Spy Train (Monogram) (1943)

Speeding Train Setting For Thrilling Spy Drama (Review) “Spy Train,” the Monogram drama of wartime Amer ica, opened an engagement at the theatre last night, and was revealed as a film story of unusual force and interest. As its title indicates, the action takes place aboard a speeding train, and cession of thrilling incidents. Richard Travis and Catherine Craig head a fine cast which also includes Chick Chandler, Thelma White, Paul McVey, Evelyn Brent and Warren Hymer, and all turn in convincing performances. Travis is a newspaper writer; Miss Craig the daughter of his publisher; Chandler his photographer assistant; Miss White is Miss Craig’s rather flighty companion; McVey a Nazi spy operating in the United States; Miss Brent his assistant; and Hymer a bungling agent of the spy ring. Be tween them they animate a story |} which is absorbingly interesting throughout its length. The story concerns a traveling bag which, unknown to any of those who are striving for its possession, contains a bomb set to explode when the bag is opened, and director Harold Young, in unraveling the plot, has maintained the suspense at a high pitch. Also contributing to this condition were Scott Littleton, as author of the original story, and the adaptors, Leslie Schwabacker and Bart Lytton. “Spy Train’ has been finely produced by Max M. King, and the photography of Mack Stengler is definitely first-class. If you are fascinated by the general subject of railroading (as is this réviewer), the locale of the picture will furnish added enjoyment. ‘STICKS AND STONES--’ One of the most peculiarly named actors in Hollywood is the colored comedian, “Snowflake,” who comes DOM GOs ovis atid ie emteces theatre on BFR CEH in “Spy Train,’ the absorbing Monogram drama featuring Richard Travis, Catherine Craig, Chick Chandler and Thelma White. Few people in the film capital except motion picture producers, with whom Snowflake signs contracts on the dotted line, know that his real name is Fred Toones. RECRUIT Richard Travis, who plays the principal male role in the absorbing Monogram drama, “Spy Train,’ enacted his last screen part in this film before entering the U. S. Army, to join the many other young Hollywood leading men who had preceded him. The picture, in which he is featured with Catherine Craig, Chick Chandler, Thelma White and Paul McVey, comes to the theatre on ¥ the picture is a constant suc DANGER AHEAD Richard Travis Craig face the menace of a Nazi spy ring in “Spy Train” coming to and Catherine The es ee Theatre. One Col. Scene Mat No. 3 BABY LINGUIST Catherine Craig spent two years of her earliest childhood in South America, when she was just beginning to talk, and learned English and Spanish at the same time, when she toured the _ continent with a circus owned and operated by her father. Miss Craig comes to the Theatre-On es ek in the leading feminine role of “Spy Train,” the exciting Monogram drama in which she is featured with Richard Travis, Crick Chandler, Thelma White and Evelyn Brent. ENTERTAINER As master of ceremonies and allaround performer, Chick Chandler has appeared at 185 ‘“‘spot” shows at Army camps within a radius of 150 miles of Hollywood—‘spot” shows being “single-shot” appearances as opposed to fixed tours over a previously determined route. Chandler comes to = these theatre (0) a Wi SUR eA ea SOE , featured with Richard Travis, Catherine Craig, Thelma White and Evelyn Brent in the absorbing Monogram drama, “Spy Train.” School Teaching Prelude To Motion Picture Stardom Evelyn Brent had just embarked*¥ on a career as a school teacher in New York City when she went with some friends to a studio in Fort Lee, New Jersey, just to see how motion pictures were made. And that casual visit changed the whole trend of her life. Miss Brent comes to the ........ theatre on “Spy Train,” the thrilling Monogram drama in which she is featured with Richard Travis, Catherine Crai,g, Chick Chandler and Thelma White. The assistant director assigned to show the party through the studio became interested in Miss Brent, and offered her work as an “extra.” Shortly afterward she accepted, and spent several months in the extra ranks before she was given her first “bit” part in support of Olga Petrova. Later she went to England to recuperate from an _ illness, and shortly began a career in English pictures. Returning to the United States after four years, Miss Brent continued to progress in the profession, and soon afterward made the transition to talking pictures without ever having had any stage training whatever. And it was not a great while later that she emerged as one of the most popular of American stars. “Spy Train” was directed by Harold Young under the production supervision of Max M. King, and the original story by Scott Littleton was adapted for the screen by Leslie Schwabacker and Bart Lytton, Stage Won Over West Point It was West Point’s loss and show business’ gain when Chick Chandler went into Hugh Herbert’s vaudeville sketch, “I’m the Guy.” Chandler comes to the theatre on in “Spy Train,’ Monogram’s fascinating drama which features Richard Travis and Catherine Craig. Chandler attended Manlius Military School in New York state, preparatory to entéring West Point, but his participation in school theatricals brought a desire to become a professional actor, and it transpired that his brother Dan was the only member of the family to enter the U. S. Military Academy. Following his vaudeville tour, Chick spent three years under the management of the Shuberts, appearing in such plays as “Pleasure