Istanbul Express

The establising shot towards Avenue George V, taken from the roof terrace of the Galerie Lafayette department store on the corner of Champs-Élysées and Rue du Colisée. In the distance the best-known landmark of Paris is visible, while in the middle the tower of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity (American Cathedral in Paris) and to the far right the tower of the Catholic Church of Saint Pierre de Chaillot can be seen.

Gare de Lyon station, located in the 12th arrondissement and recognizable by the clocktower in the distance. At platform 1 facing along the "Direct-Orient" train, which is being brought again into shape for the 3-day journey to Eastern Europe.

After checking a load of wines and spirits for the dining car, the (fictional) security officer Cheval (John Saxon) goes to the front of the train to chat shortly with the engineer of the DC electric loco No. 2D2-9114, built for the French State Railways (SNCF) in 1950.

On the way back Cheval catches a carriage cleaner who had recently planted a bomb under the Istanbul sleeping car. The assassin tries to escape from the security officer and is killed in a collision with a forklift. Shot from platform 2, the CIWL sleeping car No 4775 of type MU for Milan comes into view.

Our hero, the renowned art dealer Michael London (Gene Barry), is taken to the railway station by a wealthy customer's 1964 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow III.

London shows his ticket at the platform barrier of Gare de Lyon.

He then crosses the concourse of the terminus station on the way to one of the 20 tracks ...

... where Cheval awaits the passengers for "his" train. And Michael's love interest Peggy Coopersmith (Mary Ann Mobley) awaits him already on the train with an assignment from the US government. The art dealer knows how explosive his next order is and suggests to her that she gets some fresh air before the "Direct-Orient" departs. This is the only train platform scene that was shot on location with one of the main actors. Similar sequences including all train interior shots were made at the Universal City studios by using walk-through but not very authentic mockups and sets.

On the other side of the city, in the 16th arrondissement, at Place de Varsovie and against the backdrop of the nightly Fontaine du Jardins du Trocadéro, Michael receives precise instructions from Miss Peggy for his special mission to Istanbul. In the end, Michael learns from her the first of five digits of the number for a deposit box in a Swiss branch bank.

Stock footage from the then single-track section at Leuk village, canton of Valais, Switzerland, with an international express train bound for Lausanne passing the bridge over the river Rhone. At the end of the sequence a 1st class corridor carriage Az 13.000 of type 1946 from the Italian State Railways (FS), scheduled for Geneva or Paris, can be seen. On the hillside above, top left, the Ringacker chapel is visible.

More stock footage from the Simplon main line through the Rhone Valley with an inland express train by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) bound for Lausanne, consisting of SBB light steel carriages of EW1 and LS type, probably on the then single-track section between Visp and Raron, canton of Valais.

Already in the Piemont region of Italy, where an eastbound "Direct-Orient" passes Premosello station. Since Domodossola the train is hauled by Bo'Bo'Bo' articulated DC electric loco of FS Class E.645 (1st series), possibly filmed by the crew of Second Unit Director Hal Polaire. In the distance the snow covered Simplon massif is visible.

Standing on platform 4 the camera pans with the train until the two CIWL carriages come into view. Dirk Frielingsdorf from www.wagons-lits.de kindly adds that as the train has eleven carriages this must be the "Direct-Orient" running on Saturday at the time, with the two sleeping cars for Istanbul, Turkey, and Beograd (Belgrade), then still Yugoslavia.

The express train pulls into the monumental train shed of Milano Centrale terminus. Filmed by the Second Unit Team, a CIWL sleeping car of YU type comes into view, followed by a mixed class SNCF corridor carriage of type DEV AO U46, both scheduled for Istanbul. In his compartment, Michael London is visited not only by the Italian customs officials, but also by a newsboy who forces him to buy the "Corriere della Sera", where he then finds in one of the pages the next digit for the bank safety box. In reality, however, the customs controls take place at the Domodossola border station, which has sections of overhead wire with 15000 V AC and 3000 V DC caternary for loco changes between SBB and FS.

Manuel provides this comparative shot, and cooments: It seems that since the last "Direct Orient" in 1977 Milano Centrale's platforms have changed little in the last almost five decades. But nowadays it is no longer allowed to step on the platform shortly before the trains depart, here with Frecciarossa ETR 500 (2nd generation) of Treni Italia to Reggio di Calabria.

