Spy Train (Monogram) (1943)

‘Spy Train’ Absorbing Film Drama of Wartime Journey (Review) A drama of absorbing interest is “Spy Train,” the Mono gram picture which opened an engagement at the Theatre last night. Drama and suspense are maintained until the very final scene of the film. The cast is excellent, and the players individually add much to the interest of the story.¥ Richard Travis and _ Catherine Craig are seen in the leading roles, and other important parts are in the competent hands of Chick Chandler, Thelma White, Paul McVey, Warren Hymer and Steve Roberts. The setting of the story also contributes importantly to the success of the production as a whole. The action takes place aboard a limited train at night, and the closed doors of various staterooms mask an exciting series of events. The plot gets under way when spies board the train with a satchel which they think contains important papers, but which is really loaded with a bomb which will explode when the bag is opened. This forms a basis filled with tingling suspense, as conflicting forces vie for possession of the luggage. Murder, near-murder and narrow escapes keep the action moving at a swift pace. Harold Young has contributed a fine job of direction, and the production of Max M. King has given the entire film an attractive and completely authentic atmosphere. “Spy Train” is an original story by Scott Littleton, adapted for the screen by Leslie Schwabacker and Bart Lytton, and due credit must also be given to these writers. Photography by Mack Stengler is excellent. “Spy Train" En Route Here “Spy Train,’ Monogram’s thrilling drama of wartime opens at the OI ane cea intrigue, theatre , with a featured cast which includes Richard Travis, Catherine Craig, Chick Chandler, Thelma White, Evelyn Brent, Paul McVey, Warren Hymer, Steve Roberts and the negro comedian. Snowflake. Harold Young directed under the production supervision of Max M. King, and Scott Littleton’s original story was adapted for the screen by Leslie Schwabacker and Bart Lytton. CREDITS Producer: 2... MAX KING Director... HAROLD YOUNG Photography 65.0 MACK STENGLER Film Editor. CARL PIERSON Sound.... .. GLEN GLENN Original Story by........ SCOTT LITTLETON Screcnplay BY. ess LESLIE SCHWABACHER WALLACE SULLIVAN and BERT LYTTON JUNIOR Warren Hymer is the son of John B. Hymer, noted actor and playwright, and made his theatrical debut on the stage in London, where he appeared in “Crime,” written by his father. Hymer comes to the ogram drama featuring Richard Travis, Catherine Craig, Chick Chandler and Thelma White. ROMANCE EN ROUTE Richard Travis Craig find time for romance dur ing the dramatic action of Train” at the Theatre. One Col. Scene Mat No. 1 HERE'S THE FAST-MOVING STORY {Not For Publication) Bruce Grant, noted war correspondent, and his photographer, Stew, are on their way to see Max Thornwald, owner of the paper which has been publishing Bruce's articles against Germany, but has discontinued them without notice. Bruce knows that Thornwald‘s daughter Jane and her maid Millie will be on the same train. Nazi agents have checked a bag of important papers at the station but cannot recover them as they are being watched. Later they check a time bomb at the same stand in order to destroy the papers. One of the Nazis, seeing Jane and Millie and having met them in Berlin when Jane was studying there, asks Millie to get the bag for him, saying he will come to see her the next night and collect it. By mistake he gives her the check for the time bomb. Molte and Frieda, also enemy agents, board the same train, planning to steal the bag from Millie. Nazi spy headquarters discover the mistake, and the head of the gang telegraphs Molte and Frieda in code, but the wire is delayed. Meanwhile, on the train, Bruce recognizes the spies, and notices that they are after something in Jane's compartment. Many complications ensue, with Bruce finally receiving the wire intended for Molte and Frieda and decoding it, and allowing the two Nazis to disembark from the train with the bag just before the bomb explodes. Bruce gets to see Thornwald who explains how the Nazis had been blackmailing him with a photo purporting to show Jane with Hitler and Goering. Stew exposes it as a composite and Thornwald reinstates Bruce's articles. and Catherine “ Spy Monogram thriller coming to the Craig in the feminine lead. Richard Travis finds himself suspected of espionage in “Spy Train,” Theatre with Catherine Two Col. Scene Mat No. 20 Experience in ‘Tank Towns’ Brought Actor to Hollywood A thorough grounding in theatricals through backwood areas, known colloquially as ‘‘the “sticks,’’ preceded the mo tion picture debut of Richard Travis, coming to the -.............. theatre on in the leading male role of Mono gram’s absorbing drama, “Spy Train.” After graduating from Baptist# College in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Travis became ar adio actor over the local broadcasting station, and this led to theatrical engagements in small hamlets along the length and breadth of the state’s cowtrail villages. A later tour with a traveling repertory company in the Middle West finally prepared him for Hollywood. Placed under contract by Warner Bros., Travis appeared successively