Danger Lights (1930)

The tough boss of a railroad yard befriends a young hobo, and unwittingly places in jeopardy his relationship with the woman he loves.

Director:

George B. Seitz

Writer:

James Ashmore Creelman (story and dialogue)

Stars:

Louis Wolheim, Jean Arthur, Robert Armstrong

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Louis Wolheim	...	Dan Thorn
Robert Armstrong	...	Larry Doyle
Jean Arthur	...	Mary Ryan
Hugh Herbert	...	Professor - the Hobo
Frank Sheridan	...	Ed Ryan
Robert Edeson	...	Tom Johnson - Engineer
Alan Roscoe	...	Jim - General Manager
William P. Burt	...	Chief Dispatcher
Jim Farley	...	Joe Geraghty (as James Farley)

Storyline

Head railroad man Dan is as ugly as he is honorable. When he spots a drifter who'd hopped a freight held up by a landslide, Dan offers the man a job; then he finds the man was a railroader, too, and takes him under his wing. Engaged to Mary, Dan doesn't notice the growing attraction between his protégé and his intended, but focuses instead on running the railroad.

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Plot Keywords:

head injury | landslide | hobo | tug of war | train | 

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Taglines:

World's Greatest Railroad Talk Thriller

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 August 1930 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fugindo ao Perigo

Filming Locations:

Lombard, Montana, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the 15 December 1930 New York Times review of the film, critic Mordaunt Hall wrote that the film was "pictured" in the Spoor-Berggren process, adding that it filled the screen from side to side of the Mayfair Theatre in New York City. Hall included a paragraph giving technical information about the wide-screen process.

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Goofs

The locomotive that arrives in Chicago is not the same one that left on the trip. When Larry adds oil to the smoking "hotbox" en route, for example, the wheel has an outside journal box that he puts the oil into from a can. The loco that arrives in Chicago has an inside journal on this wheel (under the cab), a different type than the one the loco had earlier.

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Quotes

Dan Thorn: People have got to marry the things they love best. You two, each other. Me, the railroad.

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Soundtracks

With You With Me
(uncredited)
Music by Oscar Levant
Lyrics by Sidney Clare

User Reviews

King Arthur Rides the Rails!

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.