Railroaded! (1947)

It's Duke, be petrified!

Railroaded! Is directed by Anthony Mann and written by Gertrude Walker and John C. Higgins. It stars John Ireland, Sheila Ryan, Hugh Beaumont and Jane Randolph. Music is by Alvin Levin and cinematography by Guy Roe.

When an innocent young owner of a company van is framed for a robbery and killing of a cop, his sister takes up the case to prove his innocence. Forming an uneasy alliance with the detective in charge of the case, it is touch and go as to if innocence can be proved since the evidence is stacked against the youngster. But someone is responsible, and that someone is moving close to the action...

A difficult film to recommend with confidence to those interested in noir/crime cinema, Anthony Mann's Railroaded has some good moments but unfolds merely as a solid noirish frame-up picture. Narrative holds no surprises and goes exactly where you wish it wouldn't. The tiny budget shows and the acting away from Ireland is pretty average at best, while important points of worth in the plotting drop in only to not be expanded upon thereafter - including the poor innocent youngster sitting in jail!

However, it is that portrayal of villain Duke Martin by John Ireland that more than makes it worth sitting through. This is a villain who is not only particularly bright in his decision making, but he has some odd kinks (perfuming his bullets, caressing his pistol) and thinks of nothing to handing out violence to women. Mann and Roe are wise to Ireland being their draw card and utilise his menace with some good shadow play and lighted close ups.

Elsewhere there's a hugely enjoyable "girl scrap" scene between Ryan and Randolph, which is made more dangerous by the presence of Duke in the shadows. Duke's setting up of a wino stooge carries with it the requisite nastiness and his murderous executions pack a punch for dramatic impact. The finale, as expected as it is, is at least well constructed by Mann and therefore closes the film down with a double bang instead of a whimper.

With "Desperate" and "Railroaded" released in 1947, Anthony Mann was still crossing over and learning about his film noir capabilities. It would be "T-Men" made in this same year, with his pairing with ace cinematographer John Alton, where Mann found his mojo and began a coupling that would produce a run of undoubted film noir classics. As for Railroaded? it's passable fare and best viewed as a time waster or appetiser to better pleasures to come. 6/10