Romance on the Orient Express
Encyclopedia
Romance on the Orient Express is a 1985
television film directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark
.
) is a sophisticated American magazine editor who is on a business trip in Europe with her friend Susan Lawson (Ruby Wax
). Susan convinces her to travel from Venice
to Paris
by train, instead of by plane. They board the Orient Express
, where they hope to find romance. Instead, the atmosphere reminds Lily of a trip on the same train 10 years earlier, when she was a 19-year-old student traveling through Europe with her friend Stacey (Betsy Brantley
). On that trip, she met Alex Woodward (Stuart Wilson), an aristocratic Englishman whom she courted, and then never heard from again.
On the present day trip, Lily unexpectedly hears from Alex again, who admits that the rendezvous is no coincidence. Enraged over the past, she refuses to talk to him. Through flashbacks, their past story is slowly revealed. They fell in love on a train to Nice, and agreed to travel together. Alex wanted to marry her, but his friend Sandy (Julian Sands
) assured him his father Theodore (John Gielgud
) would never approve. While having dinner one evening, Alex was excused by one of his father's friends, and never returned.
In the present, Alex convinces Lily to have dinner with him, but past conflicts causes her to leave prematurely. She later returns, deciding to give him another chance. They find out they were both married for five years, but only Lily's marriage produced a child. Alex reveals that his father pressured him into another marriage, and that he never regretted something more than leaving her. The conversation soon escalates in a passionate affair, but the next morning she makes clear that she has no desire of rekindling with him. They go into different routes, until Alex decides to follow her to Paris.
Meanwhile, Lily regrets her decision of sending Alex away. She fears she will never love someone again, and thinks the solution is marrying a man she is meeting in London. One day, however, Alex finds her in a Parisian restaurant and takes her into his arms. In a sub-plot, Susan falls in love with Flavio, one of the Orient Express staff members. They start a romance, but his work forces them to part their ways.
expressed her delight in Romance on the Orient Express, because the film, due to its time span of 10 years, allowed her to play two different characters.
1985 in film
-Events:* 3 December - Roger Moore steps down from the role of James Bond after twelve years and seven films. He is replaced by Timothy Dalton.* The Academy Award for Best Picture was won by Out Of Africa, while the highest grossing film was Back to the Future.* Bliss wins AFI Award for best Movie...
television film directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark
Lawrence Gordon Clark
Lawrence Gordon Clark is an English television director and producer, perhaps best known for his A Ghost Story for Christmas series of mostly M.R...
.
Plot
Lily Parker (Cheryl LaddCheryl Ladd
Cheryl Ladd is an American actress, singer and author. Ladd is best known for her role as Kris Munroe in the television series Charlie's Angels, hired amid a swirl of publicity prior to its second season in 1977 to replace the departing Farrah Fawcett-Majors...
) is a sophisticated American magazine editor who is on a business trip in Europe with her friend Susan Lawson (Ruby Wax
Ruby Wax
Ruby Wax is a BAFTA nominated American comedian who made a career in the United Kingdom as part of the alternative comedy scene in the 1980s.-Early life:...
). Susan convinces her to travel from Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
by train, instead of by plane. They board the Orient Express
Orient Express
The Orient Express is the name of a long-distance passenger train service originally operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. It ran from 1883 to 2009 and is not to be confused with the Venice-Simplon Orient Express train service, which continues to run.The route and rolling stock...
, where they hope to find romance. Instead, the atmosphere reminds Lily of a trip on the same train 10 years earlier, when she was a 19-year-old student traveling through Europe with her friend Stacey (Betsy Brantley
Betsy Brantley
Betsy Brantley is an American actress.Brantley was born Rutherfordton, North Carolina. She is the older sister of producer/screenwriter Duncan Brantley, and formerly married to Simon Dutton and Steven Soderbergh....
). On that trip, she met Alex Woodward (Stuart Wilson), an aristocratic Englishman whom she courted, and then never heard from again.
