No, I am not referring to the quality of the film. Merely the fact that the film is set in a fictional, non-place. Apparently the novel that served as the source material was set in New York City.The train carrying Nancy Olson's character was coming from "Westhampton," leading one to suspect New York. However, there is no "Union Station" in New York, and never was. The actual station we see is not a set, but is in fact Union Station in Los Angeles, opened only 10 years prior to this film being shot (although the railroad police station office above the main entrance behind the screen is fictional...that space is actually outside the building floating in mid- air). The station still looks remarkably the same today, if you would like to visit and relive this film. Apparently there are some elevated trains adjacent to this station in the film though, which rules out Los Angeles as the setting. Los Angeles never had any elevated trains (well until 2003, anyway). One of the crooks tries to get away on an elevated train, leading to a shootout in a cattle stockyard. Leads me to believe this sequence must have been shot in Chicago. The name of the city is never mentioned in the movie, I believe. The station opens directly on a crowded city street of brownstone buildings, played by a studio back lot. Also fictional, as Los Angeles Union Station was/is surrounded by parking lots and a large post office, not brownstones. There's also an intersection of "21st and Mulberry." New York has both a 21st Street and a Mulberry Street, but they do not intersect. I believe that the underground freight train depicted in the film (like glorified ore carts in a mine) did not exist either, and was a set built on a sound stage, but a similar system did exist...in Chicago.Anyway, all these pedantic matters aside, this is a really enjoyable film. It is a quite straightforward police procedural, and nobody is attempting to reinvent the wheel here. You might say that Holden's talents are wasted in what is ultimately a rather slight and simple (but satisfying) story, but Holden certainly does not embarrass himself, does not "talk down" to the audience or the material, and it does not feel like he is "slumming" here. Nancy Olson is satisfactory, nothing more. Barry Fitzgerald does his usual shtick, but is a comforting presence. We do get the typical noir look of the times, BUT, this is not a film noir as such, as the moral tone is straight black and white. No shades of gray here. The good guys are really good, and the bad guys are really bad. Yes, the good guys are unafraid to use violence to extract a confession, but they do so with no doubts, assured in the rightness of their goals, even if their methods are identical to the thugs they are pursuing. Sure, we in the audience may not be convinced that roughing up a goon and threatening to kill his ass by throwing him in front of a train barreling down the tracks is such a great move, but the cops in the film have no such questions.Railroad fans will really enjoy its glimpse of a great American railroad terminal in its prime. Film noir and crime drama fans will most likely like how the plot unfolds, even if there is no question how things will end: the bad guys lose and the good guys win, nobody getting killed but the bad guys, and the good guys suffering only minor, easily-recoverable injuries.

This neat thriller is a cops-and-robbers film that was typical of the genre many years ago. The plot deals with kidnapping and ransom issues and the scenes reflect the film noir style that was popular in Hollywood. A commuter's concern about possible criminal activity kicks off this mystery that unfolds in a train terminal as the police and gangsters engage in a high stakes game of nerve and wits. The cast is very good and William Holden and Nancy Olson make a nice pair, and in spite of their testy exchanges, seem headed to a romantic conclusion. Lyle Bettger, a fine villain, does a great job here, and a thrilling chase sequence on an elevated train ending in a stockyard might be the movie's high point. Barry Fitzgerald is good at underplaying scenes with droll humor and homespun words of wisdom and Jan Sterling has a brief role as a femme-fatale.

The great railway stations of the first half of the 20th century, were the equivalent of today's airports. Los Angeles' Union Station, was one of the best examples of how these places worked and how it was the center of people moving in the country during that period in which aviation was still in its infancy. The station is the setting for the story in which the film is based.Directed by Rudolph Mate, who was a great cinematographer himself, we are taken to witness this interesting thriller that still holds its interest after more than a half a century since it was made. Mr. Mate confided his colleague, Daniel Fapp, to photograph the action that takes place in the tunnels, boarding and waiting areas of the station.William Holden was at the top of the profession. He is seen as Det. William Calhoun, who is in charge of security. Nancy Olson, makes an interesting appearance opposite Mr. Holden as a young secretary who reports to the authorities what she witnessed on an inbound train. Barry Fitzgerald, who plays the police inspector in charge, contributes to the success of the film. Best of all Lyle Bettger, an actor that made his specialty out of the shady characters he was called to play. Jan Sterling has a small, but pivotal part."Union Station" is worth looking as it reflects that period of time in America. Ultimate the station is the real star of the film where we see it in all its splendor.

I liked this film for a lot of reasons. The first and foremost is Lyle Bettger's interpretation of a true psycho. Bettger was in a class to himself when it came to playing crazed killers and generally evil guys. He doesn't disappoint here.The plot, although not necessarily unique, is taut and moves along at a fairly rapid pace. The blind daughter of a wealthy family is kidnapped and held for ransom. Enter railroad detective William Holden and the LAPD in the person of Barry Fitzgerald and the chase is on. Nancy Olson is along for the ride and the film is peppered with some of the great character actors of the day.Throw in a bit of graphic police brutality and a great chase through the underground and you've got a neat little film. However, the screaming blind hostage never shuts up.......she screams continually until you really don't care if she ever is rescued. But of course she is, Bettger gets his come-uppance and Holden and Olson hold hands. Very tidy and enjoyable.