Grand Central Murder

Van Heflin in an early starring role is a private detective with a gorgeous assistant who happens to be his spouse. A gold-digging actress who ran through men as fast as the hapless detective inspector gulps one bottle of "pop" after the other is found dead in a private railway car in Grand Central Station (usually known as Grand Central Terminal).

Many movies have been set in or feature New York's beautiful rail station. In this wartime film, a studio set substituted for the very busy and vital rail center. The sets aren't too convincing - this film was done on a small budget but so what?

Murder is usually serious but the antics of the inspector and his lackluster squad as they try to figure out whodunit make this film, with some sprightly dialogue and good character roles, very humorous. This is a real 1930s-40s view of police as folks who can't find a murderer on a bet (which is also part of this story) without the aid of an outsider, here the indefatigable and comedic "Custer," Van Heflin.

A short film running less than an hour and a half, "Grand Central Murder" is a good party movie. Van Heflin shows the acting ability that led to his appearances in far more serious films.

When a not so sympathetic victim (Patricia Dane) is murdered in a private side car at Grand Central Station, detective Van Heflin and a crusty inspector (Sam Levene) join forces to solve the case. A neat little mystery yarn, this was an above average B-picture from MGM that gave us an early glimpse of Van Heflin, a young actor who was certainly blessed with enormous talent. Virginia Grey, Stephen McNally, Samuel S. Hinds, Connie Gilchrist, Tom Conway and Millard Mitchell are fine in supporting roles and the ending comes as a satisfying, if not probable, conclusion.

This is the sort of film that played the lower half of a double bill when released in 1942, but even then it was praised as an above average thriller. It moves at a swift pace and is guaranteed to hold your interest.

Not a bad murder mystery with an interesting slant, gathering the usual suspects together in one place to flush out the guilty one takes place at the beginning of the film rather than at the end as would normally be the case. This enables the story to unfold in flashback fashion as told by each of the suspects. Van Heflin shines in one of his early roles. He seems a bit brash in places but otherwise is excellent. Patricia Dane in one of her few cinema appearances does well as the nasty gold digger who is murdered. Sam Levene made good money playing the dumb police inspector in several films of the period including two Thin Man's. So he knew his part by heart. And it's good to see veteran actor Millard Mitchell in one of his early roles.

When I first watched "Grand Central Murder," I reasoned it was taken from a play because that is how it runs. There are a few action scenes involving trains, especially at the end, but otherwise it could all have taken place on stage. This makes the movie very talkative and is a major weakness. I was surprised to see that the screenplay was adapted from a novel by Sue MacVeigh. So director S. Sylvan Simon must be to blame. The script is well-written with many witty lines. Not a bad way to spend 73 minutes.

Van Heflin brings flair to "Grand Central Murder," a 1942 B movie from MGM about a golddigging musical comedy star (Patricia Dane) who winds up dead in the private car of a train.

The suspects include a escaped prisoner named Turk, (Stephen McNally, here billed as Horace McNally) and an on and off boyfriend played by Tom Conway, etc.

Heflin plays Rocky, a detective who was hired to get evidence so that Turk can get a new trial. At the time of the murder, Rocky and his wife Butch (a young Virginia Grey) were around the murder scene.

Rocky and the police lieutenant assigned to the case (Sam Levene) attempt to solve the murder while at loggerheads with one another. Each character tells his or her story in flashback.

This film moves fairly quickly but is ultimately let down by a preposterous denouement. The acting, however, when it isn't great is at least interesting. Heflin is superb - sharp, smart, and funny as Rocky.

Sam Levene gets a bad rap for his performance - yes, the director needed to tone him down. Levene was an accomplished Broadway actor and was giving basically a stage performance.

Patricia Dane, once married to orchestra leader Tommy Dorsey, is pretty and talks like Jean Harlow, particularly when Harlow would try to sound upper class.

Dane didn't get much chance at developing her potential once she told off an MGM executive. In this role, she comes off as cheap and annoying, which is right for the part.

Fairly enjoyable especially for Heflin.

In the same year that Van Heflin won the supporting Oscar for "Johnny Eager," he gave another wonderful performance as a comedic investigator involved up to his head in a murder mystery.

Mida King has it all. She is a Broadway star who is about to marry a millionaire before dumping him and cashing in on all that money.

Involved with a mob figure, (Steve McNally) in an unusually restrained performance, King, played by Patricia Dane, meets an untimely end as the film is the usual who did it with comic overtones.

Besides Heflin, Connie Gilchrist shines as the maid. Her Brooklyn accent suits her well here and she is forever endearing in the part.

Sam Levene, as the police detective, caught up in this mayhem does a fine job here.

This film is definitely well worth watching. Look for wonderful comic timing by Heflin.