20th Century Fox
Not part of a collection.
Western Union
A 20th Century-Fox Encore Hit !
When Edward Creighton leads the construction of the Western Union to unite East with West, he hires a Western reformed outlaw and a tenderfoot Eastern surveyor. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation in 2000.
- Original title
- Western Union
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- —
- Revenue
- —
CinemaSerf
Apr 16, 2023 · via TMDB
I wonder if Fritz Lang had these three imposed on him by the studio system or whether he chose them? Anyway, sadly the folks we have leading this interesting, pioneering, adventure don't really manage to raise the film from a rather procedural mediocrity - despite this being quite a fascinating story of determination and diplomacy. We start with "Shaw" (Randolph Scott) discovering the injured "Creighton" (Dean Jagger) whilst someone is being pursued by a posse. He helps the man to a nearby house where he abandons him to the well meaning folks who help him recover. It turns out that "Creighton" is a Western Union surveyor sent by the company to plan for the coming of the telegraph. Skip on a while and the two are reunited on the construction project, alongside the ostensibly more sophisticated "Blake" (Robert Young) with the two men soon vying for the affections of "Sue Creighton" (Virginia Gilmore) to bring a little (completely unnecessary) love triangle to this story. As the work proceeds, the men encounter hostiles, betrayal and even some subterfuge from aggrieved confederate soldiers - all whilst suspecting that "Slade" (Barton MacLane) is pulling the strings. The photography is impressive and the Zane Grey novel, like most of his work, is an exciting boys-own type of tale that adapts well to the screen with horse-chases, shoot-outs and a well shot conflagration at the end. It's just the actors. Scott is passable but the other two just don't cut it, I'm afraid. Pity, it could have been much better. As it is, it's still easy enough to watch, though.
Wuchak
Nov 22, 2020 · via TMDB
_**Adventures while setting up the telegraph line on the Great Plains**_ As the Civil War breaks out in 1861, a former outlaw (Randolph Scott) joins the team wiring what is now Nebraska and Wyoming for telegraph service. Dean Jagger plays the executive of the project while Robert Young is on hand as a “tenderfoot” from back East. Meanwhile Virginia Gilmore plays the potential romantic interest of the good-badman (Scott) and the heroic newcomer (Young). Directed by Fritz Lang and based on the Zane Grey book, "Western Union" (1941) was a pretty big Western in its day and effectively mixes intrigue, action, romance and comedy. While Barton MacLane’s villainy as Jack Slade is too silent movie-ish and the geography is disingenuous, this ranks with the better Western epics of its era. The color and cinematography are wonderful and the AmerIndians are depicted in a non-cheesy, authentic manner. The film runs 1 hour, 35 minutes, and was shot in Utah (Zion National Park & Kanab), Arizona (House Rock Canyon, Arizona) and 20th Century Fox Studios, Century City, Los Angeles. GRADE: B
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Robert Young
Richard Blake
Randolph Scott
Vance Shaw
Dean Jagger
Edward Creighton
Virginia Gilmore
Sue Creighton
John Carradine
Doc Murdoch
Chill Wills
Homer Kettle
Slim Summerville
Herman, called "Cookie"
Barton MacLane
Jack Slade
Russell Hicks
Provisional Governor
Victor Kilian
Charlie
Minor Watson
Pat Grogan
George Chandler
Herb
Chief John Big Tree
Chief Spotted Horse
Chief Thundercloud
Indian Leader
Dick Rich
Porky
Addison Richards
Captain Harlow
Irving Bacon
Barber
C.E. Anderson
Old Timer
Arthur Aylesworth
Woody
Hank Bell
Telegraph Worker
Paul E. Burns
Stagecoach Depot Master
Cliff Clark
Sheriff
Iron Eyes Cody
Indian Who Drinks Chemical Solution
Ralph Dunn
Work Seeker
Frank Ellis
Camp Defender
James Flavin
Deputy Sheriff
Francis Ford
Eastbound Stagecoach Driver
Sid Jordan
Posse Rider
Tom London
Slade Henchman #3
Kermit Maynard
Posse Rider
Frank McGrath
Posse Rider
Charles Middleton
Stagecoach Rider
Lucille Miller
Dancer
Frank Mills
Work Seeker
Jay Silverheels
Indian
Harry Strang
Henchman
Eddy Waller
Stagecoach Driver #1
Blackie Whiteford
Posse Rider
Edward Cronjager
Director of Photography
Travis Banton
Costume Design
Frank McGrath
Stunts
Sid Jordan
Stunts
Yakima Canutt
Stunts
Fritz Lang
Director
Lynn Shores
Second Unit Director
Darryl F. Zanuck
Executive Producer
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Feb 21, 1941
