DANGER LIGHTS (director: George Seitz; screenwriter: story and script by James Ashmore Creelman; cinematographers: Karl Struss/John Boyle; editor: Archie F. Marshek; cast: Louis Wolheim (Dan Thorn), Jean Arthur (Mary Ryan), Robert Armstrong (Larry Doyle), Frank Sheridan (Ed Ryan), Hugh Herbert (Professor), Robert Edeson (Engineer Tom Johnson); Runtime: 73; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: William LeBaron; RKO Radio Pictures; 1930)
“Routine comedy drama about the 1930 railroad scene in the Midwest.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
George Seitz (“Kit Carson”/”Life Begins for Andy Hardy”) directs this routine comedy drama about the 1930 railroad scene in the Midwest. It was known for using a wide-screen system called Spoor-Berggren National Vision. The novelty bombed because the quality was low and the cost high, and it was used this once but never used again. The former railroad motorman Larry Doyle (Robert Armstrong) is now a vagrant riding the boxcars of freight trains, after fired for insubordination. Dan Thorn (Louis Wolheim) is the owner of a Chicago railroad yard, who gives him a second chance after Larry helps out during a train mishap. It works out well, and Larry is good at the job. Soon he falls in love with his boss’s fiance, Mary Ryan (Jean Arthur), and they plan to marry. Despite alerted to their elopement, when Larry gets his foot caught in an electric switch, Dan saves him from an oncoming train. But in the rescue Dan suffers a brain injury. In return, Larry saves Dan’s life by driving the train at full-speed to Chicago. Larry receives an emergency operation and when recovered he blesses the union between Dan and Mary.
REVIEWED ON 6/23/2016 GRADE: C+
Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”
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