MartinHafer I noticed that one of the other reviewers mentioned how he hated the kidnap victim, as she was very annoying. Yes, the kidnapped girl is annoying...very annoying. She screams and screams so much, I was hoping eventually that the bad guys shot her to shut her up!! Despite this, it's still a pretty good crime film.The film begins with a lady on a train (Nancy Olson) noticing a couple guys acting strangely. She alerts the conductor--who seems to think she's crazy. But she insists he contact the police who investigate. Eventually, they discover the lady is right--something IS amiss. It seems they are part of a gang that have kidnapped a rich man's blind daughter. And, it turns out their boss is very blood-thirsty and has no intention of letting the girl go free once he obtains the ransom. Can the good cop (William Holden) catch these big jerks before it's too late? The toughness of the plot and the villain make this a film worth seeing. I noticed another review that complained about the casting of Barry Fitzgerald as the cop heading the investigation. I thought her was fine and played a nearly identical role in "The Naked City"--so similar a person might mistakenly think "Union Station" is a sequel. It's not, but both are very good, taut crime dramas that are worth your time.

Michael O'Keefe UNI0N STATION is classic film noir directed by Rudolph Matte. Gritty and suspenseful. Joyce Willecombe(Nancy Olson)is a private secretary, who boards a train back home to Chicago from visiting her boss Henry Murchison(Herbert Heyes). While on the train she observes a speeding car race to a small station and two suspicious looking men get out and board the train at opposite ends. On board these men act as strangers. Joyce happens to see a gun hidden in one man's coat and tries to alarm the conductor of the train. He can't help, but Lt. William Calhoun(William Holden)working at Union Station is called. It happens that the two men are part of a kidnapping scheme...the victim is the blind daughter of Joyce's employer. The young secretary feels guilty; but Calhoun and his boss, Inspector Donnelly(Barry Fitzgerald), insist that they will thwart the kidnapping and return Lorna Murchison(Allene Roberts)to her rich father. A lot of cat-and-mouse action and old fashion gunfire. Holden is cast perfectly and Miss Olson gets her share of screen time. Fitzgerald is fit as the calm and cool acting Irishman with the plan of action. The cast also includes: Lyle Bettger, Fred Graff, Don Dunning, Jan Sterling and Parley Baer.

GManfred Viewers at times have to approach some films with an atavistic demeanor, as though going to a museum. After all, times change, customs change, people change. Years ago many people smoked, men wore fedoras and Police methods were also different. This last seems to be Leonard Maltin's main objection to the film when he says 'dated police techniques'. This is 2008, and with the ACLU acting as spoilers, police no longer 'lean on' suspects.As previously stated, watch this picture with a sense of atavism and it is thoroughly enjoyable. After all, it was 1950 - many of us can remember those times, fondly. William Holden was almost a big star, Lyle Bettger was honing his talent as a heavy and Rudolph Mate was an accomplished Director. Tension is sustained throughout and the location photography is interesting. Do yourself a favor and see it next time it's on.

kiscokid23 Having had experience with crime prosecution and investigative work, I rate this movie very realistic--Holden does a customary superb performance, would like to see this movie viewed more frequently, and at more viewable times. It is interesting to see the depiction of Police activities in the pre-'Miranda' days--The Scenes of railroad travel, the 1950's era motor vehicles in the movie present a realistic view of how things were then--The very realistic progression of the cases solution, the suspenseful blending of the events all make the film a great pleasure to enjoy.Holden, as I remember his 'Stalag 17' performance is a constant magnet for entertaining viewing.Respectfully,Lou Turi, aka 'Kisco Kid 23'E-mail address-- [email protected]