The Silver Streak

In this RKO pictures, the crew of the Pioneer Zephyr diesel train has 19 hours to deliver an iron lung to a town in NV who needs urgent medical attention. Who can arrange for such an extravaganza display of power and action, yes, it has to be a rich father paying everything he has for saving his son. This is a most courageous plot fabrication belonged to the Silver Streak (1934). Based on Roger Whatley's story, and scripted by him and Jack O'Donnell demonstrates a breakneck 2000 mile train trip which must be made in 19 hours (with available technology in 1934 to build that train). This is the only solution to the curing an epidemic of infantile paralysis. Sally Blane, Charles Starrett, Hardie Albright and William Farnum topped director Thomas Atkins cast which also included Irving Pichel, Arthur Lake and others. The Burlington Zephyr Also received prominent credit for portraying the Silver Streak. There is enough of high speed excitement, drama and the love story to make audience overlook the story's rampant implausibility. It earned $107,000 in profits, a substantial sum for 1934 value of money. The 20th century Fox film released its 1976 version starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor bore no relation to this movie except for the express train. The latter was also a huge box office hit and a fun movie to watch.

It's a variation on the "Get The Serum To Nome" drama, only this time it has to get . . . well, not to Nome. Good shots of the "Zephyr", now on display in Chicago and the high-speed, high-tech wonder of its day. To get the high-speed effect on film the simply halved the speed of the camera. This results in a fast train but ridiculously fast action on the part of railway workers. The acting and the script aren't bad for a thirties serial.

In a peculiar and somewhat unexpected way, this movie manages to exceed the sum of its fairly mundane and often mediocre parts, and become something that's actually appealing. This is due almost solely to the star of this film, which in this case is not an actor (despite Sally Blane receiving top billing), but a remarkable for its time train known as the Burlington Zephyr.

This is in many respects a technological tour de force circa 1934. The technology and achievements highlighted in this film become even more remarkable when you consider all of this took place in some of the darkest days of the great depression. Much of what is highlighted in this film would be considered remarkable in our current time, and this film is now less than a decade shy of being one hundred years old.

I'm not going to address specifics in the story line or plot. It's both predictable and cliched. Think of it as a story about a character that gets a rough start in life but ends up being celebrated and making good. Except in this case that central character is a train and not a person.

The real value here (and that value is significant) is that the film offers a view of a time almost one hundred years ago. And what a time it was. Many of the scenes are shot at Hoover Dam while it's under construction. You'll see some truly remarkable scenes from the Chicago World's Fair. There is one scene of two couples listening to a news radio broadcast in a home- something not possible just a short decade before this film. And finally, and certainly not least, is the Burlington Zephyr itself.

The Zephyr was an aluminum train capable of attaining sustained speeds in excess of one hundred miles an hour, and transporting passengers in comfort not known before its creation. It would by every definition compare favorably to most of the trains we have in service today.

This movie is a prism into the past. It's also about hope and achievement. If it illustrates anything at all, the message is that even in the darkest times people can dream big and achieve great things. If you approach the film with that in mind I think you'll get a kick out of this one.

At a board of directors meeting, handsome railroad engineer Charles Starrett (as Tom Caldwell) presents his plan for a modern, high-speed train called "The Silver Streak". The conservative board of directors considers Mr. Starrett's progressive plan preposterous. They reject his design. Starrett resigns and goes to work for another locomotive company, which is secretly arranged by his beautiful girlfriend Sally Blane (as Ruth Dexter). She is also the daughter of William Farnum (as Barney "BJ" Dexter), chairman at the railroad firm Starrett left. The diesel-powered train is built, but runs into some trouble. "You can't beat steam," is what the old guard says, but the industry is faltering and needs to attract a new generation of travelers...

While dull, this production has a few good reasons to watch...

William Farnum was one of the first movie "super-stars" and gets a featured, late career role. He even gets to kiss Ms. Blane (Loretta Young's lovely sister). Adventurous engineer Hardie Albright (as Allan Dexter) does well with the most dramatic supporting role. Arthur Lake and Guinn "Big Boy" Williams (as Crawford and Higgins) are an effective comic relief team (one wishes the material were better). There are many recognizable players in small roles - from veteran character actress Mary Carr as the weepy train passenger to attractive newcomer Dave O'Brien as a telephone clerk. The actual train is shown to great effect - but the climax is rendered unexciting by showy reaction shots, a superfluous Russian spy and a general poor pace.

***** The Silver Streak (12/10/34) Tommy Atkins ~ Charles Starrett, Sally Blane, William Farnum, Hardie Albright

"The Silver Streak" is a film from RKO that celebrates two American engineering marvels of the time...the Burlington Zephyr and Boulder Dam. The Zephyr, also named 'The Silver Streak', was the fastest train of the day and was on display at the Century of Progress Fair in Chicago and it was one of the highlights of this World's Fair.

The story begins in Chicago, at the fair and the train is a sensation, as it's reported to be able to travel 120 mph...the fastest speed of any train at the time. Well, this speed will be needed when there's an outbreak of 'Infantile Paralysis' (Polio)...and the lifesaving iron lung machines need to be transported to the cite where the outbreak has occurred...at the construction site of Boulder Dam. But to get there, they have to run the train as fast as humanly possible...and it might not get there in time.

This film is not only a nice history lesson, it's also exciting and the footage of the speeding train are awfully exciting. Well made and enjoyable...I'm actually surprised this movie isn't more famous.