Further east in the Brescia region, an establishing shot from the Monte Bello hill towards the viaduct at Desenzano del Garda, which is being crossed by an express train that after runs straight through Desenzano station. The striking bridge, length 427 m, was damaged beyond repair by air raid during World War II and was rebuilt between 1946 and 1947. Lake Garda is faintly visible at the top left.

The establishing shot from Fondamenta San Simeon Piccolo across Canal Grande towards the marble-clad front facade of Venezia Santa Lucia station illustrates the arrival of the "Direct Orient" in Venice. To the right can be seen the church, Chiesa di Santa Maria di Nazareth.

After a seemingly chance encounter with ominous Doctor Lenz (Werner Peters) outside the terminus station, Michael London turns to Cheval and wants to know how long the train will stay in Venice before continuing on to Trieste. Cheval states that he has around 90 minutes available due to shunting works and engine change. But in reality, the stop only lasted 34 minutes and the shunting work took place later at Trieste, then still with 0-6-0T steam locos of FS Class 835, by the way.

So Michael then decides to follow Doctor Lenz and crosses Fondamenta Santa Lucia for boarding a water taxi. Across Canal Grande the Chiesa di San Simeon Piccolo can be seen.

Standing at the stern, Michael keeps in the eye the water taxi with Doctor Lenz, heading towards Piazzale Roma. The dome at the top right belongs to Chiesa di San Simeon Piccolo. Opposite, Chiesa di Santa Maria di Nazareth is visible again.

Now in the Dorsoduro borough the boat driver steers the water taxi with Michael aboard towards the Ponte Santa Margherita, which spans Rio de Ca' Foscari and connects Campo San Pantalon, on the right, with Calle de la Chiesa. On the right in the background the Ponte Foscari already can be seen.

The two water taxis with Doctor Lenz and Michael London, still on Rio de Ca' Foscari, pass Palazzo Secco Dolfin, seen at the top right.

Michael's water taxi passes under the Ponte Foscari. Behind it the vault of the main fire department station (Caserma Centrale) from 1928 can be seen. The Grand Canal also comes into sight in the background.

Back onto Canal Grande, where a relaxed Doctor Lenz enjoys the ride in the stern of the water taxi, knowing full well that Michael London is hot on his heels. Behind him, on the right, Palazzo Grassi is visible, together with Palazzo Balbi in the center background.

While Doctor Lenz disembark at Fondamenta del S. Maurizio, the domes of the church Santa Maria della Salute can be seen on the opposite side of the Canal Grande in the background.

Still in hot pursuit of Doctor Lenz, Michael follows him directly into Calle del Dose da Ponte, located in the San Marco borough.

Doctor Lenz on Ponte Zaguri across the Rio di San Maurizio, that connects the Campiello de la Feltrina with Fondamenta Corner Zaguri and the Fondamenta de la Malvasia Vecchia, in the background. In between, Calle Zaguri follows straight ahead.

Shortly after also crossing Rio di San Maurizio on Ponte Zaguri and now standing at Fondamenta Corner Zaguri, Michael continues to shadow Doctor Lenz.

Coming along Ponte Duodo o Barbarigo, Michael reaches the corner of the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Giglio at the Campiello Santa Maria Zobenigo.

He observes that Doctor Lenz enters the building right next to the church.

When Michael arrives at the entrance to the house where Doctor Lenz disappeared, he notices that there is a global language school on the second floor. But the "scuola mondiale di lingue" turns out to be a cover for an Eastern European spy ring led by attractive Mila Darvos (Senta Berger), who is well informed about London's secret mission. Today, but perhaps already at the time, the entrance belongs to a Tabaccaio, the Italian kiosk for cigarettes, drinks and postcards.

Miss Darvos is not only beautiful, but also unscrupulous and orders Doctor Lenz in the end to 'liquidate' Michael. However, the clever art dealer manages to outsmart the enemy agents and escape for the time being. Outside again onto Campiello Santa Maria Zobenigo, he looks around for an escape route, while in the left background Doctor Lenz and his henchman already give chase.

Doctor Lenz and his henchman pursue Michael through Calle de le Ostreghe towards Rio de l'Aboro, which is crossed by Ponte de le Ostreghe.

