In most ways, "Station West" plays like a B-western...which happens to have an A, or perhaps A- cast. It also reminds me of another Dick Powell film, "Murder My Sweet" (1944)...though instead of Powell playing a cynical and mouthy detective he plays a cynical and mouthy detective...in the old west.

When the film begins, undercover agent 'Haven' arrives in town and his cover is that of a hard-bitten jerk. Soon he picks a fight with the biggest and meanest guy in town...and after besting him, he's given entree into the local gang. And what sort of mischief is the gang up to? They're behind gold robberies...robbing not only the stage but the US Cavalry, when they killed two soldiers.

This movie has most things you'd see in a B, though I really liked seeing Powell in the lead instead of the usual B heros such as Roy Rogers or Hopaling Cassidy. On hand to support him are the likes of Jane Greer, Agnes Morehead and Burl Ives. Nothing really that special here, but a very good western with a very exciting leading man.

Two US cavalrymen transporting gold are killed. Army Intelligence investigator John Haven (Dick Powell) goes undercover to find the murderers. Local saloon singer Charlie (Jane Greer) catches his eye and secretly has her hands in nefarious activities. Her lawyer Mark Bristow (Raymond Burr) is heavily in debt. Mrs. Caslon (Agnes Moorehead) owns the gold mine.

I don't think robber Joe would let Haven live. Those robbers have already killed plenty and non of them would let a man live to tell the tale. In order for that section to work, Haven should not be on the gold transport. He could be following from a distance and then catch up to Joe heavily laden with gold. While I like the general premise, some of the plot is deficient. It may even work better if Haven is only revealed to be the good guy in the third act. That would be a nice twist. This is a solid western with a somewhat ambitious story. As for Dick Powell, I'm not sure if he fits the role. Haven should be more a heavy. He should fit comfortably as a henchman and yet be charismatic enough to be the lead.

In the Films of Dick Powell, it's pointed out that Powell had done a western only twice before in his musical period. Cowboy from Brooklyn and Riding High had modern western settings.

Only Station West was done during Powell's time as a noir star and he brings the genre west with him. Done in the obligatory black and white photography, Station West is a moody atmospheric thriller.

It's not a mystery because you pretty much know who the bad guys are early on. But it does show Powell's dogged determination to find out who committed a gold robbery in which two soldiers were killed while guarding the shipment.

Powell gets good support from Jane Greer as town saloon owner, Agnes Moorehead as a mine owner, and Raymond Burr as a shyster attorney. Burr is a revelation. Usually the villains he did before doing Perry Mason are pretty strong characters. He's quite the weakling here.

Powell never made another western feature film, but his Four Star Productions produced Zane Grey Theatre in the Fifties on television and Powell himself appeared in many of the half hour stories.