How sad is this?

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

"Murder In The Private Car" tries to combine three different genres: mystery, comedy, and action. It succeeds only at one - action. The last 10 minutes are a pretty spectacular ride on a runaway train car. On the other hand, the mystery never really builds any interest, and the comedy never really brings any laughs. Charlie Ruggles tries hard, but his lines are simply not funny. Una Merkel is a sheer joy to watch, but she is also sabotaged by the script. Even an escaped gorilla drops in, all for naught. And the less said about the humiliating role of the black comic relief guy, the better. On the whole, a weak film whose only part really worth seeing are the last 10 minutes. ** out of 4.

In the 1930s-40s, Hollywood made approximately 3045203540 B-detective films (give or take 1 or 2). And, as I have apparently seen most of them, they all start to blend together after a while. Because of this I was actually pretty relieved to see that this one is different--not necessarily that great but at least different.The film itself is about two ladies who are on a train to go see one of the women's father--who she has never met. Apparently she's a long-lost heiress and doesn't know it. Unfortunately, she is also unknowingly being used as bait to get to the millionaire--as some crazy person wants to kill him. And, being crazy AND histrionic, he's come up with a very complicated and strange way to exact revenge.The first really odd thing is the detective. Charlie Ruggles is about as unlike the typical detective as you find--small, a bit git goofy, and possibly a bit crazy. So, when he DOES act, it comes as a surprise--especially when he becomes a bit of an action hero! Second, although it's pretty obvious they were using a lot of camera tricks, the end of the film is unusually action-packed for a mystery. Third, the plot is a lot like what you might find in an over the top movie serial--especially with such gimmicks as the sliding steel plates and voice of doom when the killer confronts the millionaire--it's goofy but highly entertaining In fact, it's easy to admit that the film is pretty silly but somehow different enough to keep your interest.By the way, talk about dehumanizing! Fred Toones (a black actor) is simply listed here as 'Snowflake' in the credits--as he was often credited in films. This appellation is a sad commentary on the times in which the film was made.

One thing you can say for sure, it certainly is not a rip-off of "The Thin Man" or any other big budget murder mystery of its time.The scene opens on two switchboard operators busy at work at an investment firm - Ruth Raymond and Georgia Latham (Mary Carlisle and Una Merkel). One day an investigator informs Ruth that she is the long lost daughter of a wealthy man. She is to be whisked away via a private car to New York to meet her father. She asks her friend and coworker, Georgia, to come along too, and thus the adventure begins.Onboard the train the bodies start piling up, there is a mysterious invisible voice telling Ruth she has only hours to live, and there are doubts raised as to whether or not she is the long lost daughter of the wealthy man in the first place. Along for the ride is the long-time boyfriend of Ruth, as well as a goofy fellow, Godfrey Scott (Charles Ruggles), who has taken a shine to Georgia before all of this mystery began and appointed himself investigator of the case. There are escaped primates in assorted sizes and also a plot device that reminds me of the "Wild Wild West" TV show.Ruggles' act can get tiresome depending on how big a dose is injected into a particular movie, but there is so much going on here that I really didn't think him more of a hindrance than a help, plus the building relationship between himself and Merkel's character is adorable. I'd recommend it if you're in the mood for a rather offbeat film that is certainly very atypical output for MGM of the period.

I watched this one mostly to see Charlie Ruggles and Una Merkel, two of my favorites.The plot has many a twist and turn -- it's not bad as a straight mystery aboard a train.But why throw in a circus train wreck and an escaped gorilla? I can mention this without it being a "spoiler" because the circus train wreck and the gorilla have nothing to do with the intricate mystery plot.The bad person trying to kill the good people has many tricks up his sleeve, but the circus train wreck was purely coincidental. It allows for a single scene with a menacing gorilla, but then it's back to the murder mystery!