The Lady Vanishes (1938 Alfred Hitchcock)

Rather like a train itself, The Lady Vanishes picks up speed and energy and momentum as it proceeds. Some of it is frankly incredible. For example, the singer at the beginning who's strangled. This doesn't seem to have anything to do with anything, although it is funny. And there may have been a false bottom in the magician's trunk, but how would that allow him to escape unseen from the carriage? Anyway, none of this matters in classic 'No one believes me' tale, enriched by its cast of characters: irreverent but supportive musician, dotty old woman, damsel in distress, cricket loving Englishmen, a couple of adulterers and a traitorous nun. The screenplay's credited to Launder and Gilliatt, but Hitch invented the beginning and the end and introduced the magician - they later fell out over the claims that Hitch was the author.