Le train de huit heures quarante-sept: A frantic mess of a trip

Is it worth the ticket?

If you're into vintage French comedy where everyone is yelling at the same time, you'll probably have a decent afternoon with Le train de huit heures quarante-sept. It’s essentially a 1930s stress dream about trying to be on time. If you prefer movies that actually have a coherent plot or, you know, a point, stay away.

Fernandel is doing his usual thing here. He’s got that face that just screams 'I am in over my head' before he even says a word. Watching him run around in uniform is funny enough, but the movie really hits a wall when it tries to be a proper military comedy.

There’s this scene in the station that just drags on forever. I counted three separate moments where I thought the movie was about to end, but then someone else starts shouting about a ticket or a bag. It’s exhausting. It feels like the director just let the cameras roll and hoped for the best.

Honestly, the pacing is all over the map. It’s got that jittery, low-budget feel that reminds me a bit of Petticoats and Pants. Not that they're the same movie, but they share that same 'we need to fill ninety minutes' energy.

• The uniforms look like they’re made of cardboard.
• The shouting. So much shouting.
• There’s a bit with a bicycle that made me laugh more than I’d like to admit.
• Fernandel looks genuinely annoyed in half the shots. I don't blame him.

I found myself zoning out during the dialogue-heavy bits. It’s not a movie for deep thinkers. It’s for people who want to watch a guy scramble to get on a train. Sometimes that’s enough. Maybe I was just tired. 🚂

Don't look for a grand cinematic statement here. You won't find one. It’s just a weird little slice of French history that feels like a fever dream caught on celluloid. Is it good? Who knows. Is it memorable? Sure, mostly for how weirdly frantic it gets near the end.