Railroaded!

Railroaded!

Year: 1947

Runtime: 72 mins

Language: English

Director: Anthony Mann

ThrillerCrimeDrama

The face of danger was the man she loved, drawing a beautician into a risky scheme. She and her crooked boyfriend plot to rob a bookie's back‑room operation, but the plan falls apart and they frame an innocent man, sparking a frantic struggle to prove his innocence.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Railroaded! (1947)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Railroaded! (1947). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

New York, Club Bombay, Clara Calhoun's beauty shop

The film unfolds in New York City, centered on Clara Calhoun's beauty shop that doubles as a front for illegal gambling. The action moves to the nightclub Club Bombay, a hub of crime and glamour, and then to locations like a doctor's residence and the river where a body is found. This urban setting provides a gritty backdrop for a web of deception, pursuit, and courtroom drama.

🗽 New York City 🎭 Nightlife 🧭 Crime front

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:24

Main Characters – Railroaded! (1947)

Meet the key characters of Railroaded! (1947), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Clara Calhoun (Jane Randolph)

A beautician who runs her shop as a front for illegal gambling. She becomes entangled in Martin’s scheme, grows distrustful as the case tightens, and is ultimately killed when the plan unravels. Her dual life highlights how close personal spaces can conceal criminal operations.

🧵 Front for crime 🕊️ Double life 🕵️‍♀️ Scheming

Steve Ryan (Ed Kelly)

The innocent-looking driver accused of the robbery. He claims he’s being framed by Kowalski and fights to clear his name, while proving his loyalty to his sister Rosie. His arrest underlines the film’s theme of mistaken guilt and investigative pressure.

🎭 Accused 🧭 Framing 🗝️ Trial

Duke Martin (John Ireland)

A ruthless robber who uses Calhoun’s shop as a cover for a larger criminal plan. He is skilled at manipulation, turning suspects against each other, and is ultimately confronted by law enforcement during a climactic showdown.

🧠 Mastermind 🗡️ Manipulation 🔫 Crime lord

Rosie Ryan (Sheila Ryan)

Steve Ryan’s sister, a determined ally who pleads for her brother’s release. Her pursuit of justice drags her into the criminal underworld and into uneasy interactions with Martin and Ferguson, ending with a personal moment of connection with the detective.

👩‍👧 Family loyalty 🕊️ Pursuit of truth 💘 Romance

Jackland Ainsworth (Roy Gordon)

Gambling boss who owns Club Bombay and becomes a focal point of the criminal network in the film. He is both a beneficiary and a target of the night’s violent events, maneuvering through suspicion and power.

💼 Club boss 🃏 Gambling 🏢 Nightlife

Marie Weston (Peggy Converse)

Calhoun’s assistant who witnesses the robbery and is drawn into the investigation’s web of evidence. Her testimony and presence help shape the case as it unfolds.

👁️ Witness 🗺️ Key clue 🕵️‍♀️ Involved

Detective Jim Chubb (Clancy Cooper)

One of the lead detectives pursuing the truth behind the robbery and frame-up. He scrutinizes Calhoun’s story, tests Kowalski’s identification, and grapples with the shifting charges against Steve Ryan.

🕵️‍♂️ Detective 🧭 Investigation 🗝️ Evidence

Captain MacTaggart (Charles D. Brown)

A police captain involved in coordinating the investigation and ensuring the case proceeds through official channels. He represents authority and the pressure to resolve a high-profile crime.

👮 Authority 🧭 Case management 🔎 Police

Detective Sergeant Mickey Ferguson (Hugh Beaumont)

A key detective who suspects Steve Ryan’s guilt but has doubts that drive the investigation. He becomes a central figure in the pursuit of truth and ultimately shares a climactic moment with Rosie.

🕵️‍♂️ Suspicion 🪪 Police procedure 💫 Climax

Beauty Salon Owner (Mira McKinney)

The owner of the beauty shop setting connected to the crime enterprise; she is part of the front that hides the illegal gambling and interacts with the main players as the plot evolves.

💄 Beauty industry 🕳️ Front for crime 🗝️ Hidden

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:24

Major Themes – Railroaded! (1947)

Explore the central themes of Railroaded! (1947), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️‍♀️ Investigation

Detectives Ferguson and Chubb navigate conflicting testimonies and shifting alibis as they search for the truth behind the robbery. The case becomes a test of evidence, inference, and perseverance in a city where appearances can mislead.

🃏 Deception

A beauty shop fronts a gambling operation, while masterminds manipulate witnesses to frame the innocent. The plot reveals how strategy, misdirection, and personal motives drive the crime and complicate justice.

💞 Loyalty

Rosie Ryan’s determination to save her brother tests family bonds and moral choices. The pursuit of truth intersects with personal risk, romance, and the emotional cost of seeking justice in a perilous underworld.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:24

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Noir Traps and Desperate Plots like in Railroaded!

Characters make one bad decision and become caught in a tightening web of deceit.If you enjoyed the high-stakes downward spiral of Railroaded!, discover more movies like it. This collection features classic film noir and neo-noir thrillers where a flawed plan pulls characters into a dangerous world of double-crosses and frantic struggles for survival.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a predictable yet compelling arc: a tempting opportunity arises, the initial plan fails spectacularly, and the characters are forced into increasingly drastic and dangerous actions to cover their tracks. The focus is on the cause-and-effect chain of poor decisions, often leading to a bleak or bittersweet resolution where survival comes at a great cost.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared narrative engine—a single bad decision that sets off an unstoppable chain of events. They share a tense, gritty mood, fast pacing driven by desperation, and a cynical view of fate where characters are ultimately punished for their ambition or greed.

Thrillers About Being Framed Like in Railroaded!

An innocent person is wrongfully accused and must clear their name against overwhelming odds.For fans of the wrongful accusation plot in Railroaded!, this list features similar movies where an innocent person is framed. Explore tense crime dramas and investigative thrillers about fighting a corrupt system and racing against time to prove one's innocence.

suspensefulanxiousparanoiddeterminedinvestigativevindicationwrongly accusedtense

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a sudden, unjust accusation that turns the protagonist's life upside down. They become amateur investigators, piecing together clues while evading both the law and the real criminals who set them up. The journey is one of persistence against a seemingly hopeless situation, culminating in a confrontation that exposes the true culprits.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by the powerful core theme of injustice and the compelling emotional journey of fighting to reclaim one's life. They generate tension through paranoia, high-stakes investigation, and the constant threat of being caught, creating a shared mood of anxiety and determined resilience.

Unlock the Full Story of Railroaded!

Don't stop at just watching — explore Railroaded! in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Railroaded! is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Railroaded! Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Railroaded!, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Railroaded! Summary

Railroaded! Timeline

Track the full timeline of Railroaded! with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Railroaded! Timeline

Railroaded! Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Railroaded! that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Railroaded! Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Railroaded!

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More About Railroaded!

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