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

This was not the only film with a climactic train entrance into Chicago. By a coincidence of geography, the large underpass traveled through before the train's right turn past the Seng Terminal Warehouse holds overhead tracks leading into Northwestern Station. It's on those tracks that about 45 years later, the Silver Streak (1976) would film its climactic approach shot into that station (described as Union Station in that film, but actually filming into Northwestern).

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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

My DreamMemory
(uncredited)
Music by Oscar Levant
Lyrics by Sidney Clare

User Reviews

Definitely historical railroad scenes

I taped the movie from TV broadcast about 15 years ago. My wife saw the movie being filmed in Miles City, Montana ( 8 years old at that time ) She and her older sister and parents were thrilled to see Jean Arthur in person. I liked the railroad scenes. Jean Arthur has long been a favorite of mine. I have been a movie buff most of my life and have collected just about every format that was available to the public. Currently collecting DVDs