Night Passage

Beautifully photographed, atmospheric western that takes a while to build up under James Neilson's direction--he took over from Anthony Mann, who was fired after clashing with star James Stewart--but ends with a slam-bang finale. Stewart and Audie Murphy work well together, with Stewart as a railroad employee entrusted with getting a payroll past a gang of train robbers, and Murphy his brother who's a member of the gang. Dan Duryea excelled at playing sadistic villains with a twisted sense of humor who actually got a kick out of their work, and he does another good job of it here. A solid supporting cast including Jack Elam, Robert J. Wilke and Herbert Anderson contributes to the film's enjoyability, along with some spectacular mountain scenery. While no masterpiece, it's a good, satisfying western with a catchy little ditty sung by, of all people, Stewart. Check it out.