Metro Goldwyn Mayer

Many Thanks to Tony Wilson for recommending this flick. Today’s feature is a post-war film noir taking place on a Southern Pacific Railroad train from Los Angeles to New Orleans.

John Hodiak (as Ace Connors) and Lucille Ball (as Ricki Woodner) star alongside Lloyd Nolan as NYC Policeman Bob Simms. You see, Ace is a bond swindler/con artist and Ricki is a flashy redhead with a jaded past. Officer Bob is on their tail looking for those fake bonds. To further complicate this triangle, Ace and Bob are old friends — just on opposite sides of the law.

Now. Where do you suppose Ace is HIDING those bonds? Well, you’ll just have to read this review and find out.

How about a nice, hot cup of tea? Most Noir pictures are loaded with symbolism. Case in point: Notice all the stripes (simulating prison bars). These two are definitely up to no good!

It’s probably on a studio set, but very nice-looking railroad lounge car interior.

Get the Glue! Here’s how you hide $500,000 worth of bonds — in plain sight.

The “Fine Art of Cookery” by Brillat Savarin. Hmmm, there actually was a guy by that name who dabbled in fine French cuisine. Okay. On with the trains.

At 22:30, the railroad scenes begin. Ace gets a telegram from his mouthpiece that the jig is up. Old pal Bob the cop is in town from New York to make SURE he makes his court date.

For yocks, Ace proposes a first class trip on his dime to NYC via New Orleans with Bob as his personal guest. Bob accepts.

Boarding the train. Cars 317 and 316 – could this be westbound SP Train #3, The Golden State? Settling down in Ace’s Drawing Room, whilst Bob gets the adjacent Compartment.

Here’s Lucy! Slack action throws Ricki accidently into Bob’s arms from the hallway.

Well, Hello there! Since Ricki has only an Upper (berth in a Section Sleeper), arrangements are made for Bob to bunk up with Ace, putting Ricki in the Compartment. How cozy!

Time for a coffee and a smoke. Room service was pretty fancy back in the day. What IS that monstrosity on the table? (listening to dialogue). Canard Sauvage? Duck? Okay, whatever.

This guy knows how to live. Cointreau? Brandy, anyone?

Day for Night shot. Nice big water tower. Steam engine laying on the smoke with snow-covered mountains in the background (probably L.A. area somewhere). Can’t quite make out the train number in the boards.

Enjoying his panatela, Bob checks out the Cooking book as Ace and Ricki walk the train. In Upper 5, a sleeping traveler is blocking the way. Ace gallantly lifts his arm so Ricki may pass. Hmmm…is the sleeping guy making a gesture?

Ace and Ricki take a tour of the lounge car on their way to smooch at the end of the train. Nice painting and small bar to water the thirsty patrons, striped drapes and blinds (of course), and finally an open platform at the rear with a classic marker lantern.

Foiling the couple’s plans for a night cap or tryst, Bob is reading off all the chicken recipes much to Ace’s dismay.

“Till the Clouds Roll By” Interesting outside-looking-in view of the heavyweight dining car. Look at all that silverware! Just as Ricki is fixing to leave, Ace arrives (he slept in). To her astonishment, he brought his own truffles along and had the dining car crew whip them up for breakfast. This guy is quite the galloping gourmet.

“I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but your friend is one of the biggest operators we’ve ever been after.”; You better have a smoke…; Pulling into a tourist stop at Yuma; Walking the platform.

This is definitely a studio scene as I can see no tracks behind the last car. Also the sign “DINING CAR” has been hastily painted onto the side of the heavyweight.

Oh, let’s buy a little keepsake to remember this trip… All Aboard! Good view with two Pullman Porters and a Conductor beside the train.

This is the clearest picture of an SP locomotive in the movie. #4 in the number boards means this is the eastbound Golden State. Once they get to El Paso, they’d need to change to another train to reach New Orleans (like Train #2 The Sunset or #6 The Argonaut).

SP #4362 is the number (I think). It is a 4-8-2 Mountain Class MT-4, built in SP’s Sacramento Shops. BUT online pictures of that class do not seem to match this photo. So I can’t say for sure. A Rock Island locomotive east of Tucumcari, perhaps? The possibilities are endless. ;p

Once tea time is over, Ace and Ricki exit the lounge to detrain at El Paso. From there, they cross the border (down Mexico way) to overnight at “Posada de los Cuatro” (translation: Inn of the Four).

Wait a sec. Who’s that character in the fedora? Why it’s Ace’s former confederate, Fly Feletti! (played by Elisha Cook, Jr.) And he wants 50% of the action!

Elisha always played creepy characters including a gunsel in “The Maltese Falcon 1941“.

Star Trek fans will remember him as Captain Kirk’s bumbling attorney, Samuel T. Cogley in “Court Martial“.

Our ensemble moves to New Orleans where Mardi Gras just HAPPENS to be going on at full blast. Great cover for lots of action and skullduggery. No trains, but “Cookie” dressed up as a harlequin is too good to pass up. Look out! He’s got a gun!

Finale. Now handcuffed to Bob, a subdued Ace is led down the platform to Track 6 of a studio set. WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW…

Why, it’s Ricki. And she’s got the book! Handing it over to Ace, he presents it to Bob….who had the bonds all along! (Bob found them in the book when they were in Mexico.)

The final scene is a back screen projection at LAUPT (Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal). The stainless steel, Budd-built observation car is most likely on a Santa Fe Railway passenger train such as the San Diegan or El Capitan. I can’t quite read the drumhead, so again I’m not sure.

Here’s what IMDb has to say about Two Smart People:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039055/

If you have ANY information about this movie you’d like to share, please contact me at: Lindsay.Korst@gmail.com, or leave a comment.  Thanks and enjoy the blog!

THE END