Danger Lights (1930)

Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Making allowances for the fact that I saw an abbreviated version of Danger Lights, I'd still have to say that this film is as far as the story goes nothing terribly special. But I have friends who belong to a group called Railroad Enthusiasts and if they haven't seen this movie it ought to be required for those who want to join.The scenes involving the work in the railroad yards and the trains themselves are the best thing about Danger Lights. It's very reminiscent to the classic Burt Lancaster film The Train of which a good deal is set in the Paris railway yards. I wouldn't be surprised if John Frankenheimer saw Danger Lights and took a lot of ideas from it.As for the plot it's a simple one, a love triangle involving Louis Wolheim the tough boss of the yards, a young hobo played by Robert Armstrong who was a former railroad worker to whom Wolheim gives a second chance and Jean Arthur the daughter of a disabled former railroad worker whom Wolheim boards with and takes care of. Arthur respects and loves Wolheim, but can't see him as a romantic figure.I think you can take it from there. You will not see any of the comedic style that we saw with Jean Arthur in her top years, she's merely a romantic ingénue and the object of the affections of all.The railroad and the yards are the real stars of Danger Lights. And this review is dedicated to that intrepid band of railroad enthusiasts.

Check out the Jean Arthur the Hottie of 1930. Do not like her as much as brunette. However, she can play with my train set anytime. The photos of 1930 Chicago are outstanding. Gone are the old Union Station, the Washington St bridge over the tracks. The only thing that I can say that still exists is the old Civic Opera House. I still do not understand how the railroad people thought that they could convince the public that trains could be a fast as planes. The second best train movie is the Silver Streak Movie of 1934. The Burlington Northern did have an excellent concept for a streamline train. Again, they could never compete with jets.

The heart of this story is a retelling of the Arthurian love triangle. This time around the King rules a Milwaukee Road Railroad Yard with a brick-to-the-side-of-the-head management style not currently taught in the better business schools. He takes a wandering knight (in the guise of a hobo) under his wing only to have the knight and the Queen (O.K. the fiancé) fall in love.Among the rest of the cast Hugh Herbert does a fine turn playing a Knight of the Road in almost Shakespearen comic relief. Other players do an adequate job, but the real star of the show is the period railroad equipment and operations. Towards the end of the movie we see some great shots of Chicago in the opening days of the Depression.If you love trains this movie is a must. If you want another reason to see Jean Arthur the movie is worth a try.

This is the very best movie for shots of the railroad scene circa 1930. Reportedly contains the only existing film of a dynamometer. Wonderful shots of steam engines. Amazing tug of war between steam locomotives at the Old Timers Picnic. Exciting 100 MPH race to Chicago. This is a must for railroad fans. The old-fashioned acting is quite different than that of effete modern Hollywood. Louis Wolheim is quite the antidote for your basic 20-year-old hermaphroditic hero!