Like Hitchcock's "Blackmail" that came out the same year, this film has a silent opening sequence and seems to have begun as a silent picture before adapting the new technology after production began. This film doesn't merge the two quite as well, however. Blackmail's opening sequence filmed without dialogue comes across as an opening vignette intended to be silent, then the speaking comes when the story moves elsewhere (though it was in fact only after filming began that they switched, and then overdubbed the speaking parts). In this film the speaking was not overdubbed but seems to begin at an arbitrary point in the story.

While the plot is a bit thin and predictable, it is very well made, particularly the sequences on and of the train, the famous Flying Scotsman that runs from Edinburgh to London.

The tacked on love story angle is the weakest aspect, but the vengeful former engineer bent on getting even for being "wronged" is the strength of the movie and its momentum. Like Buster Keaton's "The General," they film and perform the stunts on the actual moving train and not with a filmed background, and some of the stunts are daring and impressive.

While the love story won't keep you interested, if you like well filmed thrillers and trains, this movie is good, though far from great.

The fireman of the fabled British train The Flying Scotsman gets reported by the engineer for being drunk on the job and he's given the sack as they would say in the UK. In the USA he'd be picking out a weapon of choice and going back to his job to start a massacre. But over there, being the civilized folks they are all he's going to do is wreck the train in vengeance while it's on it's run from London to Edinburgh.

Two things The Flying Scotsman is known for. The first is some very daring stunt work done on the train itself. The second is for the presence of young Raymond Milland in the role of the young engineer in love with the old engineer's daughter. It was only Milland's second film and there are certainly traces of the amiable light leading man he was throughout the Thirties in Hollywood.

The film was started while films were silent and midpoint in the story the players start to speak. Though it doesn't add or detract from the story in a dramatic sense and it isn't done with any sense of style as Blackmail was by Alfred Hitchcock, it makes far better sense than say the first sound version of Showboat where in certain scenes the players just speak and go silent without rhyme or reason.

The Flying Scotsman is a curious antique good for those who love old trains and old films.

I know this fascinating movie deserves only a five or a six, but I give it seven out of ten because of its added interest for train buffs. Yes, the movie was actually filmed aboard the famous express train of the title, and would you believe the actors all perform their own thrilling stunts? It was also fascinating to see Ray Milland in a leading role before he had perfected his on-screen image. Also interesting to find comedian, Moore Marriott, in a straight role. The girl, Pauline Johnson, was good to see too, although her career was virtually over at this point. And this was the last of only three movie appearances for stage actor, Alex Hurley, who does such incredible work here as the villain of the piece. Available on a very good FilmRise DVD. Take no notice of the claim that the DVD is in color. It isn't!