This is the first time a train ever got top billing in a drama. The BurlingtonZephyr, the real-life fastest train in the world, plays the Silver Steak, its fictional counterpart. Second billing goes to Sally Blane (Loretta Young's sister), and third billing goes to Charles Starrett (the future Durango Kid).
The Boulder Dam (what we now know as the Hoover Dam) is under construction, and a terrible accident has threatened the life of a worker. An iron lung must be delivered within a few hours from Chicago to the Boulder Dam before it's too late. That means it's up to the unproven Silver Streak, and its designer, Starrett. Hr's accompanied by his gal, Blane, who is also the daughter of a railroad magnate, played by William Farnum (once one of the most popular actors in Hollywood). Some grreat bits from noted character actors Arthur Lake (later to play Dagwood bumstead), Edgar Kennedy, Hardie Albright (destined to be the voice of the adolescent Bambi), Irving Pichel, and Guinn"Big boy " Williams. Of course there are many obstacles to the rescue. (Picture Balto as a train.0
The movie is also a slice of history. There is nifty footage of the building of the Eighth Wonder of the world (which was actually dedicated on this day ninety years ago), as well as some interesting shots of the Chicago world's Fair. 1934 was a year of technical marvels, from the train to the dam, a year of wonder and hope and optimism. The film captures a lot of that, plus it has some pretty neat shots of the high-speed train in action.
Directed by Thomas Atkins, from a script by Roger Whately, W. H. Hanemann, nnd Jack O'Donnell.
This is one of those B movies where the viewer will either go, "meh," or will go, "O, wow!" See which side you fall into:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LTbay8TZhM
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