However, here we see neither the Rio de l'Aboro nor the Ponte de le Ostreghe, but rather the Ponte Barbarigo over Rio Santa Maria Zobenigo, which Michael London, actually coming again from the Campiello de la Feltrina, crosses on his escape. The railing in the foreground belongs to Ponte Duodo.

Still chasing Michael London, Doctor Lenz and his henchman run down the stairs between the Ponte Barbarigo and the Ponte Duodo, located at the back of the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Giglio.

Michael has now reached Saint Mark's Square and looks around for his pursuers. In the background can be seen the Basilica di San Marco, at the back left the palace of the Venetian Patriarchate in the Piazetta dei Leoncini.

Our hero, now by one of the three flagpoles in front of Saint Mark's Church, constantly looks around to see if the two enemy agents are still on his trail.

Doctor Lenz and his henchman have reached the spot by the flagpoles too, still looking for the fleeing Michael London. In the background with the Torre dell'orologio (clock tower) another landmark of the city comes into view, well-known for the two “Moors” that chime the hours on the roof top.

Meanwhile Michael sprints across the Piazetta San Marco towards the Molo di Palazzo Ducale. On the left the facade of the Doge's Palace with Gothic arcades on the ground floor and a loggia on the floor above. Opposite the corner stands the eastern of two columns, with the winged Lion of Saint Mark, representing Mark the Evangelist. And between in the distance the campanile at San Giorgio Maggiore island can be seen.

When he reaches the eastern edge of Molo di Palazzo Ducale along Rio del Palazzo, Michael looks for a way to finally escape his captors. While the fishing boat bobs at the opposite Riva degli Schiavoni, across the Bacino San Marco can be seen the Basilica Santa Maria della Salute again.

Then the hoped-for rescue comes in the form of a water taxi that has just crossed under the Ponte della Paglia. With a courageous leap, Michael makes it into the boat as it passes by and, waving, sits down between the two astonished female tourists in the stern.

The two pursuers, now also onto Molo di Palazzo Ducale, admit defeat for the time being, but Doctor Lenz already has further instructions for his henchman (Allan Jaffe).

Back again on the Fondamenta Santa Lucia, in front of the train station, where Michael meets an unknown blonde who whispers to him another digit of the safe deposit box number. Behind the two is the Ponte degli Scalzi spanning the Canal Grande.

Reaching the Yugoslav capital is illustrated by an eastern bound express train with a Co'Co' diesel loco of JŽ class 661, built by General Motors and nicknamed "Kennedy", of the Yugoslav Railways passes the Belgrade exhibition center, with Hall 3 visible in the background. However, it looks like this train is coming directly from the ramp to the Sava Bridge, skipping Beograd main station. Shot from the notable land registry office building at Vojvode Mišica Boulevard.

Later, the "Direct-Orient" leaves Beograd without our hero. Michael London's middleman is gunned down at the concourse when he contacts him to tell the next digit of the bank deposit number. As the train leaves the terminus station, again on platform 3, behind the CIWL sleeping car of type STU from Munich, the FS 2nd class corridor carriage Bz 45.354 of type 1957 from Milan comes into view, both scheduled for Athens, so they will rerouted in Crveni Krst. Since 2018 there is no longer any traffic here as the platforms have been torn down and all tracks have been dismantled. Only the monumental station building, opened in 1884, still stands and has been completely renovated.

After leaving a phone box Michael crosses the square in front of the police station. Together with independent US journalist Leland McCord (Tom Simcox), he manages to make contact with the seriously injured dissident in the police station and thus find out the next digit of the numbered account. Obviously shot at the Universal City backlot called "Little Europe", where the entire Belgrade sequence and part of the Istanbul sequence was made.

Michael London then takes the night flight to Bulgaria, to catch up with the "Direct-Orient" at Svilengrad, border station for Turkey. Particularly noteworthy is this short sequence with a double for Gene Barry, catching the train at the last minute. Well, in my opinion absolutely extraordinary, because we see the only made-on-location-scene for a foreign feature film or TV movie shot in remote Dimitrovgrad, Serbia province, the former Tsaribrod!

