Lady on a Train manages to combine several different styles into something worthwhile. Directed by Charles David and written by Edmund Beloin and Robert O’Brien from a Leslie Charteris story, the film features Deanna Durbin, Ralph Bellamy, David Bruce, George Coulouris, Allen Jenkins, Dan Duryea, and Edward Everett Horton. The score is composed by Miklos Rozsa, with cinematography by Woody Bredell. It's a mix of murder mystery, film noir, comedy, musical, and even a Christmas movie! There’s a lot happening in this compact film, which gives Durbin the opportunity to display her range before she stepped away from acting three years later. Primarily, it’s the murder mystery that propels the story forward. Durbin portrays Nikki Collins, a spirited young woman with a passion for detective stories; when she sees a murder occur from her train seat, naturally she's quite excited. However, getting the police to believe what she saw turns out to be challenging, so she decides to investigate on her own. Before long, she finds herself deeply involved in intrigue and facing real danger. The plot thickens as Durbin encounters the victim’s strange family—a collection of unhappy people and suspicious characters. With the help of mystery writer Wayne Morgan (Bruce), Nikki has to use every trick she can think of to stay ahead, even pretending to be a singer. This provides Durbin with the chance to sing three songs, including a lovely version of “Silent Night” and a sultry performance of "Gimme a Little Kiss, Will Yah, Huh?” which really captivates the audience. The film builds effectively toward a darker final third, where Bredell’s noir-style photography truly shines, and the ending is quite satisfying. There are good laughs, suspenseful moments, and memorable songs—it's definitely worth watching. The story was originally filmed in 1940 as A Window in London, with Michael Redgrave in the lead role. It earns a rating of 7/10.

Source on TMDB