Visitors Review

dougdoepke (2012-05-24 23:14)

Depots are for More Than Trains Only

Back when America took the train for out-of-town travel, depots werefull of hustling, bustling travelers, rather like today's airports.Judging from the opening scenes of this movie, you might think half thefolks in those stations were petty criminals and the other half werethere to catch them. Actually, the movie's a pretty good thriller. Therailroad cops are led by Holden who's after a kidnapping gang who'vegrabbed a blind girl (Allene Roberts), while Barry Fitzgerald heads thelocal cop contingent.There are some good imaginative touches, such as the stockyard scene,and the final chase through an underground tunnel. These, along withsome good location photography and a documentary style approach, helpbuild a general air of suspense. However, the documentary style is alsointerrupted by rather obvious studio sets, a none-too-convincingromance between Olson and Holden, and the un-cop like musings ofFitzgerald as comedy relief. Thus we're also reminded at criticalpoints that this is, after all, only a movie.The film has gone down in history books for one particularly memorablescene. In the train station, the cops have caught a gang confederateand need to make him tell the where-abouts of the kidnapped girl. Atfirst, the suspect feigns innocence. Now, in standard films of the day,sentencing pressure would have been brought to bear-- how the guy risksexecution should harm befall the girl, along with maybe some mildpushing around. Not here. Instead, the guy is hauled into a back room and ratherbrutally beaten-- already a big departure from the norm. When he stillrefuses to talk, he's dragged out onto the tracks, where Holden andcompany dangle him before an on-rushing locomotive. Wild now withfright, the suspect spills his guts. To my knowledge, this is eitherone of the only films of the time, if not the only one, to show copsnot only beating a suspect, but torturing him as well. It comes as astartling departure from what audiences had come to expect from theforces of law and order, and how it got past the censors is beyond me.Of course, we already know the guy is a gang member, so we may want toexcuse the extreme police methods. But keep in mind that movies areinherently a medium of manipulation. A good film-maker can make anaudience root for almost anything or anybody if he loads the deckcorrectly. Suppose in this case the movie hadn't tipped us off earlyabout the guy's guilt, and suppose the guy turned out to be innocentinstead. Would we feel the same way about the police methods. I doubtit, but however you respond, this remains an entertaining 90 minuteswith a particularly fine performance from Roberts as the trapped blindgirl.

brocksilvey (2012-05-24 05:43)

Bogie and Bacall. Tracy and Hepburn. Holden and Olson??

Everyone remembers William Holden for his two big-time andOscar-nominated movies in 1950 -- "Sunset Boulevard" and "BornYesterday." But ask anyone about Nancy Olson -- the heroine of "UnionStation" who plays Holden's his-girl-Friday -- and see if you get morethan a blank stare. How ironic then that she played Holden's loveinterest in "Sunset Boulevard" and received an Oscar nomination forBest Supporting Actress."Union Station" takes place almost entirely in the titular Chicagotrain port and boasts a somewhat memorable finale set underneath thestation, but the movie as a whole is forgettable. It's a disposableentry in the police procedural noirs that were so popular at the time,and spends a lot of its time explaining the logistics the Union Stationsecurity team follows in catching the kidnappers of a business tycoon'sdaughter.The film isn't very exciting, but it didn't exactly try my patienceeither, mostly because it's only 81 minutes long. Still, you can find ahundred other similar movies that are more worth your time.Grade: B-

(2012-05-24 02:42)

The star of this movie is Union Station itself

I found this movie riveting although I would agree that it is flawed in some of the ways other reviewers here have pointed out.To me, the star of this movie is the main setting itself -- Union Station. (It's supposed to be Union Station-Chicago tho it was actually filmed in Union Station-L.A.) So much of the action takes place amidst the corridors and passageways and train tracks and tunnels underneath Union Station. (And at one point the action shifts to the Chicago "El" train.) And since every cop in the movie (with one brief exception) is in plain clothes (which in 1950 apparently meant a dark grey suit and tie), there is a constant sense of tension and suspense as they try to follow and trap the criminals amongst the hustle and bustle of the ordinary folks commuting or working in the vast train station. The station cops have hidden offices on a sort of mezzanine level overlooking the station and constantly spy on the throngs below, trying to spot the kidnappers and ransom bag guys. An ordinary train station is converted into a eerie locale of spying and cat-and-mouse between cop and criminal.In fact, the setting is more noir-ish than the characters. To me, the main characters in the film are not "true" film noir characters, it's more an ordinary "good guy" vs "bad guy" sort of crime movie. But the film transforms an ordinary busy big-city train station into "Dark City Central."

