In this entry in the Michael Shayne series, Lloyd Nolan gets the job of escorting
Mary Beth Hughes to San Francisco on the sleeper train from New York. Hughes
is beautiful but most uncooperative. She's a key defense witness in a murder
trial, but all the restrictions Shayne has placed on her is cramping her style. Hughes is a most sociable girl.
Also on the train is Lynn Bari an old girlfriend of Shayne's who's a Lois Lane like
reporter. She's got a new fiance Don Douglas who's from San Francisco and is
a rising mover and shaker there.
Whether Hughes believes it or not there are people who want her to complete
the journey and will go to any lengths to see it doesn't happen. There's a nice
cast of familiar character players and the trick is to see which are the good and
the bad guys.
Some nice snappy patter dialog is a must for this kind of film and it has it with
an actor that can deliver it. Lloyd Nolan in his long career never gave a bad
performance, even if the film was a stinker he never was. He fit so well in the
role of Michael Shayne.
There are also a few side plots in this B film unusual for a movie not in the A list category. This one will make you a fan of Michael Shayne and Lloyd Nolan.