Excellent adaptation.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

UK Prime Minister "Winston Churchill is traveling across Africa during the second World War. Nazi terrorists sabotage the train and take Churchill hostage. Counter-espionage agents Jason Connery (son of Sean Connery) and Francesco Quinn (son of Anthony Quinn) attempt to save him, and perhaps prevent the collapse of the allied war effort," according to the DVD sleeve description, "'Casablanca Express' is a taunt thriller with explosive action sequences." Interesting to see the sons of two very accomplished actors in such an unimpressive movie. The younger Connery and the younger Quinn are, arguably, more handsome in appearance, but less attractive on screen. At least in this movie; "Casablanca Express" is only one film, and not a very good one. It really seems to be set in the 1980s, poorly pretending to be World War II of the 1940s. Allied actors Glenn Ford, Donald Pleasence, and Jean Sorel amount to naught.**** Casablanca Express (12/22/89) Sergio Martino ~ Jason Connery, Francesco Quinn, Jinny Steffan, Glenn Ford

Yeah, like the other reviewers write, this is one lousy movie. Featuring big star children Jason Connery and Francesco Quinn, it's hard to imagine being able to take a promising premise (Churchill taken by the Germans on a train) and turn it into absolute garbage. The only acting worse than Jason Connery's was Francesco Quinn's. Man, they are lousy. Even known actors don't fare well. Glenn Ford and Donald Pleasance seem old, tired and disinterested. French actor Jean Sorel looks bemused throughout, and the whole thing is lifeless and oh-so-boring. I could forgive the mass historical and military inaccuracies if it was entertaining, but it doesn't (IMO) even rise to the 'so bad it's good' level. It's just bad. Oh, I did state that there was about 30 seconds of film that was worthwhile. That would be the scenes early in the film where Jinny Steffan, who's kinda hot, is showing her boobs :)

Casablanca Express assumes an almost historic docu-drama style from its start ... but picks up a good intellectual interest and suspense which Hitchcock would savor for its subtle 'dry' approach. The plot entails a special American and Allied military intelligence detail escorting PM Winston Churchill to his wartime casablanca Conference with pres. Franklin Roosevelt. Not gimmicky - but highly realistic for its time period-set in French colonial North Africa - then still wavering for & against Vichy France. Good cast with Glenn Ford as an American General in US Army Intelligence; and Donald Pleasance as his British counterpart. Found out from IMDb that the two male actors as the US intelligence agents aboard Churchill's secret train - Jason Connery & Francesco Quinn .. are the sons of film stars Sean Connery & Anthony Quinn. Directed smoothly in a verismo style & produced/released in 1988 .. the film will hold with suspense & entertain the mind as if an historic archive. Its realism exudes the director's style as if performed by non-actors (ie. actual agents & military).As a viewing note -- the edition I saw was Family Treasury DVD classics -- these are also being discounted inexpensively in units apart from the Family Treasury group buy (perhaps as over-runs) at $1 to $5 for two -- they are not pirated -- worth the higher price & a good deal at the discount.

As a 22 year Army veteran, I become almost nauseous viewing war movies with numerous technical errors. The "Marine" assault battalion fires a 3.5" rocket launcher from a moving train without regard to the back blast effect on the Marines riding directly behind the weapon.The army uniforms were hokey. Army officers, under the rank of general, have two insignias per lapel, a "U.S." and a branch insignia. About half the time one of our heroes has his worn correctly, the other half of the time incorrectly.The rescuing Marines have corpsmen with them that have ludicrous looking helmet liners with huge red crosses on them. Those crosses would have made great targets for even a blind sniper.The soldiers accompanying the train were geared up for combat wearing their helmet liners sans helmets. They also were wearing an American flag patch on their left shoulders. These flag patches should have been on their right shoulders (I know D-Day invasion forces had these flags sewn on, but I am not too sure about our soldiers in Africa) and their unit patches on their left.Certainly wish some of the directors/producers could spring a few bucks and hire some ex-GI's as technical advisers.