(2012-05-23 17:00)

Fairly standard crime drama

William Holden stars as Lt. William Calhoun who's in charge of the police force commissioned to patrol the busy Union Station. Calhoun is alerted by a conductor that a female passenger Joyce Willecombe played by Nancy Olson has spotted two male passengers carrying guns. The men had hurriedly embarked on the train and appeared suspicious to Olson.Holden alerted his underlings to tail the two men, one of whom was Joe Beacom played by frequent cinema heavy Lyle Bettger. They eventually stumble into a kidnapping plot. Olson's boss a rich socialite named Henry Murchison played by distinguished looking silver haired Herbert Heyes had a young blind daughter Lorna played by Allene Roberts. Young Lorna was the kidnap victim. Holden and Police Inspector Donnelly played by the impish Irish born Barry Fitzgerald colloborate to attempt to thwart the well conceived scheme to bilk Mr. Murchison of $100,000.The highlight of this rather standard film noir drama was the glorious black and white cinematography within the cavernous Union Station located in L.A.. The acting talents of Holden and Fitzgerald are hard to ignore but both shined more brightly in other more notable efforts. Bettger also did well portraying the devious and calculating criminal mastermind.

(2012-05-22 13:38)

Master Pieces

I love Willy Holden. If he ever comes back as a woman I'm going to stalk him/her untill he/she submits to my marriage proposal. Good movie.

(2012-05-22 01:49)

Cast Can't Overcome Dreadful Writing in This Post-War Thriller.

"Union Station" is a post-War thriller revolving around a kidnapping plot, unique for the amount of time it spends in Chicago's Union Station. Joyce Willecombe (Nancy Olson), observes two men enter her train car in a hurry, one of them in possession of a gun. She reports the suspicious behavior to Lt. Bill Calhoun (William Holden), the police officer assigned to the train station in Chicago. It later becomes clear that the men whom Joyce observed have kidnapped the blind daughter of Joyce's employer, Mr. Murchison (Herbert Hayes), and are holding her for ransom. Joyce assists in identifying the men, and Lt. Calhoun and his superior Inspector Donnelly (Barry Fitzgerald) pursue the suspects in slim hopes of getting Lorna Murchison (Allene Roberts) back alive.The plot doesn't make much sense. The opening sequence of Joyce on the train contributes little to the story except to maneuver Joyce into it. I suppose that Joyce is supposed to be the person the audience identifies with -down to earth, an average citizen with a strong sense of justice- but she just seems extraneous. The police assume that the kidnap victim is dead for no apparent reason. And they're not much better than thugs when they have a suspect in their hands. There is another superfluous sequence when Calhoun pursues a suspect on a street car. It seems that the writers wanted to include certain elements of suspense, romance, action, and Irish cops in the film, and pieced them together whatever way they could, sense notwithstanding.The mastermind of the kidnapping scheme is a cruel ex-con named Joe Beacom (Lyle Bettger). My interest picked up halfway through the film, when Joe got more screen time. Beacom and his platinum blond moll seem more interesting than their pursuers, but we see too little of them. Joe remarks that he can't understand why anyone would pay to have Lorna back; I was wondering the same thing. She's a squealy, hysterical young woman who inspires no sympathy. The quasi-heroine, Joyce, is equally unappealing, partly because she doesn't do anything, but also because she is rather homely. I kept thinking that it would be great to see William Holden and Lyle Bettger face off in a better movie. The print on the Olive Films 2010 DVD is a little grainy but has no major flaws and good sound.

blanche-2 (2012-05-20 06:52)

