Station West *** (1948, Dick Powell, Jane Greer, Agnes Moorehead) – Classic Movie Review 7259

Dick Powell is on good form in Station West (1948) in a rare Western outing for him as US Army Intelligence investigator John Haven, an officer who goes undercover in a Western town to expose saloon singer Charlie (Jane Greer)’s gang of cutthroats who are behind a string of gold shipment robberies.

Scripted by Frank Fenton and Winston Miller, this proves a routine, unsurprising yarn, based on Luke Short’s short story. But the nicely shot black and white movie is lifted by the fine cast and Sidney Lanfield’s buoyant, vibrant direction.

Most notably, though, it boasts suitably tough performances from the excellent Greer and Powell, relishing being furnished with lines to snarl over. It also stars Agnes Moorehead, Burl Ives, Raymond Burr, Regis Toomey, Guinn ‘Big Boy’ Williams and Tom Powers.

Also in the cast are Gordon Oliver, Steve Brodie, Olin Howlin, John Berkes, Michael Steele, Dan White, John Kellogg, John Doucette, Charles Middleton and Stanley Blystone.

Station West is directed by Sidney Lanfield, runs 87 minutes, is released by RKO Radio Pictures, is written by Frank Fenton and Winston Miller, based on Luke Short’s short story, is shot in black and white by Harry J Wild, is produced by Robert Sparks, and is scored by Heinz Roemheld.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7259

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