This is a silly film. Because it is set in an interesting fashion largely at Grand Central Station in New York, involves a private train car on a siding where a murder takes place, and makes use of the many trains and tracks, etc., it could have amounted to something. But alas it is just a piece of nonsense which attempts to be a 'comedy thriller'. And if we know anything, we know that comedies and thrillers don't mix. There was plenty of opportunity for atmosphere, and think what a real director like Fritz Lang could have done with it! But this was all thrown away. 'The sensational new star' Van Heflin (who had already appeared in 12 films by the way and was not really new at all) makes his appearance as a private detective, but he need not have bothered. Not only is he uninteresting and his part is a big nothing, but the whole project is a waste of time. Connie Gilchrist is, as usual, very good at being a tough gal who speaks her mind. But nobody else adds anything, except for the ever-urbane Tom Conway in a minor role. And as for the screaming and hysterical Sam Levene as a police chief who shouts and interviews twenty people at once in a room, he acts like one of the Three Stooges and the whole thing is worse than a school play. This was a good idea which could have been a movie, but instead it is a movie that has no idea.
Review of Grand Central Murder
