An amazing movie, credited to director Alfred E. Green of all people, with truly astonishing camera-work by Sol Polito, here reveling in this opportunity to wave goodbye forever to the restrictive sound-proof booth. Setting his camera free, Polito's lens literally glides over the truly enormous sets at his disposal (undoubtedly a real train depot that was usually locked down in the really early morning). It actually takes a whole reel of breathtaking vignettes, before the movie proper really gets underway. At that point, young Douglas Fairbanks makes his surprising entrance at the head of a huge cast including Joan Blondell, Guy Kibbee, Alan Hale and most especially David Landau, a charismatic and much-in-demand character actor who came from Broadway and made no less than 33 movies from 1931 through 1934. (He died, alas, in '35). This is such a must-see movie that I don't want to give away even a hint of the plot, but it does provide some great opportunities for all the name players. In fact, even many of the character actors like Charles Lane, George Chandler, Ethel Griffies, Theresa Harris and Dorothy Christie get their chance to shine. And of course, if there are any cops around (which there are), Robert Homans is sure to make an appearance.
Review of Union Depot