Good film

"Union Station" is a realistic 1950 film starring William Holden, NancyOlson, Jan Sterling and Barry Fitzgerald. It was released after "SunsetBoulevard" so by the time it came out, Holden had actually moved upanother level of stardom. Rudolph Mate directed the film in aquasi-documentary way, showing all levels of an attempt to rescue akidnapped blind girl (Allene Roberts), the daughter of Olson's wealthyboss. Holden plays the detective in charge of Union Station, and hedoesn't like the idea of anybody messing with his turf. There are somevery exciting scenes, particularly the one on the train, which assomeone mentioned, very likely inspired "The French Connection." Holdengives a strong, macho performance, which makes the scene where hevisits Olson in her home extra delightful, as he becomes embarrassedwhen her mother fusses over him. It's amazing that after Golden Boy, hetoiled in so many films beneath his ability. Jan Sterling is thegangster's girlfriend with a heart - it's a small but showy andsympathetic role. Lyle Bettger is the villain, and he's slime all theway through. The only problem with the film is the kidnap victimherself, Lorna, who screams non-stop. I'm surprised her father wantedher back, but you know how it is with parents.Really holds your interest. What a hunk Holden is. Highly recommended.

ccthemovieman-1 (2012-05-20 01:13)

A Very Good, Unknown Film Noir

This was a bit of a sleeper, better than I thought and not a well-knownfilm to begin with, since it never came out on VHS. William Holden andNancy Olson both worked on Sunset Boulevard this same year this wasreleased and here are together again. Actually, I like the two a lotbetter in this film than the much better- known 'Boulevard.'Yes, some of the scenes are a bit dumb but the story moves well andkeeps your interest which is what a good crime story-drama should do.For some reason, I really enjoyed the train station, too. It lookedawesome. Hopefully, some day this movie will be part of a film-noir package onDVD.

GManfred (2012-05-17 16:29)

Good picture; A little dated but underrated

Viewers at times have to approach some films with an atavisticdemeanor, as though going to a museum. After all, times change, customschange, people change. Years ago many people smoked, men wore fedorasand Police methods were also different. This last seems to be LeonardMaltin's main objection to the film when he says 'dated policetechniques'. This is 2008, and with the ACLU acting as spoilers, policeno longer 'lean on' suspects.As previously stated, watch this picture with a sense of atavism and itis thoroughly enjoyable. After all, it was 1950 - many of us canremember those times, fondly. William Holden was almost a big star,Lyle Bettger was honing his talent as a heavy and Rudolph Mate was anaccomplished Director. Tension is sustained throughout and the locationphotography is interesting. Do yourself a favor and see it next timeit's on.

(2012-05-17 09:31)

Union Station

This review is from: Union Station (DVD) Just ordered the DVD of this movie. I had it on VHS, then was able to record it to DVD-R but want a professional copy also. This movie is among my favorite noir. I like William Holden and Barry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald in Naked City was excellent and he does a good job here also. The late 40's and early 50's were, in my opinion, the golden age of noir. Many fine movies were made in that genre and this is one of them. You had the tough but really sensitive cop or private eye, the girl in distress, the criminal who was out to get everyone, and some really classic settings on locale. Combine that together and you have some really good entertainment. It's a window to a bygone era. I could care less about some of the aspects some reviewers put into their synopsis. It's entertainment, what more do you want?

David (2012-05-15 17:35)

A little disappointing the second time around

I saw this movie on local TV maybe 25 years ago and thought it superb.But Paramount movies, with a few exceptions, aren't shown much anymore.So I was excited to find it resurfacing.Watching it was a little less exciting. It's not really a film noir.It's a thriller. William Holden is good, very good, but the supportingcast leaves something to be desired.I've seen Nancy Olson only in this and, also with Holden, in "SunsetBoulevard." She has a quality that can bring June Cleaver into thedarkest, most cynical movies.The actress playing the kidnapped blind girl overdoes it. That may wellnot have been her fault. It may have been the script and the directionof the usually superb Rudoph Mate'. However, she is played as foolishas well as blind. I wish to state with authority that the two do not gohand-in-hand -- though maybe they were perceived more as doing so in1950.The film is suspenseful. Sort of. But I have to say I anticipated itsevery step -- and not because I'd seen it decades ago: All I rememberedbefore today was that a young blind woman is kidnapped and that ittakes place in a train station. There, I was correct.Oh! And that strange Murchison name appears again. I'd thought this wasan MGM in-joke, but here we find it at Paramount too.

