Watch Broadway Express

  • 1959
  • 19 min

Broadway Express is a classic thriller film from 1959, directed by Arthur Dreifuss and produced by Robert E. Kent. The film stars two fast-rising actors from the 1950s: John Saxon and Marla English. The story is set in New York and follows the adventure of a group of robbers who plan to rob a passenger train. The Broadway Express of the title is the train in question, which is scheduled to travel from New York to Chicago.

The main heist planners are Eddie (played by Saxon), a charismatic but ruthless man, Max (played by Larry Thor), a former railroad employee who offers his extensive knowledge of the train, and Steve (played by Marshall Thompson), a disillusioned veteran of the Korean War.

To make the heist feasible, the group poses as a group of tourists, hides their true intentions from the other passengers, and identifies key targets for their robbery. However, things take a turn for worse when a detective named Sam Jennings (played by Paul Harvey) starts investigating strange activity on the train, suspecting that the group is up to no good.

As the train speeds towards Chicago, the tension grows between the robbers who are under pressure to complete their mission successfully, and the detective who is following their every move. Along the way, the group also encounters a number of obstacles, including hostile terrain, the harsh weather conditions, and unexpected passengers that could compromise their operation.

Broadway Express mainly follows Eddie as he leads the heist and tries to keep the group together, while Max and Steve provide the technical support and muscle to the operation. Eddie's personal desire for wealth and power motivates him to take risks that could jeopardize the success of the heist, and the lives of people around him.

Marla English plays Linda, a young woman who becomes a love interest for Eddie, although her role is rather small and peripheral to the main plot. In general, romance and personal relationships are given little screen time in this tightly paced thriller, which is more concerned with the mechanics of the heist and how the characters deal with the obstacles in their way.

Broadway Express is shot in black and white, which gives the film a gritty and tense atmosphere. The cinematography is mostly functional, but there are some interesting shots that highlight the fast pace of the train and the looming danger of the situation.

Overall, Broadway Express is an entertaining thriller that harkens back to the classic heist movies of the 1950s. It may not have the same level of sophistication or realism as some of the later heist films, but it offers enough suspense and drama to keep the viewers engaged. The cast is competent, if not outstanding, and the direction is solid, if not inspired. Fans of classic crime movies may find this a worthwhile addition to their collection.

Broadway Express is a 1959 documentary with a runtime of 19 minutes.

Description
Where to Watch Broadway Express
Broadway Express is available to watch free on Kanopy. It's also available to stream, download and buy on demand at Amazon. Some platforms allow you to rent Broadway Express for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    1959
  • Runtime
    19 min