Originally made for TV but released theatrically instead when studio executives decided that the movie was too good for TV -- and that's just its problem. The movie really fits between two stools. Too compelling and too well-made for TV. but not blessed with the requisite film know-how and minimal production values for cinemas! In all, this one is a curate's egg of a movie -- good in parts! The story itself is terrible bosh, but it is well acted and director Weis has managed to create a moody atmosphere that is not ineffective but even moderately compelling at times. The movie is also blessed with skillful film editing and clever camera set-ups in which individuals are moodily isolated against their surroundings. All told, these innovations would probably work more compellingly on the box. At best, the movie is a mixed blessing and will probably annoy rather than satisfy most cinema patrons.
3 Reviews
I wish Raymond Burr was remembered more for roles like this one and "The Blue Gardenia"
planktonrules18 February 2018
A bit too shrill at times
burr is great
If you mention Raymond Burr to the average American, they'd probably say something like "He was Perry Mason" or "He was Ironside". While these TV roles made him famous, I think his best work was in the 1950s playing screen heavies. Very few actors could match the menace of Burr in films like "The Blue Gardenia" or here in "Ride the High Iron". And, it's worth watching "Ride the High Iron" just for his scenes...he was just terrific.
When the film begins, Sgt. Hugo Danielchik (Don Taylor) is on a train chatting with some rich folks. Ziggy Moline (Burr) is impressed that a guy from common stock like Danielchik could be so charming and fit in so well with the upper class. So, Ziggy has a proposition...that Danielchik should remake himself into a more waspy guy and then come work for him...though doing exactly what isn't clear. Danielchik isn't interested...he plans on going to grad school.
When Danielchik tells his really ignorant parents about his plans, they chide him to not try to rise above his station and he should do what his father did...spend his miserable life doing a menial job for the railroad. This helps Danielchik to see the light....he'll go work for Ziggy!
So what does Ziggy want him to do? He has Danielchik fake a few things about himself (such as changing his name and rank from Sergeant to Captain) and then romance a rich young lady...the same one Danielchik met on the train. Why does Ziggy want this? What's in store for Danielchik? See the film.
This is a good film but is also tough to watch. You don't really like anyone in the movie. Danielchik's parents are obnoxious in their desire to keep their son from achieving more out of life. Danielchik is a phony. And, Ziggy is very malevolent and is out to teach society a lesson! But it also is highly original and unpredictable....something I really prize in a movie.
If you mention Raymond Burr to the average American, they'd probably say something like "He was Perry Mason" or "He was Ironside". While these TV roles made him famous, I think his best work was in the 1950s playing screen heavies. Very few actors could match the menace of Burr in films like "The Blue Gardenia" or here in "Ride the High Iron". And, it's worth watching "Ride the High Iron" just for his scenes...he was just terrific.
When the film begins, Sgt. Hugo Danielchik (Don Taylor) is on a train chatting with some rich folks. Ziggy Moline (Burr) is impressed that a guy from common stock like Danielchik could be so charming and fit in so well with the upper class. So, Ziggy has a proposition...that Danielchik should remake himself into a more waspy guy and then come work for him...though doing exactly what isn't clear. Danielchik isn't interested...he plans on going to grad school.
When Danielchik tells his really ignorant parents about his plans, they chide him to not try to rise above his station and he should do what his father did...spend his miserable life doing a menial job for the railroad. This helps Danielchik to see the light....he'll go work for Ziggy!
So what does Ziggy want him to do? He has Danielchik fake a few things about himself (such as changing his name and rank from Sergeant to Captain) and then romance a rich young lady...the same one Danielchik met on the train. Why does Ziggy want this? What's in store for Danielchik? See the film.
This is a good film but is also tough to watch. You don't really like anyone in the movie. Danielchik's parents are obnoxious in their desire to keep their son from achieving more out of life. Danielchik is a phony. And, Ziggy is very malevolent and is out to teach society a lesson! But it also is highly original and unpredictable....something I really prize in a movie.
Low budget melodrama
PhilAFN8 November 2011
Warning: Spoilers
After his army stint Taylor decides he does not want to follow his father into a railroad job nor stay in the small boring town he grew up in. Along comes New York public relations man Burr who offers Taylor a job with him. But Taylor discovers the job amounts to nothing more than being an escort for the daughter (Forrest) of one of Burr's clients.
After reluctantly taking the job, Taylor has trouble living with the lies. As predictable, he eventually falls for Forrest and wants to marry her but must reconcile with all of his deceit.
It is a rather dull, low budget melodrama which is only made interesting by the presence of Burr. The film was made the year before he started his long run as Perry Mason and comes after a decade of playing bad guys in film noir. It's sort of a transition between the two but the tantrum he throws at the end is quite amusing. Also of note is Mae Clarke in a bit part as Forrest's mother.
After reluctantly taking the job, Taylor has trouble living with the lies. As predictable, he eventually falls for Forrest and wants to marry her but must reconcile with all of his deceit.
It is a rather dull, low budget melodrama which is only made interesting by the presence of Burr. The film was made the year before he started his long run as Perry Mason and comes after a decade of playing bad guys in film noir. It's sort of a transition between the two but the tantrum he throws at the end is quite amusing. Also of note is Mae Clarke in a bit part as Forrest's mother.
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