(2012-05-15 10:51)

Night Train

This is a review for the VHS tape of UNION STATION, a film which wasoriginally released by Paramaount Pictures in 1950. UNION STATION wasdirected by veteran Rudolph Mate from a story by Thomas Walsh, a verypopular pulpster at the time.Secretary Joyce Willecombe , played by Nancy Olsen, notices a gun stuck in the waistband of one of two men who board her commuter train one afternoon and reports it to the conductor. He tells her to wait until they arrive at Union Station, the large train hub for the unnamed urban area. She does report it to the head of security for the station, Lt. William Calhoun, played by William Holden.This is just the start of a path that eventually leads to a kidnapping, attempted murder, a $100,000 ransom, an eye-opening treatise on just exactly how big city police really operate, the desperation of ex-cons for one big score and their willingness to die for it.UNION STATION also portrays what it takes to succesfully run a big operation like the huge railroad station security system and the dedication as well as possesiveness of "My station" to keep it going.UNION STATION progresses from an afternoon commute scenario to a urban noir nightdream, with plenty of rain slickened streets and unidentifiable tenement- like addresses, some of which may or may not house the kidnappers and a kidnapped blind girl. It is a taut, tense ride through the unnamed urban landscape with a well earned satisfying conclusion.UNION STATION also shows, with really fine cinematography,the many different forms of railroads and train transport circa 1950 throughout the movie. It could almost serve as a documentary on the subject of the rail transport system of sixty years ago.Altogther I give UNION STATION four stars for a suprisingly exciting, if little known,film noir suspenser.

Varlaam (2012-05-14 10:54)

A tough thriller

This film reminded me of others from the late '40's up to 1950, of "D.O.A.",in some ways, with its tense realism. The cold, merciless criminalmastermind played by Lyle Bettger was a (considerably) more balanced versionof the sinister characters portrayed by James Cagney in "White Heat" orRichard Widmark in "Kiss of Death".This is an early police procedural, with the railway cops working closelywith the New York City police. According to Leslie Halliwell, "Naked City"-- which I've somehow managed never to see -- is the prototype for all thefilms of this type. The style eventually became overfamiliar, and verydiluted, on television with shows like "Dragnet". "Naked City" cast BarryFitzgerald unexpectedly as the lead detective, and he repeats that rolehere.The two principal stars of "Union Station" are William Holden and NancyOlson, who also co-starred in "Sunset Boulevard" this same year, 1950. Nancyplays Bill's conscience, constantly concerned that the interests of thekidnap victim don't get overlooked in the hunt for thecriminals.Holden is quite good -- he really started to come into his own at this time-- indicating more depth than was strictly required for the stalwart hero ina crime story. Bettger shows calculated menace. The two make worthyopponents.

(2012-05-14 03:59)

A Very Good, Unknown Film Noir

This is a little-known-but very good film noir. I sure wish it would come out on DVD with a good transfer. William Holden and Nancy Olson both worked on Sunset Boulevard this same year this was released and here are together again. Actually, I like the two a lot better in this film. Yes, some of the scenes are a bit dumb but the story moves well and keeps your interest which is what a good crime story-drama should do.I really enjoyed the train station, too. It looked awesome.

gstevens-2 (2012-05-13 08:34)

Railroad lovers' treat

I remember this film shown once on TV. Yes, the story plotline is good andthe characters are entertaining, but the REAL star of the movie is theincredible historical Union Station itself. The movie moves throughoutportions of the building never before seen by the general public andrevealsthe enormous scope of Union Station. As a little girl I and family traveledoften by train. I remember the beauty of the place, the hustle and bustleofa station which was the base for the only comfortable way to travel by landat that time.Union Station itself compares in size and beauty to any otherin the country.This movie was shot during the last hey-days of the railroadpassenger trains and I earnestly wish it could be brought back to video.

jpdoherty (2012-05-12 14:22)

Finally, Another Classic Noir Unearthed.

