Re: Old Movie - 'Night Passage' ...

Hi Doug! As you point out, it all begins with the script. You can have the best director, actors, and behind-the-camera talent and a bad script will sink the project. A good script can still survive and be turned into an OK film, even if the director, actors and other talent are lacking. Most of the elements are actually pretty good in "Night Passage." Jimmy Stewart's heart wasn't in the project after Anthony Mann pulled out as director, but a lackluster performance by Stewart is still better than any performance given by 95+ percent of the other actors working in Hollywood at the time. As for Mann's replacement as director, James Neilson, I felt his work was strong, given he walked into the project as shooting was beginning. I think, all in all, it is one of the better films done on the narrow gauge. As for the accordion, "Night Passage" is actually based on a novel that was purchased and adapted into the script for the film. In the novel, the character of Grant McLain plays an accordion and was picking up nickels and dimes playing it, so there was no modification to the script to accommodate Stewart. It is, however, likely that Stewart championed the project in the beginning because of the opportunity to play the accordion in a film.