Alan Ladd later became known for his Westerns - particularly Shane - but was a star for seven years before making one. This was his first, at least his first since becoming a star, and Paramount seemed determine to ensure it was a hit - they gave him colour, a big budget, strong support cast, and a franchise property: railroad detective Whispering Smith.
I'm used to railroad detectives being the villains of films eg Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Jesse James so it's kind of different to see a heroic one. The part fits Alan Ladd like a glove - tough, taciturn, silent, pining for the One Who Got Away (bland Brenda Marshall), investigating a spate of robberies. Little wonder he was subsequently cast the saddle so often.
There is a strong central dramatic situation here: Ladd is best friends with Robert Preston but loves Preston's wife Marshall; and Preston turns to crime. There is also a superb support cast: William Demarest, Donald Crisp (as a chilling villain), and that old reliable, an albino assassin.
Truth be told though Paramount probably wasted money building a small town and shooting this in colour - there's not much spectacle apart from a train robbery. At it's heart this is a low budget Western, more of a character/suspense piece. I'm glad it looks good and all it's just not an epic.
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