Bound,” “Hello, Paris” and ‘The Duchess of Chicago.” During the succeeding years he played in musical comedies and more vaudeville, and was a member of stock companies in Rochester, Columbia and Albany. When the _ collapse of vaudeville left him high and dry, he even appeared for a few months in Minsky burlesque. Shortly afterward he made his way to Hollywood and motion pictures, where he has remained ever since. Chandler’s very first association with the entertainment world was as assistant cameraman, notably on Pearl White’s “The Broadway Peacock,” but this was a separate and short career. Others appearing with Richard Travis and Catherine Craig in “Spy Train” are Thelma White, Paul McVey, Evelyn Brent, Warren Hymer and Steve Roberts. Scott Littleton wrote the original story, and Harold Young directed for producer Max M. King. Train Setting For Spy Film A limited train roaring through the night is the setting for almost the entire action of “Spy Train,” the absorbing Monogram wartime drama which comes to the theatre: ‘Onscwi occ ee featured cast headed by Richard Travis, Catherine Craig, Chick Chandler, Thelma White and Paul McVey. Intrigue and murder ride the rails in this exciting film, and the closed doors of staterooms hide a _ swift succession of hair-raising events. The suspense is only relieved when the train stops hours later, to be boarded by doctors and detectives. CC ee ee Richaard Travis protects Catherine Craig from the menace of a gang of enemy agents in “Spy Train,’ Monogram thriller opening at the Theatre, weer err eee eres ‘Kid’ Theatre Leads Girl To Career on Stage, Screen It isn’t every little girl who can assemble the neighborhood kids and put on plays on the stage of a real theatre. But that’s how it was done when Catherine Craig was a youngster. Miss Craig comes to the Train,’ the absorbing Monogram Monogram drama in which she is featured with Richard Travis, Chick Chandler, Thelma White and Evelyn Brent. In her home town of Bloomington, Indiana, Catherine’s uncle operated a stock theatre, and it was here that she and her young friends trod the boards on Saturday mornings. Since Catherine supplied the theatre, she always played the leading role. Young Miss Craig was active in school plays, and later majored in dramatics at the University of Indiana, where she also sang with the college bands. In her junior year she received the University’s annual | . dramatic award, and on her graduation joined her uncle’s stock com pany, to appear again on the stage |: on which she had “acted” child. Miss Craig went to Los Angeles originally for the express purpose of enrolling at the famous Community Playhouse in Pasadena, where she played leading roles in many plays. She also appeared on radio shows originating in Hollywood, including the “Big Town’ and “Dr. Christian” series. From this it was a short step into motion pictures. Other members of the cast of “Spy Train” are Paul McVey, Warren Hymer, Steve Roberts, John Hamilton and the colored comedian, Snowflake. Harold Young directed for producer Max M. King, and the original story by Scott Littleton was adapted for the screen by Leslie Schwabacker and Bart Lytton. as a ODD JOBBER At various times, while struggling to obtain a foothold on the stage, Chick Chandler sold vacuum cleaners, was a short order cook, drove in dirt-track automobile races, sold uniforms and was a barker for a snake show. Chandler comes to the theatre.On = nos ces “Spy Train,’ the fascinating Monogram drama in which he is featured with Richard Travis, Catherine Craig, Thelma White and Evelyn Brent. | DANGER IS THEIR DESTINATION | Two Col. Scene Mat No. 21 in the leading feminine role of “Spy¥* | pattern DIZZY DUO | Chick Chandler and Thelma White provide comedy relief in Monogram’s “Spy Train” at the peti ra tek colar cas Theatre. One Col. Scene Mat No. 4 Made Footight Debut at Four Thelma White definitely set the for her when she made her debut as a song-anddance artist at the age of four. Miss White comes to the theatre on career “Spy Train,” Monogram’s absorbing wartime drama in which she is feat ured with Richard Travis, Catherine Craig, Chick Chandler and Evelyn Brent. First attracting aitention to her talents when she appeared before club groups in her native city of Winnipeg, Canada, little Thelma was soon afterward appearing before theatre audiences in New York City. At the age of eight she became a member of the Winnipeg Kiddies, a juvenile vaudeville act which toured the United States and Canada. Later Miss White joined the London Casino Revue, and embarked on a three-year world tour which included the British Isles, many countries of the European continent, South America, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. She made another extensive tour in vaudeville with her sister, with whom she appeared for many years in a singing and dancing act known as The White Sisters. During her career Miss White also played specialty roles in a number of musical comedies. Her recent motion pictures include “Syncopation,”’ ‘Forgotten Faces” and “Two in the Dark.” “Spy Train” was directed by Harold Young for producer Max M. King, and the original story by Scott Littleton was adapted for the screen by Leslie Schwabacker and Bart Lytton. in DESIGNER A course in designing was one of the early activities of Thelma White, and she now designs all her own clothes, both for street, stage «od screen wear. Miss White comer to the theatre: ono. 4305 es. in “Spy Train,’ the thrilling Monogram picture in which she is featured with Richard Travis, Catherine. Craig, Chick Chandler and Evelyn Brent.