Sleepers West

Sleepers West is a 1941 thriller film directed by Eugene Forde and starring Lloyd Nolan, Lynn Bari, and Mary Beth Hughes. Based on the novel of the same name by Frederick Nebel, the movie follows the story of Michael Shayne, a private detective who ends up being chased by dangerous criminals while trying to solve a murder case.

The plot begins with Michael Shayne (Lloyd Nolan), a hard-drinking private investigator, traveling on a cross-country train from San Francisco to New York. While on the train, he meets a mysterious woman named Nan Winston (Lynn Bari), who seems to be afraid of something or someone. Shayne becomes curious about her and tries to get close to her. When the train makes a stop, Nan runs off without saying goodbye, leaving Shayne puzzled.

Not long after that, Shayne is contacted by a man named Pagel (James Burke), who hires him to investigate a possible murder. Pagel claims that his brother, a scientist named Haggerty (Regis Toomey), has disappeared and that he suspects foul play. Shayne doesn't take the case very seriously at first, but when he finds out that Haggerty invented a new kind of explosive and that he was possibly planning to sell it to a foreign power, he realizes the seriousness of the situation.

Shayne goes to Haggerty's laboratory and starts questioning the scientists who worked with him. He soon discovers that Haggerty's assistant, a man named Hubbard (Edward Brophy), was involved in a criminal scheme to steal the explosive formula and sell it to foreign spies. When Shayne confronts Hubbard, he is attacked by him and knocked out.

When Shayne wakes up, he finds himself on a train heading to New York, handcuffed to the bed in a sleeping car. He realizes that he has been kidnapped by the criminals who are trying to get hold of the explosive formula. Shayne manages to escape from the train and makes his way to New York, where he contacts Nan Winston again. Nan, it turns out, is an undercover FBI agent who is working on the same case as Shayne. Together, they try to track down the criminals and prevent them from selling the explosive formula.

The rest of the movie is a tense game of cat and mouse, as Shayne and Nan try to stay one step ahead of the criminals. They are chased through the streets of New York, attacked in a hotel room, and pursued on a train. The action culminates in a final showdown on a bridge over the East River, where Shayne and the criminals face off in a deadly confrontation.

Sleepers West is a classic film noir that features all the elements of the genre: a tough, hard-boiled detective, a mysterious femme fatale, and a dangerous criminal underworld. Lloyd Nolan gives a strong performance as Michael Shayne, playing the character with a mixture of wit and toughness. Lynn Bari is also impressive as Nan Winston, bringing a sense of intelligence and strength to the role.

The movie’s pacing is brisk, with plenty of action and suspense to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The black and white cinematography adds to the film’s noirish atmosphere, with moody lighting and shadows creating a sense of danger and foreboding.

Overall, Sleepers West is a thrilling and entertaining movie that is sure to please fans of classic film noir. With a strong cast, a gripping plot, and plenty of action, it is a compelling example of the genre, and a must-see for anyone who enjoys a good detective story.