On the present day trip, Lily unexpectedly hears from Alex again, who admits that the rendezvous is no coincidence. Enraged over the past, she refuses to talk to him. Through flashbacks, their past story is slowly revealed. They fell in love on a train to Nice, and agreed to travel together. Alex wanted to marry her, but his friend Sandy (Julian Sands
Julian Sands
Julian M. Sands is an English actor, known for his roles in the Best Picture nominee The Killing Fields, the cult film Warlock, A Room with a View, Arachnophobia, Vatel, the television series 24 and as Jor-El in the television series Smallville.-Career:Sands began his film career appearing in...
) assured him his father Theodore (John Gielgud
John Gielgud
Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
) would never approve. While having dinner one evening, Alex was excused by one of his father's friends, and never returned.
In the present, Alex convinces Lily to have dinner with him, but past conflicts causes her to leave prematurely. She later returns, deciding to give him another chance. They find out they were both married for five years, but only Lily's marriage produced a child. Alex reveals that his father pressured him into another marriage, and that he never regretted something more than leaving her. The conversation soon escalates in a passionate affair, but the next morning she makes clear that she has no desire of rekindling with him. They go into different routes, until Alex decides to follow her to Paris.
Meanwhile, Lily regrets her decision of sending Alex away. She fears she will never love someone again, and thinks the solution is marrying a man she is meeting in London. One day, however, Alex finds her in a Parisian restaurant and takes her into his arms. In a sub-plot, Susan falls in love with Flavio, one of the Orient Express staff members. They start a romance, but his work forces them to part their ways.
Cast
- Cheryl LaddCheryl LaddCheryl Ladd is an American actress, singer and author. Ladd is best known for her role as Kris Munroe in the television series Charlie's Angels, hired amid a swirl of publicity prior to its second season in 1977 to replace the departing Farrah Fawcett-Majors...
as Lily Parker - Stuart Wilson as Alex Woodward
- Renée AshersonRenee AshersonRenée Asherson , born Dorothy Renée Ascherson, is an English actress of stage, film and television.Much of Asherson's theatrical career was spent in Shakespearean plays, appearing at such venues as the Old Vic, the Liverpool Playhouse and the Westminster Theatre...
as Beatrice - Ralph MichaelRalph MichaelRalph Michael was an English actor. He was born in London, United Kingdom.His film appearances include: A Night to Remember, Children of the Damned, Khartoum, Grand Prix, The Assassination Bureau, and Empire of the Sun.Television credits include: The Adventures of Robin Hood, Dixon of Dock Green,...
as Harry - Ruby WaxRuby WaxRuby Wax is a BAFTA nominated American comedian who made a career in the United Kingdom as part of the alternative comedy scene in the 1980s.-Early life:...
as Susan Lawson - Julian SandsJulian SandsJulian M. Sands is an English actor, known for his roles in the Best Picture nominee The Killing Fields, the cult film Warlock, A Room with a View, Arachnophobia, Vatel, the television series 24 and as Jor-El in the television series Smallville.-Career:Sands began his film career appearing in...
as Sandy - John GielgudJohn GielgudSir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
as Theodore Woodward - Barry StokesBarry Stokes (actor)Barry Stokes is a British actor.His film credits include: Juan Antonio Bardem's Behind the Shutters, The Ups and Downs of a Handyman, Prey, Hawk the Slayer, Rendezvous in Paris and Enemy Mine....
as Flavio - Betsy BrantleyBetsy BrantleyBetsy Brantley is an American actress.Brantley was born Rutherfordton, North Carolina. She is the older sister of producer/screenwriter Duncan Brantley, and formerly married to Simon Dutton and Steven Soderbergh....
as Stacey
Production
The film was shot on location in Italy, France and England. Shortly before its premiere, Cheryl LaddCheryl Ladd
Cheryl Ladd is an American actress, singer and author. Ladd is best known for her role as Kris Munroe in the television series Charlie's Angels, hired amid a swirl of publicity prior to its second season in 1977 to replace the departing Farrah Fawcett-Majors...
expressed her delight in Romance on the Orient Express, because the film, due to its time span of 10 years, allowed her to play two different characters.