Union Station (1950)

A sharp-eyed woman spots a man with a gun on a train and her alert to the railroad police helps them in their search for a ruthless gang who have kidnapped a blind heiress.

Director:

Rudolph Maté

Writers:

Sydney Boehm (screenplay), Thomas Walsh (story)

Stars:

William Holden, Nancy Olson, Barry Fitzgerald

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Holden	...	Lt. William Calhoun
Nancy Olson	...	Joyce Willecombe
Barry Fitzgerald	...	Inspector Donnelly
Lyle Bettger	...	Joe Beacom
Jan Sterling	...	Marge Wrighter
Allene Roberts	...	Lorna Murchison
Herbert Heyes	...	Henry L. Murchison
Don Dunning	...	Gus Hadder
Fred Graff	...	Vince Marley
James Seay	...	Detective Eddie Shattuck
Parley Baer	...	Detective Gottschalk (as Parley E. Baer)
Ralph Sanford	...	Detective Fay
Richard Karlan	...	Detective George Stein
Bigelow Sayre	...	Detective Ross
Charles Dayton	...	Howard Kettner

Storyline

Secretary Joyce Willecombe grows suspicious of two men boarding her train and is referred to 'Tough Willy' Calhoun, head of the Union Station police. The all-seeing, no-nonsense Calhoun is initially skeptical, but the men (who escape) prove to be involved in a kidnap case. Calhoun calls in equally tough police Inspector Donnelly, but the ruthless kidnapper's precision planning stays one jump ahead of them. Most of the action centers around bustling Union Station.

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Plot Keywords:

rum | ex convict | two word title | union station los angeles | train | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1951 (Chile)

Also Known As:

Manhattan Madness

Filming Locations:

Saugus, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There were two former mayors of Mayberry--the setting of The Andy Griffith Show (1960)--in this movie: Parley Baer (Mayberry Mayor Stoner) was a cop and Dick Elliott (Mayberry Mayor Pike) was a powerhouse workman.

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Goofs

During the chase on the elevated train, portions of the background rear projection that can be seen through the windows of the train are reversed, flipped so that the lettering of signs is backwards. Probably this was done to match the interior angles in the train that had been filmed.

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Quotes

Inspector Donnelly: I'll break any man who takes his eyes off that suitcase.

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Connections

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

User Reviews

Good film

"Union Station" is a realistic 1950 film starring William Holden, Nancy Olson, Jan Sterling and Barry Fitzgerald. It was released after "Sunset Boulevard" so by the time it came out, Holden had actually moved up another level of stardom. Rudolph Mate directed the film in a quasi-documentary way, showing all levels of an attempt to rescue a kidnapped blind girl (Allene Roberts), the daughter of Olson's wealthy boss. Holden plays the detective in charge of Union Station, and he doesn't like the idea of anybody messing with his turf.

There are some very exciting scenes, particularly the one on the train, which as someone mentioned, very likely inspired "The French Connection." Holden gives a strong, macho performance, which makes the scene where he visits Olson in her home extra delightful, as he becomes embarrassed when her mother fusses over him. It's amazing that after Golden Boy, he toiled in so many films beneath his ability. Jan Sterling is the gangster's girlfriend with a heart - it's a small but showy and sympathetic role. Lyle Bettger is the villain, and he's slime all the way through. The only problem with the film is the kidnap victim herself, Lorna, who screams non-stop. I'm surprised her father wanted her back, but you know how it is with parents.

Really holds your interest. What a hunk Holden is. Highly recommended.