Danger Lights (1930)

Looking at the magnificent natural scenery in "Danger Lights" it is hard to believe that only the year before most audiences were longing for a return to silents. Talkies were static and the only time there was any action is when someone broke into a song and dance!! But in 1929 William Wyler took his film crew (the camera still in a padded booth) to Death Valley to film "Hell's Heroes" and despite a lot of opposition proved an outdoor talkie could be made and made well.What a tough team Louis Wolheim and Robert Armstrong make!! Even though Wolheim had once been a maths teacher, his craggy, ugly mug promised that when he started in films he would definitely not be playing a matinée idol and Armstrong already had the reputation for playing "dumb-bell" type gangsters until films like this showed his sensitive side.Dan Thorne (Louis Wolheim) is a railway troubleshooter, who, at the film's start, is called in to salvage a train that has become involved in a rock slide. He meets Larry (Robert Armstrong), a hobo riding the rails - their mutual dislike is instant ("What if I don't want to work" "I've got a couple of very good reasons why you should"!!! Biff, Bang!!!) Dan finds out he has been sacked from his last engineering job because of insubordination, but there is something about him, maybe Larry reminds him of himself!!! Dan puts him to work and he makes good and also meets Mary (Jean Arthur) Dan's fiancée!!! Trying to ignore the fact that Dan looks old enough and ugly enough to be Mary's grandfather, it is a match waiting for disaster. There is something odd in the match - even though he treats her more as a daughter and her feelings are more of gratitude for the help he has shown her and her father.Jean Arthur is adorable but rather wooden, although she doesn't have much to do in this tough guy actioner except look pained -especially when Dan announces their engagement!! Robert Armstrong also doesn't look comfortable in the mushy romantic scenes - but when the part calls for action - Watch Out!!! Larry and Mary decide to elope, Larry gets his foot caught in the track and Dan comes gunning for him in the pouring rain....but it doesn't end there!!! A mad race to Chicago with the engine averaging 100 miles an hour brings this movie to a thrilling climax. The cinematography of Karl Struss is superb and you really get a feel for the magnificent engines that dominate every scene they are in.Highly, Highly Recommended.

I noticed that one reviewer gave this mediocre film a 10 and I just can't get it. While it's neat to see all the trains as well as one of the few films still in existence starring Louis Wolheim, there's not a whole lot more to recommend this extremely melodramatic film.Oddly, this movie was copied in many, many ways by OTHER MEN'S WOMEN just five months later. The two films are so similar, it's obvious that the latter film "borrowed" (i.e., stole) the plot idea. Both are about a railway supervisor who is a heck of a wonderful guy. He's in love with a girl and introduces her to a new friend--one who eventually ends up trying to steal the girl. And, in both cases, it leads to an almost impossible to believe ending.While entertaining, this and OTHER MEN'S WOMEN are just too silly to be considered great films. The plots are extremely old fashioned and might just make you laugh they are so clichéd. Instead of ruining what I mean, just watch the films yourself--you'll probably see what I mean.By the way, Louis Wolheim was a wonderful actor and I loved to see his ugly kisser in films like this and ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT. Unfortunately, only a year later, he was to die very young of stomach cancer. What a loss.

I have stood near the spot that the film crew was filming the scene where the speeding train carrying the injured Dan Thorn is crossing the Missouri river. It was Lombard Mt..There is absolutely nothing left of the town. The funny thing is that the train is speeding WEST to get to Chicago. Rare scenes of "Big Hook" steam crane in action, and Eagle Nest tunnel, where as soon as you come out of the tunnel you are on top of a high bridge.This movie was not filmed in Hollywood but on location in western Montana where not much has changed since the movie was made except the removal of the rails on the Milwaukie Road.All in all excellent vintage railroad movie.

I was lucky enough to tape a copy of this once when the local public television station ran it (no commercials!) cause it sure is hard to find. Its not the kind of movie you watch for the story (though it has one) or for it's great acting (its about as bad as "Plan 9 from Outer Space") but if you enjoy trains and a look back at all the work that went on behind the scenes to keep them running, this is the movie for you. One of only a few movies shot in "Natural Vision." I would love to see this projected in a theater where the large vistas would rally come alive.