NekoHomey
Purely Joyful Movie!
Married Baby
Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?
Kinley
This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows
bkoganbing
Making allowances for the fact that I saw an abbreviated version of Danger Lights, I'd still have to say that this film is as far as the story goes nothing terribly special. But I have friends who belong to a group called Railroad Enthusiasts and if they haven't seen this movie it ought to be required for those who want to join.The scenes involving the work in the railroad yards and the trains themselves are the best thing about Danger Lights. It's very reminiscent to the classic Burt Lancaster film The Train of which a good deal is set in the Paris railway yards. I wouldn't be surprised if John Frankenheimer saw Danger Lights and took a lot of ideas from it.As for the plot it's a simple one, a love triangle involving Louis Wolheim the tough boss of the yards, a young hobo played by Robert Armstrong who was a former railroad worker to whom Wolheim gives a second chance and Jean Arthur the daughter of a disabled former railroad worker whom Wolheim boards with and takes care of. Arthur respects and loves Wolheim, but can't see him as a romantic figure.I think you can take it from there. You will not see any of the comedic style that we saw with Jean Arthur in her top years, she's merely a romantic ingénue and the object of the affections of all.The railroad and the yards are the real stars of Danger Lights. And this review is dedicated to that intrepid band of railroad enthusiasts.
kidboots
Looking at the magnificent natural scenery in "Danger Lights" it is hard to believe that only the year before most audiences were longing for a return to silents. Talkies were static and the only time there was any action is when someone broke into a song and dance!! But in 1929 William Wyler took his film crew (the camera still in a padded booth) to Death Valley to film "Hell's Heroes" and despite a lot of opposition proved an outdoor talkie could be made and made well.What a tough team Louis Wolheim and Robert Armstrong make!! Even though Wolheim had once been a maths teacher, his craggy, ugly mug promised that when he started in films he would definitely not be playing a matinée idol and Armstrong already had the reputation for playing "dumb-bell" type gangsters until films like this showed his sensitive side.Dan Thorne (Louis Wolheim) is a railway troubleshooter, who, at the film's start, is called in to salvage a train that has become involved in a rock slide. He meets Larry (Robert Armstrong), a hobo riding the rails - their mutual dislike is instant ("What if I don't want to work" "I've got a couple of very good reasons why you should"!!! Biff, Bang!!!) Dan finds out he has been sacked from his last engineering job because of insubordination, but there is something about him, maybe Larry reminds him of himself!!! Dan puts him to work and he makes good and also meets Mary (Jean Arthur) Dan's fiancée!!! Trying to ignore the fact that Dan looks old enough and ugly enough to be Mary's grandfather, it is a match waiting for disaster. There is something odd in the match - even though he treats her more as a daughter and her feelings are more of gratitude for the help he has shown her and her father.Jean Arthur is adorable but rather wooden, although she doesn't have much to do in this tough guy actioner except look pained -especially when Dan announces their engagement!! Robert Armstrong also doesn't look comfortable in the mushy romantic scenes - but when the part calls for action - Watch Out!!! Larry and Mary decide to elope, Larry gets his foot caught in the track and Dan comes gunning for him in the pouring rain....but it doesn't end there!!! A mad race to Chicago with the engine averaging 100 miles an hour brings this movie to a thrilling climax. The cinematography of Karl Struss is superb and you really get a feel for the magnificent engines that dominate every scene they are in.Highly, Highly Recommended.
MartinHafer
I noticed that one reviewer gave this mediocre film a 10 and I just can't get it. While it's neat to see all the trains as well as one of the few films still in existence starring Louis Wolheim, there's not a whole lot more to recommend this extremely melodramatic film.Oddly, this movie was copied in many, many ways by OTHER MEN'S WOMEN just five months later. The two films are so similar, it's obvious that the latter film "borrowed" (i.e., stole) the plot idea. Both are about a railway supervisor who is a heck of a wonderful guy. He's in love with a girl and introduces her to a new friend--one who eventually ends up trying to steal the girl. And, in both cases, it leads to an almost impossible to believe ending.While entertaining, this and OTHER MEN'S WOMEN are just too silly to be considered great films. The plots are extremely old fashioned and might just make you laugh they are so clichéd. Instead of ruining what I mean, just watch the films yourself--you'll probably see what I mean.By the way, Louis Wolheim was a wonderful actor and I loved to see his ugly kisser in films like this and ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT. Unfortunately, only a year later, he was to die very young of stomach cancer. What a loss.
tlekan
Check out the Jean Arthur the Hottie of 1930. Do not like her as much as brunette. However, she can play with my train set anytime. The photos of 1930 Chicago are outstanding. Gone are the old Union Station, the Washington St bridge over the tracks. The only thing that I can say that still exists is the old Civic Opera House. I still do not understand how the railroad people thought that they could convince the public that trains could be a fast as planes. The second best train movie is the Silver Streak Movie of 1934. The Burlington Northern did have an excellent concept for a streamline train. Again, they could never compete with jets.