Paramount's UNION STATION (1950) is another memorable noir fromHollywood's golden past making its belated DVD debut. A gritty andcompelling thriller it was adapted for the screen from the violentnovel "Nightmare In Manhattan" by Thomas Walsh. Daniel L. Fapp's starkBlack & White cinematography brought a great style to it with itsshifting use of light and shadow and the genuine locations, especiallyin the bustling Union Station itself in Los Angeles, added a realisticlook and feel to the whole thing.A girl (the resistible Nancy Olson) sees a man (Lyle Bettger) on atrain wearing a gun under his jacket and immediately suspects him ofbeing up to no good (how it never occurs to her that he could perhapsbe a cop is conveniently glossed over). She however reports the matterto the conductor who in turn alerts railway cop William Calhoun(William Holden). It soon comes to light that the man with the gun andanother have kidnapped a blind girl and are holding her hostage for aransom of $100,000 from her well to do businessman father (HerbertHeyes). Things really hot up when Calhoun, with help from the citypolice headed by Inspector Donnelly (Barry Fitzgerald), stakeout UnionStation - the nominated drop zone for the ransom. The picture ends witha climactic chase sequence as Holden pursues Bettger through a maze ofdark tunnels underneath the station for the inevitable and excitingshootout.Performances are generally fine throughout. Holden is terrific in itbut it is unusual to see him as a cop. He plays the part well butwatching him you can't help thinking he is an actor of a much highercalibre than is called for here and deserving of classier and moreartistically challenging parts such as his Acadamy Award winning roleas Sefton in "Stalag 17" (1953) or his perfect Joe Gillis in "SunsetBoulevard" which he and his co-star here Olson would embark on rightafter UNION STATION. Also kicking around his thick Irish brogue againBarry Fitzgerald repeats his role, almost verbatim, from "The NakedCity" (1948) the only difference being his name here is Donnellyinstead of Muldoon. But there's little doubt the movie belongs to LyleBettger as the heartless and sadistic kidnapper. Beside Jack Elam hasthere ever been a meaner or nastier baddie in movies? Born in 1915Bettger made a full career out of playing menacing characters. He had asinister smirk and a scary glare that was positively unnerving. Hisfirst film was Barbara Stanwyck's "No Man Of Here Own" just beforeUNION STATION and with the exception of only one time playing the heroin "Carnival Story" (1954) he continued throughout a busy career to beevery moviegoer's favourite baddie "you loved to hate". Lyle Bettgerretired in 1979 and died in 2003 at the age of 88.Unusually there is no one composer credited with scoring the picture.But there are minor contributions from Heinz Reomheld and stock musicfrom Victor Young and Hugo Friedhofor. There is a spirited main titleover the credits which sounds very much to me like something the greatVictor Young could have written. The score was compiled and supervisedby Irvin Talbot.The DVD release is an impeccable transfer with sharp as a button imagesand smooth sound. Clearly they had access to a new print of the movieand it shows. But there are no extras - not even a trailer. But now fora word of caution! Watch out for the most ridiculous and irritatinglogo you are ever likely to see which comes at the start of the DVDfrom a crowd called Olive Films. This has to be some kind of gag! Butafter all is said and done you can be confident, this silly intro. doesnothing to diminish the excellence of the movie which remains atimeless classic.

Jonathon Dabell (2012-05-05 08:39)

A lost classic which should be rediscovered and hailed as the masterpiece that it is.

