Deanna Durbin stars in the easy going (maybe too easy going) thriller where a woman who happens to be reading a whodunit on a train ride home witnesses a murder from her window. After failing to alert a policeman (played by William Frawley) of the demise, she decides to engage the same mystery writer she was reading (who's reluctant to participate) to see if they can crack the case. It turns out the murdered man was of means who had a bevy of family members & a side piece all of whom had the wherewithal & motive to commit the foul deed. Pretending to be the other woman, Durbin ingratiates herself into the bad graces of the family gaining the eye of a couple (played by Dan Duryea & Ralph Bellamy) in particular. Knowing about Durbin by reputation only (I remember years ago a box set of her early films were always advertised in a TV ad), I gave this film, her first for me, a shot & I can see the allure since she's very breezy & effervescent in the role but a certain air of menace & doom is needed for this endeavor to fly (Hello Hitchcock!) & after 3 song numbers (yes 3!), we accept the entertainment value but ultimately wish there was more here.
Review of Lady on a Train
