Although he appeared in well over 500 movies from 1915 through 1958, directed 23 films and wrote 7, Frank O'Connor is not a name well-known to cineastes. (Incidentally, he is NOT the Frank O'Connor who was married to Ayn Rand). To judge from this movie, he is a talented director who can not only draw heart-warming yet convincing performances from his players, but get the best from his photographer, using both close-ups and tracking shots where warranted to provide both production values and thrills.
Here he also has the services of a first-rate cast. Our lovely heroine,Jean Arthur, comes across with all her usual appeal, while Ralph Lewis repeats his engineer role from "West-Bound Limited", and Hugh Allan makes a decidedly personable hero. However, George Chesebro, the perennial villain of "B" westerns presents a surprisingly handsome profile here before he reverts to his usual villainous role.
The movie is not only must viewing for all railroad buffs (who will enjoy all the many on-location scenes of real trains thundering along real tracks), but an unexpected delight for movie fans generally. The screenplay is not only both convincing and fast-moving, but by independent standards, surprisingly well produced. The director obviously had access to real marshaling yards and real trains. Presumably, stock footage was used for the train wreck sequence but it certainly seems part and parcel of the movie itself.
Formerly available only in a poorly framed, well-worn print from Sunrise Silents, the film has now been added to Alpha's catalog. It's the same old print, but this time someone has gone to a lot of trouble to get the framing right!
In all, highly recommended -- especially for Jean Arthur and George Chesebro fans!
Here he also has the services of a first-rate cast. Our lovely heroine,Jean Arthur, comes across with all her usual appeal, while Ralph Lewis repeats his engineer role from "West-Bound Limited", and Hugh Allan makes a decidedly personable hero. However, George Chesebro, the perennial villain of "B" westerns presents a surprisingly handsome profile here before he reverts to his usual villainous role.
The movie is not only must viewing for all railroad buffs (who will enjoy all the many on-location scenes of real trains thundering along real tracks), but an unexpected delight for movie fans generally. The screenplay is not only both convincing and fast-moving, but by independent standards, surprisingly well produced. The director obviously had access to real marshaling yards and real trains. Presumably, stock footage was used for the train wreck sequence but it certainly seems part and parcel of the movie itself.
Formerly available only in a poorly framed, well-worn print from Sunrise Silents, the film has now been added to Alpha's catalog. It's the same old print, but this time someone has gone to a lot of trouble to get the framing right!
In all, highly recommended -- especially for Jean Arthur and George Chesebro fans!