One of my all time favorites.

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Spoiler Alert. I must be the only person in the world who doesn't like Lloyd Nolan. I find him intensely annoying and totally unbelievable as private detective Michael Shayne (who originally was a hard-boiled type). And in "Sleepers West," he just seems inept. A guy is on trial for his life, but he's innocent, and the real murderer is the governor's son (I think -- this was a very confusing movie). But a single witness can blow everything open. Naturally all the forces of evil will do everything to keep this witness from testifying. So what does Shayne do to protect her on a train en route to the trial? He sticks her in a compartment, says "Keep your door locked," and leaves her totally unattended as he wanders around the train and swaps sarcasms with his old flame, an eager girl reporter who wants the story. The witness has no other protection. And evidently Shayne doesn't even carry a gun. If the witness was so vital and her life so endangered, why wouldn't she have been guarded by lots of people, including a couple of heavies armed to the teeth right there in the compartment with her? I also didn't buy the witness's abrupt change of heart, from a tough alcoholic who didn't care about saving a guy's life to a girl with a heart of gold. I would've given this mess one star, but I added a couple of stars because I love trains. If you want to see a vastly superior comedy train mystery, find "Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone."

Second up in the Michael Shayne, Private Detective series, this is the one most people pick as the best: "Sleepers West" (1941). While the action is not half as colorful as in the 1952 re-make, "The Narrow Margin", the Shayne movie does devote a large amount of running time to an intriguing sub-plot involving Louis-Jean Heydt (of all people) with noir icon, Mary Beth Hughes. Railroad buffs will also appreciate all the express train footage and allusions which, alas, are disappointingly sidetracked when the train is delayed. Beautifully photographed by Peverell Marley (who seems at pains to show us how small in stature and long in nose Mr. Nolan actually is), this picture is also a must for Lynn Bari fans. She has never looked more attractive.

Private eye Michael Shayne must escort a special witness by train. It turns out to be more trouble than he bargained for. Fun entry in the Michael Shayne series. Lloyd Nolan's great, as usual. Lynn Bari is Shayne's ex, a lady reporter trying to snoop out a story. Clichéd character, sure, but Bari makes it work. Nice support from Edward Brophy, Don Costello, and Mary Beth Hughes. Ben Carter and Mantan Moreland provide comic relief. Lots of snappy patter in this one and a nice pace. I'm a sucker for trains so having most of this movie take place on one was a plus for me. All in all, it's one of the better Michael Shayne movies I've seen. Nothing extraordinary but a good B detective flick.

In terms of suspense and action, this is one of the weaker entries in the Shayne series. Most of the storyline is confined to a train ride carrying a secret witness to a west coast trial, who Shayne is supposed to protect from those who don't want her to appear. Unfortunately, not much use is made of the confined conditions to build suspense. Then too, we know early on the identity of the witness and who's on board to silence her, so there's not much mystery, either.Fortunately, there is a sparkling cast, led by the breezy Nolan, along with a brassy Hughes and a bumptious Bari. In fact, Bari and Hughes are natural personality rivals, setting off some delicious undercurrents. Then there's an unheralded threesome of black porters, who contribute humorously to the overall lightweight mood. Look also for Louis Jean Heydt, a familiar face from that era, who does well with a larger than usual role. All in all, it's an entertaining 70-minutes, but not up to the series' trademark mix of suspense plus humor.