Brandin Lindsey Danger Lights is a 1930 drama film centered around a love triangle and a train yard. The plot follows Dan Thorn, a rough and tough foreman at the train yard, who has a soft spot for those that are down on their luck. When Thorn meets Larry Doyle, a drifter catching a ride on the train, Dan sees some good in Doyle and puts him to work. Larry then meets and falls in love with Jean Arthur, who is Dan Thorn's fiancé.Danger Lights is a decent film and used the access to locomotives to great effect. There is real footage of a tug-of-war between two powerful trains. The story is entertaining enough to keep you drawn in throughout the film.A few disappointments in the film are some bad acting, with plenty of obnoxious, over-the-top, and occasionally, monotone delivery. There is also some poor dialogue in the movie, such as one exchange between Larry Doyle and another character; "It can't be done!" says the man. "Yes it can," Larry replies. "You're right!" the man responds. The climax removes elaborating on any technical aspects of the train, which diminishes the excitement of the ending. Lastly, there are bad comedy elements in the film, such as using the homeless for slapstick comedic relief.In summary, Danger Lights is a mediocre film. Unless you're a fan of locomotives, I would recommend skipping this one. There is nothing unpredictable or particularly exciting about this movie.

bkoganbing Making allowances for the fact that I saw an abbreviated version of Danger Lights, I'd still have to say that this film is as far as the story goes nothing terribly special. But I have friends who belong to a group called Railroad Enthusiasts and if they haven't seen this movie it ought to be required for those who want to join.The scenes involving the work in the railroad yards and the trains themselves are the best thing about Danger Lights. It's very reminiscent to the classic Burt Lancaster film The Train of which a good deal is set in the Paris railway yards. I wouldn't be surprised if John Frankenheimer saw Danger Lights and took a lot of ideas from it.As for the plot it's a simple one, a love triangle involving Louis Wolheim the tough boss of the yards, a young hobo played by Robert Armstrong who was a former railroad worker to whom Wolheim gives a second chance and Jean Arthur the daughter of a disabled former railroad worker whom Wolheim boards with and takes care of. Arthur respects and loves Wolheim, but can't see him as a romantic figure.I think you can take it from there. You will not see any of the comedic style that we saw with Jean Arthur in her top years, she's merely a romantic ingénue and the object of the affections of all.The railroad and the yards are the real stars of Danger Lights. And this review is dedicated to that intrepid band of railroad enthusiasts.

mdantonio This movie was shown on TCM last night. Even though it was made twenty seven years before I was born, it held my interest. It was well filmed and the acting was adequate. With oldies like these, you have to watch them noting the time context that they were made in and appreciate them with that in mind. I especially like the parts when close up shots were made of the locomotives with the camera. Also, the scene where the two locomotives are doing a "push-of-war" (as opposed to a tug-of-war), was exciting. It gives you a good picture of what people considered to be fun seventy years ago, what a difference from some of today's entertainment that lacks class.

toowoomba I, too, originally saw, and taped, the film from a local PBS channel, and agree with a previous reviewer that it is a difficult film to find. As to the film: the story-line is typical and the acting acceptable; the real "star" of the film is the railroad itself. Made in 1930 during the Age of Steam, the film vividly shows the long-vanished skill and dedication required to keep the trains running. Louis Wolheim plays the hard-as-nails superintendent (such men actually existed) who was absolutely dedicated to maintaining the schedules ("hold up the 'Olympian!' Are you off your nut!"). Filmed on location in Montana on the long-abandoned Milwaukee Road railway, this film is an absolute Must for rail fans who love steam.