I suppose that every movie lover and every film critic has one filmthat they love which makes everyone else shrug in bewilderment. Iremember Barry Norman once publishing a book about his 100 favouritemovies, and no-one could fathom why a well-made but totally disposableentry like "Gregory's Girl" was on his list. Similarly, many years agoBBC2 ran a short film series in which famous actors and directorsrevealed and spoke about their favourite film. Everyone was taken abackwhen Martin Scorcese came up with "Duel In The Sun" as his choice!Well, for me, the oddity among my list of all-time favourites wouldhave to be Union Station. Since the first time I caught this fantasticcrime thriller on Channel 4 one rainy afternoon, I've considered it oneof the finest films of its type that I've ever come across. Not onlydid the story engross me, but the film inspired me to become a lifelongfan of William Holden, and also made me develop a serious crush on thelovely Nancy Olson.Railway police man William Calhoun (William Holden) is having a fairlyroutine day at work when he is approached by an apprehensive passengernamed Joyce Willecombe (Nancy Olson), who believes that two travellersaboard her train may have been up to no good. It transpires that Joyceis the secretary to a rich man called Henry Murchison (Herbert Hayes),whose blind daughter, Lorna, has been kidnapped and held for ransom.The railway station where Calhoun works has been chosen as the locationfor the pay-off of the ransom. Calhoun and fellow cop InspectorDonnelly (the atypically-cast Barry Fitzgerald) race against time tofind the kidnappers and bring them to heel.Pacy, exciting, surprisingly violent and very well-acted, Union Stationis 80 minutes of terrific entertainment. Sydney Boehm's script isfilled with incident, and Rudolph Mate directs the proceedings with asense of urgency and a real talent for building the suspense. Holden -fresh from his masterpiece Sunset Boulevard - is in fine form and Olson(also from Sunset Boulevard) is an ideal leading lady, who not onlygets the hero involved in the action but also pressurises him into notjust nailing the bad guys but rescuing the abducted blind girl too.Impressive performances are also to be found from Barry Fitzgerald asHolden's colleague, and (especially) Lyle Bettger as the kidnapmastermind, a snarling and exceptionally nasty villain for a film ofthis era. The climax, involving a frenzied shootout and a chase throughunderground tunnels, is truly heart-stopping. Union Station is afirst-rate thriller.... if ever a film needed rediscovering, then thissurely is it!

theowinthrop (2012-05-04 14:44)

Really First Rate Film Noir - And Bettger Almost Walks Off With It!