Instead of Gene Barry his double boards the Istanbul sleeping car of the already departing "Direct-Orient" at Dimitrovgrad station on the border with Bulgaria, which according to the plot stands for Svilengrad station on the border with Turkey.

For completeness, the dialogue scene in the dining car between Michael and the elderly Englishwoman (Norma Varden), who gives him the hint to the last digit of the code number. Created on the Universal City's sound stage by using rear projection, taken by the Second Unit Team on the two track section along the Marmara sea trough Istanbul suburbans, where the famous Hagia Sophia Mosque can be recognized in the background above.

The three-day journey of the "Direct-Orient" across the continent through seven countries ends at platform 1 of Istanbul Sirkeci station, situated directly at the Golden Horn mouth. The railway terminus also appears in 'From Russia with Love' (see captures 32 to 35). Since 1955 three Bo'Bo' electric locos (E4001 to E4003), built by French Alsthom for the Turkish State Railways (TCDD), took over the international trains on the suburban line between Halkali and Istanbul, electrified by 25000 V 50 Hz AC catenary. Alsthom also delivered 3-part electric multiple units of E8000 series for commuter traffic, to seen on the right.

On the uncovered part of platform 1 of Sirkeci station, Gene Barry's double as Michael London can be seen after leaving the CIWL sleeping car, together with a mixed class SNCF carriage, the only two through carriages scheduled from Paris Gare de Lyon, by the way.

During the establishing shot for Istanbul the camera pans over the Beyoglu district, where the 63m high Galata kulesi (Galata Tower) comes into view.

Facing over the Golden Horn with the landmarking Galata Köprüsü (Galata Bridge), the New Mosque in the left background and the Beyazit kulesi (Beyazit Tower), nearby the university, in the distance. A similar view can be seen in 'Topkapi' (Capture 10), the pontoon bridge, originally built in 1912 by German M.A.N. (Maschinenfabrik Augsburg Nürnberg), connects the Istanbul borough of Eminönü in the Fatih district and Karaköy in the Beyoglu (Galata) district, in the foreground, and was replaced by a firmly anchored bascule bridge in 1994.

Still in the Galata district and still using Gene Barry's double as Michael London, he gets out the 1950 Chevrolet De Luxe taxi on Istiklal Caddesi, just in front of the Garanti Bank.

He then crosses Istiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue) to get to the watch shop opposite, where he receives the clue to the last digit of the number for the bank safety box in the window. Not only the watch shop, but also the Atlas cinema, where “Eceline Susamislar” was shown at the time, has long since disappeared. The entire row of houses has been renovated over the last few decades.

Then he makes his way back to the Garanti Bank, still not a Swiss bank branch, but still based at number 115 Istiklal Caddesi today. Instead of the Türkiye Emlak Kredi Bankasi (Turkey Real Estate Credit Bank) right next to it, there is now a Nike store there. And the avenue, which was busy at the time, is now a pedestrian zone and tourist hot spot.

The view across the Karaköy junction at Kemeralti Caddesi, with a landmarking eclectic style building in the left background, originally built by Austrian Wiener Bankverein between 1910 and 1912, housing the Ziraat Bank since 1944.

A 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special from the US Consulate takes Michael, now with $750,000 from the bank safe deposit box, to a lavish villa somewhere in the hills of the european part of Istanbul, where top-secret government documents are to be auctioned off. So far unknown location, maybe somewhere in the Hollywood Hills.

After Michael has hands over the auctioned government documents to the astonished US ambassador, it turns out that this was not planned in that way. Rather, the elaborate, but now also very expensive deception by the US government was intended to ensure that the Eastern Bloc come into possession of the supposedly top-secret papers through the auction, which were in fact based on high credibility forgery. The view towards the former Palazzo Corpi, completed in 1882 and located at Mesrutiyet Caddesi, Beyoglu district, housing the U.S. Consulate General Istanbul from 1937 to 2003.

But through a very risky maneuver, our hero finally manages to get Mila Darvos into possession of the alleged government secrets. At the end we see Gene Barry's double again at Istanbul Sirkeci station, where he is walking alongside the ready for depart "Direct-Orient" on platform 1 to get into the sleeping car, where Miss Peggy already waits for him in his double compartment. The TCDD carriage next to him is one of ten so called "Lokanta" semi-dining cars, built in Germany and Belgium between 1926 and 1939.