Lady On A Train represents Universal Studios trying to transition Deanna Durbin into more adult roles. Although the film has its fun moments in the comedy department, Deanna is essentially still playing her goody two shoes teenage self. As this involves a mystery, this could have been the plot of a Nancy Drew story.
As the New York Central is going down Manhattan's spine taking Deanna on the last leg of her cross country journey she spots what she thinks is a murder in one of the passing apartments. That would be enough to upset anyone, but Deanna is a girl who loves mysteries, we see her reading one on the train. As she's a bit of madcap she has trouble getting police desk sergeant William Frawley to take her seriously.
After she sees a newsreel and recognizes the victim as a millionaire who was reported to have died at his Long Island mansion, Durbin interjects herself into that family. The victim disinherited his relatives Elizabeth Patterson, Dan Duryea, and Ralph Bellamy and left his estate to nightclub singer Maria Palmer.
Deanna just gets deeper and deeper until she solves the mystery. As for the culprit, given casting stereotypes a real big red herring is tossed at the audience. But she's as determined as Nancy Drew to get to the bottom of things.
Some nice standards are given Durbin to sing, Night And Day and Silent Night is sung because the story does take place at Christmas time. Lady On A Train should please the still strong legion of Durbin fans.
As the New York Central is going down Manhattan's spine taking Deanna on the last leg of her cross country journey she spots what she thinks is a murder in one of the passing apartments. That would be enough to upset anyone, but Deanna is a girl who loves mysteries, we see her reading one on the train. As she's a bit of madcap she has trouble getting police desk sergeant William Frawley to take her seriously.
After she sees a newsreel and recognizes the victim as a millionaire who was reported to have died at his Long Island mansion, Durbin interjects herself into that family. The victim disinherited his relatives Elizabeth Patterson, Dan Duryea, and Ralph Bellamy and left his estate to nightclub singer Maria Palmer.
Deanna just gets deeper and deeper until she solves the mystery. As for the culprit, given casting stereotypes a real big red herring is tossed at the audience. But she's as determined as Nancy Drew to get to the bottom of things.
Some nice standards are given Durbin to sing, Night And Day and Silent Night is sung because the story does take place at Christmas time. Lady On A Train should please the still strong legion of Durbin fans.