One of the more interesting things about Paradise Express probably known in later years as the Hooterville Cannonball is the fact that Harry Davenport is playing against type. Usually cast as the kindly grandfather type in films, Davenport plays the kind of crotchety old guy usually done by George Barbier.
Davenport is the president of a local railroad which is in receivership and hemorrhaging business badly to a trucking company. That was happening all across the USA then, it's called progress. But in this case the receiver appointed, Grant Withers is looking to save the railroad, particularly a line to the town of Paradise where a lot of local farmers were sending their produce with the railroad until recently.
Donald Kirke is president of the trucking company, but these guys are racketeers, shades of Jimmy Hoffa. He arranged for Withers to be made receiver, but Withers crosses him up. Of course Davenport's pretty granddaughter Dorothy Appleby might have something to do with it.
On the whole it's not a bad product from Republic Pictures, the Hooterville Cannonball is of course saved. In fact Withers finds an interesting way to sabotage the saboteurs which you have to see the film for.
These crooks go to jail, unlike Homer P. Bedloe who never gave up his efforts to close down the Hooterville Cannonball.
