Michael_Elliott The Phantom Express (1932)** (out of 4)A train is heading down the tracks at night when the driver notices another train coming straight towards them. He derails the train to avoid the crash but during an investigation it's discovered that there wasn't another train. Soon we learn that several trains have been forced off the track due to a "ghost train" so the playboy son of the train owner decides to investigate.THE PHANTOM EXPRESS starts off rather good as we're given the initial crash and then a small court room setting where we hear about the accident and the aftermath investigation. The idea of a ghost train is pretty interesting for a story but sadly the film pretty much falls apart from there and turns into a rather cheap "B" movie that doesn't know what to do with its subject.For the most part the film remains slightly entertaining because of those opening scenes but one really wishes that the screenwriter had done more with it. To be fair, I'm sure the writer would have wanted to do more but obviously they were working on a small budget and I'm sure very little time. The performances in the film are about average. The film does contain some nice cinematography and the train wreck scenes aren't nearly as bad as you might expect.

robinakaaly An engine driver thinks he sees a train coming towards him, applies the brakes too harshly and crashes the train. The ne'er-do-well son of the railway owner takes a shine to the engine driver's daughter and investigates the occurrence. A rival firm is bidding for the line and is using an aeroplane fitted with headlights and loudspeakers to fool the drivers into having accidents, thus lowering the share price. Mystery solved, boy gets girl. The railway models were of a very high order; the scenes filmed in and around real railway depots were particularly interesting. Towards the end of the film, the owner as told the bidders he will make a decision by midnight. At the other end of the line, the plot is uncovered, and the owner has to be told. However, it is a wild and stormy night and the telegraphs are down. The engine driver reckons he can get Ol' 97 (or some such number) through and heads off at high speed as most of the railway is washed away or flooded. He just gets his engine over a vital bridge before it collapses, and makes it to depot in time to stop the owner selling. The question arises as to whether it might have been better for the owner if he had not got through. Though the offer price was low, the costs of the rebuilding works after the storm would have driven the stock price even lower, such that the owner would have been unable to raise the money for the works. In other words, he would have been better off with the cash the crooks were offering. Given all the sillinesses in the film, this is just one more.

MartinHafer This film begins with what appears to be a model train going down the model tracks. However, at least it is a pretty good model train! Anyway, it's supposed to be a real one and an accident is caused when the headlamp of another train appears to be heading right for them—and the train derails trying to avoid it. However, it turns out there was no other train—it's some sort of trick. So, the playboy son of the railroad owner decides to go undercover to investigate.While this all might sound interesting, despite an interesting premise, the film really bogs down and shows that it's only a cheaply made film by a cheap-o studio. After all, the ending is just god-awful—with ridiculous stunts and an explanation of the mystery that made my brain hurt. I can clearly understand why this film was allowed to slip into the public domain—it's bad and there's little to recommend it.

kidboots Trains are being derailed along a particular line by a "phantom express" (or so the old drivers think). They see engine lights and hear train noises before their engines are derailed. Nobody else can see anything.William Collier Jnr.(from "Little Ceasar" (1930)) plays Bruce Harrington, the bosses son who wants a chance to prove his worth. He begs to be allowed to investigate the mystery of the train wrecks.J. Farrell MacDonald is outstanding as the old engine driver who is convinced something is up. The scene when he is sacked and comes home to his birthday party is very powerful. The emotion he gives to the scene where he is looking at his medals for bravery is very sad.The exquisitely beautiful Sally Blane plays his daughter Carolyn. One look at her across a desk and Bruce is willing to forgo his playboy lifestyle and work under cover at the railroad - it is not that hard to believe!!!!Claire McDowall, an original member of D.W. Griffith's stock company plays the mother. David Rollins was a handsome leading man in a few of the early sound musicals (he partnered Sue Carol in "The Breakaway") has the small part of the son Jackie. Lina Basquette was a Follies beauty and a star for Cecil B. DeMille (she starred in his "The Godless Girl") - she has a couple of fiery scenes as Betty, a girl friend of Bruce's. There is a ton of talent in this film - names that conjure up memories.This is an outstanding drama that was not at all predictable. How they solve the mystery of "The Phantom Express" is surprising and not what you would expect.