7/10
Good cast of character actors on a train with a baby
7 October 2011
Big shot movie director Ivan Ivanski (Leonid Kinsky) insists, in his best Russian accent, that his hot starlet (Marjorie Woodworth) must have a baby—for publicity reasons. Assistant Patsy Kelly, train driver Victor McLaglen, young doctor Dennis O'Keefe and movie fan Zasu Pitts are along for the ride—a train ride to New York, actually, along with a "borrowed" baby who is passed back and forth among these reluctant guardians for the duration of the trip.

The plot isn't much, but some entertaining moments and enthusiastic performances add up to a pleasant 75 minutes. O'Keefe and Woodworth are the cute young stars, and they have a silly off-again, on-again romance that is not particularly exciting but inoffensive enough. McLaglen has a charming, hilarious scene telling the story of the three bears to the (mostly indifferent) baby. Kinsky is great fun as the temperamental movie man who will do anything to make his next picture.

Kelly and Pitts stand out in their roles—Patsy is the practical-minded, quick-moving secretary who manages Ivanski's erratic moods handily and is hoping to catch a few moments on the trip with McLaglen, her boyfriend; Zasu is the slightly loony fan who is slightly obsessed with Renfrew, her radio hero (apparently a mounted policeman who may or may not kiss Melinda on tomorrow night's episode).

Zasu: "Must you go, Renfrew?" Patsy: "Yes, he must!" –It doesn't exactly look like great dialog, but delivered by these two pros that simple exchange is hilarious.

It's all good-natured silliness. Lots of neat footage of trains, too!
5 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed