Director William Wellman certainly had a thing for rain and railroads. Here he has a chance to pit both elements against each other, serving as good background fodder for some romantic nonsense about a trio of pals who wind up in tragic circumstances because one man falls in love with the other man's wife.
REGIS TOOMEY is the railroad man who brings his friend GRANT WITHERS home for dinner. Withers and MARY ASTOR renew their acquaintance and fall in love. When Toomey finds out, he goes nuts, ends up fighting Withers and as a result is blinded for life. With a plot this soggy, Wellman adds lots of rain and many train scenes. Somehow it all comes together and the ending is rather touching--although telegraphed during the bridge scene accident.
Astor is sweet, Withers overacts the drunken scenes (and some tipsy moments with tough talking waitress JOAN BLONDELL), and Regis Toomey does what he can with the role of the blinded man. A young JAMES CAGNEY pops up once in awhile in a nothing role before his big break came along.
Watchable only for curiosity value. Somewhat lacking as entertainment but given some punch in the final stormy scenes with the train approaching a flooded bridge.
Blondell (badly photographed) has a classic line at the diner: "APO. Ain't puttin' out."
REGIS TOOMEY is the railroad man who brings his friend GRANT WITHERS home for dinner. Withers and MARY ASTOR renew their acquaintance and fall in love. When Toomey finds out, he goes nuts, ends up fighting Withers and as a result is blinded for life. With a plot this soggy, Wellman adds lots of rain and many train scenes. Somehow it all comes together and the ending is rather touching--although telegraphed during the bridge scene accident.
Astor is sweet, Withers overacts the drunken scenes (and some tipsy moments with tough talking waitress JOAN BLONDELL), and Regis Toomey does what he can with the role of the blinded man. A young JAMES CAGNEY pops up once in awhile in a nothing role before his big break came along.
Watchable only for curiosity value. Somewhat lacking as entertainment but given some punch in the final stormy scenes with the train approaching a flooded bridge.
Blondell (badly photographed) has a classic line at the diner: "APO. Ain't puttin' out."