Night Passage

Grant McLaine (James Stewart) is a fired railroad worker who is playing the accordion for scraps. Recent train robberies by Whitey Harbin and his men force the boss to rehire him to carry the payroll cash to the workers. When his train is held up, he hides the money in a boy's shoebox. The boy turns out to be The Utica Kid (Audie Murphy). The start is very slow. We don't get to the train for awhile. This part of the story definitely needs more tension. Once the train robbery happens, a more proper amount of pace is injected into the movie. But even here, the dialog is hokey and the movie is every bit a run of the mill western. This is definitely missing a more adventurous style. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this for more than a James Stewart fan or a Sunday afternoon filler.

James Neilson directs an accordion playing and folk singing James Stewart in a close to run of the mill western. Have yet to figure out the title NIGHT PASSAGE; but its interesting enough. Grant McLaine(Stewart)is working with constructing the railroad through Colorado. After being fired once, he is given another chance to prove himself by hand carrying the railroad's payroll to the end of the line. The workers have not been paid in months because a gang led by Whitey Harbin(Dan Duryea)keeps robbing the payroll. Part of that gang is McLaine's own brother known at the Utica Kid(Audie Murphy). Beautiful Colorado scenery; quirky villains; a real good shoot out and an outstanding supporting cast featuring: Dianne Foster, Hugh Beaumont, Elaine Stewart, Jack Elam, Brandon De Wilde and Jack Elam.

Beautifully photographed, atmospheric western that takes a while to build up under James Neilson's direction--he took over from Anthony Mann, who was fired after clashing with star James Stewart--but ends with a slam-bang finale. Stewart and Audie Murphy work well together, with Stewart as a railroad employee entrusted with getting a payroll past a gang of train robbers, and Murphy his brother who's a member of the gang. Dan Duryea excelled at playing sadistic villains with a twisted sense of humor who actually got a kick out of their work, and he does another good job of it here. A solid supporting cast including Jack Elam, Robert J. Wilke and Herbert Anderson contributes to the film's enjoyability, along with some spectacular mountain scenery. While no masterpiece, it's a good, satisfying western with a catchy little ditty sung by, of all people, Stewart. Check it out.