Broadway Limited
Date: 1941
Director: Gordon Douglas
Production Company: Hal Roach Studios
Stars: Victor McLaglen, Marjorie Woodworth, Dennis O'Keefe, Patsy Kelly, ZaSu Pitts, Leonid Kinskey, George E. Stone, Charles C.Wilson, John Sheehan, Edgare Alden, Sam McDaniel, J. Farrell McDonald, Gay Ellen Dakin
Location(s): Chicago (Ill), Harrisburg (PA), Pennsylvania (PA)
Region(s): N. America
Storyline:
Movie director Ivan Ivanski stages a publicity stunt, involving a borrowed baby, to promote further the career of actress April Tremaine. Unfortunately, this coincides with a publicised real baby kidnapping, leaving railroad engineer Mike Monohan caught in the middle.
Additional Information:
Screen Captures and text uploaded by Richard Lovejoy.
Essentially a studio based film with the action taking place on a railway journey between Chicago and New York run by the Pennsylvania Railroad that had the name Broadway Limited, hence the name of the film. Acknowledgement is given in the credits to the Pennsylvania Railroad for their cooperation in the making of the film.
This film was brought to my attention as a result of my addressing the film Fighting Mad that has used a number of scenes from this film. In this connection I would like to record here, my sincere thanks to the members of the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society (PRRTHS) who have provided invaluable information and detail with such readiness and support. In particular: Jack Schilling, Ken Briers, Jerry Vest, Bruce Smith, Pat McKinney and Rob McGonigal
The film is Produced by Hal Roach, who’s Studio were used. There is also a copy of the film on YouTube ‘presented’ by E.J. Fancey who Produced Fighting Mad. The opening sequence represented in Capture 1 commences earlier with the Roach print, and is largely represented by a still in the Fancey print before the train ‘takes the bend’ for both.
Discussion with regard to Capture 9 location can be viewed by clicking here.
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- Capture 1
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The excitement of the forthcoming train journey is presented by the PRR K4 locomotive No 3768 streamlined ‘Torpedo’ style about to take a gentle extended bend.
- Capture 2
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The opening location is established with a skyline view of Chicago.
- Capture 3
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This studio capture is included for the purpose of outlining the storyline in support of the capture text. Ivan Ivanski (Leonid Kinskey) is keen to promote April Tremaine (Marjorie Woodworth) still further in anticipation of her next film and even greater success…….she should have a baby. Arrangements are made by Patsy Riley (Patsy Kelly) secretary to Ivan, and Mike Monohan (Victor McLaglen) PRR train engineer, and ex-boyfriend of Patsy, to ‘borrow’ a baby for $500 in support the publicity stunt.
- Capture 4
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The Press are at Chicago Union Station to greet the party….with baby.
- Capture 5
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With the party aboard, the train leaves the station with Mike driving. Is this also Chicago Union?
- Capture 6
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The train pulls into Pennsylvania (Penn) Station in Pittsburgh with the locomotive facing east and where Mike leaves the train cab and becomes a passenger with a view to having a holiday in New York with Patsy. PRR K4 locomotive No 3768 streamlined ‘Torpedo’ style, with 5477 behind.
- Capture 7
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As the train travels into the night Mike enjoys the thrill of travelling in style. Unidentified location.
- Capture 8
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The newspapers on board report of stolen baby 'Piersen' of the same description as that part of the publicity stunt. A flood up the line, necessitating a change of engine provides an opportunity to leave the baby in a station.
- Capture 9
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Mike and RR Line Supt. Mulcahey (J. Farrell MacDonald) take on the challenge for the smaller ‘1600’ engine to haul the train up the gradient to come, they back into position to be coupled up. The streamlined K4s 3768 being replaced by D16sb 1223. Whilst the interesting location debate remains open it requires rather more space than is appropriate here, accordingly I have made it available via the link in the films Heading.
- Capture 10
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Meanwhile they find the baby back on board and in their care, with the police likely to board the train at Harrisburg (PA). Somewhere on the western part of the PRR ‘Middle Division’.
- Capture 11
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Tensions grow as the destination gets nearer. From the east end of the Rockville Bridge, Marysville, PA looking east.
- Capture 12
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In due course the train pulls into Harrisburg with Mike and Mulcahey duly pleased with themselves, but the police are waiting. The east end of Harrisburg Station, at the Mulberry Street bridge.
- Capture 13
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The baby is skilfully kept from the attention of the police and the train moves off now hauled by a shiny new GG1 (4904). The east end of Harrisburg Station, at the Mulberry Street bridge.
- Capture 14
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The train stops at Philadelphia, where the baby’s father took him back, and then carries on to its destination. Bob Hardwidge advises that this is Chicago Union Station, looking south or east as far as the Pennsylvania Railroad is concerned.
- Capture 15
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When the train eventually arrives in New York, it is made clear that the baby was not the kidnapped baby in the press, but a stunt that had benefitted all. Main characters l to r: Dr. Harvey North (Dennis O'Keefe), April Tremaine (Marjories Woodworth), Baby Piersen (Gay Ellen Dakin), Ivan Ivansky (Leonid Kinskey), Patsy Riley (Patsy Kelly), Mike Monohan (Victor McLaglen), Lefty (George E Stone). Studio shot for completeness.