Those who put down B type movies will most likely automatically put down this movie. But don't be so quick to judge. I'll agree that it is far from being an Academy Award winner, but that is due more to poor dialog writing and cheaper sets than the acting. In fact, I was very surprised to see so many first class character actors in the movie. The lead,Gloria Swanson,is a movie actress traveling with her young daughter on the Santa Fe's Super Chief to California. She meets a professor on the train and falls for him, tired of the Hollywood types. I love traveling by train which made the movie more appealing to me. Yes, some of the sets that were supposed to be inside a train were obviously on a stage somewhere, but not badly done. There was also some outside footage shot of "real" 1950's SF engines and passenger cars along the way and at stops. There is eating in the dinning car, sitting in the club car and the observation car. Many were stage sets with scenes running in the background for passing landscape, but fun none the less. As most know, the movie stars of the 1950's were constantly traveling back and forth by train between Chicago and California. During the trip, Swanson's agent tries to talk her into publicity she doesn't want to do. People in stuffed shirts probably shouldn't watch it as it's not top shelf, but it is worth watching as low key 1950's fun. If you are interested in looking behind the history of actors in a movie, stick with me. Let's start first with the leads of Gloria Swanson and James Warren. Of course Swanson was the professional actress she portrayed. However I felt no attraction to her or the male lead. James Warren will probably be accused of being wooden or stiff but let's remember that, that was the exact part he was playing. He was a geeky college professor who falls in love with a movie star on a long distance train trip. He actually did a good job given the part and dialog provided and he reminded me of a young Sterling Hayden. He did only one more movie, then returned to his first love of art and illustrating. Although he didn't have the charm of a Gary Cooper, he did an adequate job. Gloria Swanson's history is well known including her Sunset Blvd. Off screen she had an affair with Joseph Kennedy (President Kennedy's father) who produced her in "Queen Kelly". Swanson's autobiography was in response to information in Rose Kennedy's autobiography. Gloria's first marriage was to one of my favorites - Wallce Beery. The number of top character actors in "Three for Bedroom C" was amazing, with familiar faces popping into the picture. Let's start with Gloria's agent in the movie played by Fred Clark, who was also in Sunset Blvd. with her. He supported in many works on TV and movies but I remember him best playing Harry Morton the neighbor on "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show". He was also in Rosalind Russell's "Auntie Mame". Then came was Hans Conried, remembered right away as Uncle Tonoose from the Danny Thomas show on TV. As a character actor he had a long list of accomplishments and was a member of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre and the voice of Captain Hook in Disney's Peter Pan. The little girl in this movie was played by Janine Perreau. She was so good I can't believe she had a short career. Probably the old going from child actor to adult problem. She played her part perfectly though. She has a sister GiGi who had more luck in the movie business. Toward the end Steve Brodie from many TV shows made his appearance just when I thought they were finished popping in supporting actors. Then sitting there in the club car and playing an old alcoholic was one of the best professionals, Percy Helton, who often played the timid little man in more movies and TV shows than I can think of. He had that wispy voice from shouting himself hoarse in a part many years before. He was the drunk Santa in Miracle On 34th Street and was the train conductor in Music Man. The train steward in this one was was played by Ernest Anderson who also played a porter in North by Northwest, and George M Cohan's valet in Yankee Doodle Dandy. Here he was the ever patient Fred Johnson who helped along the romance with good advice to anyone smart enough to ask for it, and played the part intelligently. There is a part for famous Margaret Dumont whom Groucho Marks called "practically the fifth Marx brother". Then near the end came another familiar face as a photographer - Jimmy Dodd whom you will remember as the adult Mousketeer on Disney's Mickey Mouse Show when he sang songs on each show and led the group as Jimmy. And you will also recognize the train conductor as Charles Lane. He was a supporting character actor in a whole list of movies and TV shows. Remember him as Mr. Potter's tax man in It's A Wonderful Life? Yes, that's him, always a curt, no-nonsense part. As you can see, the supporting actors and actresses in Bedroom C really make the movie worth watching in addition to the train travel theme. If you watch it you are not going to come away with some great message long remembered. However, you will enjoy some lighthearted thoughts of yesteryear's movies and train travel. It's not a must see, but if you get a chance, why not?
