish romantic thriller directed by John Lynch (as his debut feature), starring

John Hurt Sir John Vincent Hurt (22 January 1940 – 25 January 2017) was an English actor whose career spanned over five decades. Hurt was regarded as one of Britain's finest actors. Director David Lynch described him as "simply the greatest actor in t ...

and

Brenda Blethyn Brenda Blethyn (''née'' Bottle; 20 February 1946) is an English actress. She is the recipient of several accolades, including a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, a Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress, and two Academy Award nominations. Blethyn ...

, released in the United Kingdom on August 28, 1998. Lynch was nominated for a Crystal Star for the film at the Brussels International Film Festival, and Hurt won the Best Actor award at the Verona Love Screens Film Festival for his performance.

Plot

The film follows Michael Poole (Hurt), an ex-prisoner with a passion for electric trains and the

Orient Express The ''Orient Express'' was a long-distance passenger train service created in 1883 by the Belgian company ''Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits'' (CIWL) that operated until 2009. The train traveled the length of continental Europe and int ...

. In his attempts at starting a new life, he finds refuge in the house of Mrs. Mooney, a possessive old lady (

Pauline Flanagan Pauline Flanagan (29 June 1925 – 28 June 2003) was a Irish-born actress who had a long career on stage, she was best known in the United States for her role as Annie Colleary, on the television soap opera '' Ryan's Hope'' in 1979 and again in ...

). Things begin to get complicated when he falls for the lady's daughter (

), and he faces the ultimate question of catching the night train or taking charge of his life like an adult.

Cast

— Michael Poole *

— Alice Mooney *

— Mrs. Mooney *

Rynagh O'Grady Rynagh O'Grady (18 April 1951 – 7 February 2021) was an Irish actress who was known for her roles of Mary O'Leary in the Channel 4 sitcom ''Father Ted'' and Minnie Kennedy in the 1999 film ''A Love Divided''. She trained in the Abbey Theatre ...

— Winnie *

Peter Caffrey Peter Caffrey (18 April 1949 – 1 January 2008) was an Irish actor best known for playing Padraig O'Kelly on Series 1-4 of ''Ballykissangel'' and Christy Barry on Bracken. He was also known for playing the role of the Eurosong selection ju ...

— Walter *

Paul Roe Paul Roe (born 21 November 1959 - 5 October 2019) was a Canadian soccer player who spent five years in the North American Soccer League and one in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also played in Canada's National Soccer League, the American ...

— Blake *

Lorcan Cranitch Lorcan Cranitch (born 28 August 1959) is an Irish people, Irish actor. Born in Dublin, Lorcan Cranitch became involved in drama while a student. In 1980 he moved to London, where he trained at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, RADA. Career His fi ...

— Billy *

Cathy White ''Cathy'' is an American gag-a-day comic strip, drawn by Cathy Guisewite from 1976 until 2010. The comic follows Cathy, a woman who struggles through the "four basic guilt groups" of life—food, love, family, and work. The strip gently pokes ...

— Liz *

Kevin McHugh Kevin McHugh ( ga, Caoimhín MacAodha); born 19 January 1980 in Letterkenny, Ireland) is an Irish former footballer and current manager of Finn Harps F.C. under-15 League of Ireland team. He is considered one of Donegal's best-known sportstars. ...

— Detective Cassidy * Aaron Harris — Sgt. Charlie

Reception

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'''s Glenn Lovell wrote that while the film was a "good-hearted" mix of romance and reflection, the film "eventually jumps the tracks, derailed by jarring tone shifts and homestretch absurdities."

References

External links

* 1998 films 1998 romantic drama films 1998 thriller films 1990s romantic thriller films Irish thriller films British thriller films 1990s English-language films 1990s British films {{1990s-thriller-film-stub