Midnight Limited

1940 "DEATH RIDES THE RAILS!"
5| 1h1m| NA| en| More Info
Released: 20 March 1940 Released
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Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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The Phantom Robber gets a fortune in jewels and some valuable papers from a robbery on the crack train "The Midnight Limited" and Val Lennon and his pretty assistant, Joan Marshall, are on his trail. But the Phantom strikes three more times and adds murder to his list. Val decides to use himself as bait, although Chief Harrigan and Joan beg him not to risk his life. But Val, disguised as a wealthy Canadian, boards the train for a rendezvous with a killer.

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Director

Howard Bretherton

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Midnight Limited Audience Reviews

Linkshoch Wonderful Movie
Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.
Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
Frances Chung Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable
mark.waltz George Cleveland, self proclaimed "professional traveler", well known reputation for "expert drunk", is the only key (or clue) to the identity of a phantom robber who seems to know which train passengers are carrying around large sums of money. Detective John King joins forces with robbery victim Marjorie Reynolds to find out who is committing these horrid hold- ups which seem to be related to something than more than just ordinary robberies. Cleveland, playing more eccentric than buffoon, emulates the heavy high class accent of Sydney Greek street. Out of nowhere, King gets a song, setting up romantic subplot between King and Reynolds. No real surprises in this low budget thriller that isn't as thrilling as it makes a claim to be.
classicsoncall Well if you watched the picture, you know who the train robbers are, just like I know who the train robbers are. However I'm going to have to admit something here - I don't know how the heck Valentine Lennon (John King) figured it out, even after he explained it to Miss Marshall (Marjorie Reynolds). How did he get from Point A to Point B to know it was Krantz (Monte Collins) in the baggage car that was in league with the Phantom Robber (I. Stanford Jolley)? Folks, this is bugging me.Up until the ending, I thought this little programmer had something fairly clever going for it. The desk clerk at the Ritz Plaza calling the plays was a pretty creative way to set up the train heists. But what about the guy they called The Professor (George Cleveland)? Except for the coincidence of being on the same runs on which the robberies occurred, that whole business with delivering the letters to Montreal was just a red herring. Am I missing something here? I have to say, I was a little surprised to see John 'Dusty' King in a leading role in this picture. I'm more used to catching him teamed up with Ray Corrigan and Max Terhune as one of The Range Busters, a popular cowboy trio of the era. And if I had to bet, the last time I saw Marjorie Reynolds she was portraying Peg Riley in the old 'Life of Riley' TV series opposite William Bendix. Now there's a memory. Tell you what, dispense with the story and just leave Miss Reynolds on screen for the hour and I'd be just as happy.At some point, I think I'll have to go back and see what I missed here. The resolution to the mystery is still nagging me, so there must be a missing piece of the puzzle. When I figure it out I'll get back to you. Or better yet, if you figure it out, drop me a line.
kidboots Marjorie Reynolds was a bright, vivacious leading lady, who could also sing. Her career high point was co-starring with Bing Crosby in "Holiday Inn" (1942) and "Dixie" (1943), but she dressed up any movie she was in no matter how cheap the production.Joan Marshall (Marjorie Reynolds) is traveling on the Midnight Limited, a night train from New York to Montreal. She hears a scuffle in the next compartment and when she goes to investigate is also robbed by "The Phantom Robber"!!! She was robbed of papers that prove that she and her mother are the rightful heirs of a large estate but this plot goes nowhere. When she admits she had a glimpse of the robber she is immediately made a member of the police force (of course!!!) who are investigating the case. There are no surprises - it is obvious that the booking agent is involved after a gambler books a ticket on the train. It is well known that he is carrying $60,000 with him and surprise, surprise - he is robbed. Everything seems to fall into place for the viewer, long before the police figure it out!!!John "Dusty" King is a very lack lustre leading man. I was so surprised to read that he was a band singer. At one point in the film he is sitting down at the piano and sings "Quiet Hands" - very badly I thought!!! I was wishing why couldn't Marjorie have sung - she would have really livened up the film.
orzobino This movie was interesting but a little corny at times( when Val sings) They had to cram a lot in 61 minutes. the movie's movement had a little Dragnet to it.."just the facts'. The police characters seemed a little stiff and the mechanics of the railroad police etc was not very believable.( Adding Majorie to the force just because she said she would help) The addition of Willie the conductor was a nice a piece but the dialog with him was too simple and not as comic relief as it could have been... Majorie Reynolds was good and you can see her potential...remembering her as the wife to Chester a Riley is quite easy..The plot was good and could have been developed better but...All in all a good investment of your time far better that reruns on TV.....