Dick Powell, a favorite actor of the Noir genre, stars as military intelligence officer Haven, a smart aleck undercover investigator looking into the deaths of two soldiers. Everything appears, on the surface, to be fairly cut and dried, but a good script and excellent acting creates the moody atmosphere necessary to turn this unassuming western town into a darker place where things are not always as they seem. The plot is tight and the viewer should be prepared to pay attention lest she or he miss important plot points. Greer's performance is flawless, and even the actors who have few lines or quick cameos (Burr's performance comes to mind here), fully invest in their characters.
The filming is rather innovative for the time, with realistic hand-held shots peeking through tree branches, at saddle level, or in the case of the aforementioned fight scene, employing angles that join Powell and Williams as they brawl on the dusty bar-lit road. Lanfield invites the viewer into the scene, creating a first person viewpoint that is entirely intimate.
There are a few flaws in the writing, but on the whole, viewing Stations West is an excellent way to spend 80 minutes. Very entertaining!
Station West
1948
Action / Drama / Mystery / Romance / Western
Station West
1948
Action / Drama / Mystery / Romance / Western
Plot summary
When two US cavalrymen transporting a gold shipment get killed, US Army Intelligence investigator John Haven goes undercover to a mining and logging town to find the killers.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
March 03, 2021 at 08:33 AM
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Noirish Western Well Acted and Expertly Filmed.
An A-budgeted B-western.
In most ways, "Station West" plays like a B-western...which happens to have an A, or perhaps A- cast. It also reminds me of another Dick Powell film, "Murder My Sweet" (1944)...though instead of Powell playing a cynical and mouthy detective he plays a cynical and mouthy detective...in the old west.
When the film begins, undercover agent 'Haven' arrives in town and his cover is that of a hard-bitten jerk. Soon he picks a fight with the biggest and meanest guy in town...and after besting him, he's given entree into the local gang. And what sort of mischief is the gang up to? They're behind gold robberies...robbing not only the stage but the US Cavalry, when they killed two soldiers.
This movie has most things you'd see in a B, though I really liked seeing Powell in the lead instead of the usual B heros such as Roy Rogers or Hopaling Cassidy. On hand to support him are the likes of Jane Greer, Agnes Morehead and Burl Ives. Nothing really that special here, but a very good western with a very exciting leading man.
good premise
Two US cavalrymen transporting gold are killed. Army Intelligence investigator John Haven (Dick Powell) goes undercover to find the murderers. Local saloon singer Charlie (Jane Greer) catches his eye and secretly has her hands in nefarious activities. Her lawyer Mark Bristow (Raymond Burr) is heavily in debt. Mrs. Caslon (Agnes Moorehead) owns the gold mine.
I don't think robber Joe would let Haven live. Those robbers have already killed plenty and non of them would let a man live to tell the tale. In order for that section to work, Haven should not be on the gold transport. He could be following from a distance and then catch up to Joe heavily laden with gold. While I like the general premise, some of the plot is deficient. It may even work better if Haven is only revealed to be the good guy in the third act. That would be a nice twist. This is a solid western with a somewhat ambitious story. As for Dick Powell, I'm not sure if he fits the role. Haven should be more a heavy. He should fit comfortably as a henchman and yet be charismatic enough to be the lead.