in the short films, “The Tanks Are Coming” and “West of the Rockies,’ and then came the proverbial “break” that catapulted him to an important position among filmdom’s leading men. Bette Davis saw him in “Here Comes the Cavalry,’ his third short picture, and immediately selected him to furnish the love interest opposite her in “The Man Who Came to Dinner.” Thus established as Miss Davis’ protege as well as a talented actor, Travis played leading roles in many such pictures as “Escape from Crime,” “The Big Shot’ and “The Postman Didn’t Ring.” Catherine Craig plays the principal feminine role opposite Travis in “Spy Train,’ and other important parts are enacted by Chick Chandler, Thelma White, Evelyn Brent and Paul McVey. Max M. King produced, with Harold Young as director. The original story was written by Scott Littleton, and adapted for the screen by Leslie Schwabacker and Bart Lytton. SUCCESS Several years ago Thelma White went to Australia for a short series of personal appearances—and remained on the island continent, in vaudeville and musical comedy, for three years. Featured with Richard Travis, Catherine Craig, Chick Chandler and Evelyn Brent, Miss White comes to the theatre on ........... in the absorbing Monogram wartime drama, “Spy rain. SCHOLAR Catherine Craig graduated from the University of Indiana with the highest honors, having been awarded a Phi Beta Kappa key, and a gold ring for being the outstanding senior girl. Miss Craig comes tc tie theatre on featured with Richard Travis, Chick Chandler, Thelma White and Eve THE CAST Bruce... . RICHARD TRAVIS Jane... CATHERINE CRAIG Stew. ...CHICK CHANDLER Millie THELMA WHITE Molte PAUL McVEY Frieda EVELYN BRENT Italian.... GERALD BROOK Porter ....... SNOWFLAKE Herman... WARREN HYMER Nazi Leader STEVE ROBERTS Conductor JOHN HAMILTON "Spy Train" to Open Here Soon (Advance) The story of an exciting journey! 4 aboard a passenger express is told in “Spy Train,’ the Monogram wartime drama which opens an engagement at the theatre on Richard Travis, protege of Bette : and Catherine Craig play : the leading roles, and the cast also| Davis, includes Chick Chandler, Thelma White, Evelyn Brent, Paul McVey, Warren Hymer and Steve Roberts. Boarding the train bearing a traveling bag which they believe to contain valuable papers, a pair of Nazi spies operating in the United States engage in a hectic battle of wits with several other passengers who are attempting to regain the luggage. What no one realizes is thatthe satchel is fitted with a bomb set to explode when the bag is opened, and suspense runs high as one after another of the pursued and pursuing factions gains possession of the deadly piece of baggage. Murder and intrigue stalk the rushing train, until the story reaches an exciting climax. “Spy Train’ was directed by Harold Young, and produced by Max M. King. The original story was written by Scott Littleton, and lyn Brent in Monogram’s thrilling} adapted for the screen by Leslie wartime drama, “Spy Train.” Schwabacker and Bart Lytton. Film Actor Has Many Taents A versatile member of the Holly| wood film colony is Paul McVey, WHO.COMmes “LOT: cok Saree ars theatre on in. “Spy Train,” Monogram’s thrilling wartime drama in which he is featured with Richard Travis, Catherine Craig, Chick Chandler, Thelma White and Evelyn Brent. A graduate of Boston College, McVey as a young man was a member of stock companies in various cities of the East and Middle West, and later formed his first association with the film industry as a special representative for the old Fox distributing organization, covering 37 states. Later he filled similar assignments for FBO and Columbia. McVey went to Hollywood in 1927, 'and has since achieved success in a | variety of activities connected with the making of motion pictures. Not only is he recognized as a talented actor, but he has written many scenarios, aS well as innumerable songs which have been used in va rious productions, and has composed background thematic music for such outstanding films as ‘“Stanley and Livingstone.” It was in the making of this picture that McVey made one of the longest “location” trips in motion picture history, accompanying Mrs. Martin Johnson’s party to British East Africa to secure photographic backgrounds and to film many actual scenes for the picture. On this expedition McVey; in addition to playing a role in the picture, served as technical adviser on the Arabic and Swahili languages and native customs. “Spy Train” was directed by Har|old Young for producer Max M. King, and the original story by Scott Littleton was adapted for the screen by Leslie Schwabacker and | Bart Lytton. | SPY THRILLER <4 Richard Travis makes a startling discovery in “Spy Train,’ Monogram’s hectic espionage melodrama coming to: the’. 34 4c ss Theatre MIORG ae tce eee One Col. Scene Mat No. 2 TROUPER Richard Travis gained his first acting experience in tiny hamlets throughout his native state of Arkansas, later to appear with small traveling repertory companies in the Middle West before he finally made his entry into Hollywood and motion pictures. Travis comes to Train,” Monogram’s exciting wartime drama in which he is featured with Catherine Craig, Chick Chandler, Thelma White and Paul McVey.