Looking at the casting and production of this film, and even the title,an informed viewer must wonder about who was the guiding genius behindit. The romantic leads, William Holden and Nancy Olsen, just played thesimilar leads in a tragically doomed love affair in Billy Wilder'sSUNSET BOULEVARD. The director, Rudolph Mate, was better known for hiscinematography up to a few years earlier. But by 1950 he had THE DARKPAST (also with Holden and Lee J. Cobb) and D.O.A. (with EdmondO'Brien) under his belt...and there were more to come. The villain (inonly his third film) was the terrific bad guy Lyle Bettger - about tofully blossom in what was the best role in this film (but bad guysusually got the best roles in "film noir"). Barry Fitzgerald is hereplaying a version of his Police Detective from THE NAKED CITY. Insupporting parts are Jan Sterling, Allene Roberts, Herbert Heyes,Parley Baer, Ralph Sanford, and even Byron Foulger. This film haseverything going for it - even the location is suggestive of potentialtragedy.In 1933 the FBI suffered the worst loss of personal in it's earlyhistory when four of it's agents, while escorting some prisoners, wereambushed in a botched attempt to spring the prisoners. The four menwere machine-gunned to death as were the two prisoners (I said it wasbotched). As a result J.Edgar Hoover got Congress to pass legislationallowing F.B.I. men to carry arms into the field (something the stateshad rejected at first). The killings were later ascribed (probablytruthfully) to "Pretty Boy" Floyd's gang, but nobody was ever punishedfor the killings. The incident happened in the parking area of UNIONSTATION in Kansas City. In fact, it is historically called "The UnionStation Massacre". Oddly enough no regular film was ever done of the true story - althougha fictionalized television film was made in the 1970s. But this is sucha good thriller it will do for it's acting (especially Bettger) andproduction values.Olson is a secretary to Heyes, a very wealthy man who has a singlechild - Roberts. Originally Roberts had all her senses, but she hasbecome blind. When she vanishes, Olson becomes suspicious of two men ona commuter train (Bettger and an associate) who she follows to UnionStation. She approaches Holden and he uses his staff of railway policeto follow them and see where they put away a piece of luggage. Afterthey leave Holden prepares to open the locker to verify that Olsonthinks they have a gun in there. But he insists on doing everything bythe book - much to Olsen's disgust. He does not want law suits againsthimself, his men, the staff of the station or the station itself. Heinsists on her name and address, and Olsen - very angrily - gives it tohim. Then the locker is checked, and Olsen's information verified.This is how the film progresses, and adds to the tensions of the story.Bettger is a border-line psychotic (he enjoys some taunting of hisvictims, but he keeps his eyes on the goal of the kidnap ransom). Hehas spent five years in prison for a hold-up (he angrily dismisses theevent, calling the filling-station robbery a "coffee and cake" affair).While there he thought out this meticulous crime - all centered on thestation. As he is willing to use and kill people to get his results heconstantly keeps one step ahead of his pursuers.But Holden and his regular police force Detective Fitgerald have tomove more slowly. They have to play by limitations and rules they areassigned to uphold (though at one point they give one of Bettger'sassociates a "third degree" good cop - bad cop grilling that getsresults with near violence). They also are hamstrung because of Heyes,who is frightened at the threat to his helpless daughter and agrees toanything Bettger demands.So Bettger, despite the losses of two associates, is always in the lead- and calling the shots to the conclusion of the film. His key tosuccess is his hold on Roberts, a helpless victim who cannot fight onequal terms. If the forces of law and order want to find her alive (apoint that Bettger really could not care about) they have to follow histune.The actors are all good, with Holden and Olsen gradually findingreasons to appreciate each other more and more. Fitzgerald has nomoment (as in THE NAKED CITY) outlining his model for solving crimes.But he and Holden do discuss (after the death of a policeman) thelimits of following the book and rules in moments of danger. Holdenfeels that such behavior only ends with the party on a slab in amorgue, but Fitzgerald says that kind of bravery wins battles. It's alesson Holden takes to heart.The supporting actors too are good - in particular Jan Sterling asBettger's lover and most sympathetic gang member. On the whole UNION STATION is a wonderful film noir, and a must seefilm.

moonspinner55 (2012-05-02 03:19)

Prolonged, textbook kidnap-plot with interesting milieu...

Director Rudolph Maté's "Union Station", from Thomas Walsh's novel,pairs William Holden again with Nancy Olson just after their triumphsin "Sunset Blvd." While both stars are solid here, the step-down togenre shtick (particularly for Holden) is disheartening. After seeingwhat Holden was truly capable of, he's reduced here to the oldcops-and-kidnappers formula, with barely a personality beneath hisbadge. Olson plays a worrisome secretary who spots somedesperate-looking men on her train; after reporting them to theauthorities, it's discovered--in an outrageous coincidence--the menhave just kidnapped the blind daughter of Olson's wealthy employer.Aside from some uncommon brutalities, and a sadistically funny game ofgood cop-bad cop between detective Holden, chief inspector BarryFitzgerald and one of the crooks, this paste-up case is pretty cut anddry. The train station surroundings are fun, but the victim (a realscreamer) is a sad sack, as are the dopey villains. Olson has little todo but wring her hands, but she certainly comes out better than JanSterling, playing sweetheart to the bad guys. Sterling, after beingforced to roll about in the gutter, later gets one of those Hollywoodhospital scenes which doesn't even show her off to any great advantage.The picture is smoothly steady, but rather a no-brainer. ** from ****

kenjha (2012-05-01 17:17)

Routine Thriller

Holden and Olson went from the set of the magnificent classic "SunsetBlvd." to this routine drama about the kidnapping of a young blindwoman. Although the film seems to have the elements for a tensethriller, including a chase in an underground railroad tunnel and anice film noir look, the plot is somewhat muddled and the narrative isnot well sustained. Holden and Olson are fine, working well together inthe second of four films they would co-star in between 1950 and 1951,and Bettger makes a good villain. However, Fitzgerald, with his Irishbrogue, is rather annoying, as is Roberts as the perpetually shriekingvictim.