Review of Night Passage (1957) by Kevin R — 07 Jul 2016

Same old story of good and evil.

A down on his luck railroad man is hired to help transport a payroll into a desperate town to pay the workers. A group of outlaws, that are tied to the railroad man, discover the transport is going to occur and try and rob the train. The railroad man hides the money well, but it frustrates the outlaws and they kidnap a woman the railroad man cares about during the heist attempt. The railroad man will need to try to find a way to both protect the funds and rescue the girl.

"You wouldn't know how to shoot a man in the back.".

"I'll learn.".

James Neilson, director of Gentle Giant, Flare Up, Where Angels Go Trouble Follows, Return of the Gun Fighter, Summer Magic, Moon Pilot, and For the Defense, delivers Night Passage. The storyline for this picture is very well told. There are some cliché elements, but the dynamics between characters is very good and the acting is excellent. The cast includes James Stewart, Elaine Stewart, Jack Elam, Audie Murphy, and Paul Fix.

"See what happens when you don't carry your brains in your feet?".

I came across this on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and had to DVR this western classic. I am a huge James Stewart fan and he was a perfect blend of grit, tough, and honest in this picture (perfect for his presence). This is a nice addition to the western genre that may not be an all-time classic but is definitely worth a viewing.

"He's not bad. He's just a fool.".

Grade: B.