Union Pacific | Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea

Union Pacific | Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea | Union Pacific

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Union Pacific

	Union Pacific Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea Universal Studios, 1995 average customer review:based on 9 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

"The legend of Union Pacific is the drama of a nation, young, tough, prodigal and invincible, conquering with an iron highroad the endless reaches of the West." This stemwinder of a foreword strikes the pseudo-biblical/American Empire keynote for Cecil B. DeMille's "history" of building the transcontinent railroad. Only the bombast--and Arthur Rosson's second-unit direction--rises to the film's epic mission. The mustache-twirling villainy is right out of 19th-century melodrama, and the romantic triangle of Joel McCrea's railroad troubleshooter, Barbara Stanwyck's aggressively "Oirish" postmistress-on-wheels, and their black-sheep chum played by newcomer Robert Preston is a feeble distraction. Worse, the stars do their stuff on studio sets, in sterile isolation from the locomotives, Indians, and buffalo hovering slightly out of scale on process screens behind them. There's not one but two train wrecks (always a DeMille favorite); in every other department, John Ford had C.B. beat 15 years earlier with The Iron Horse. --Richard T. Jameson

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An epic huge-scale western

I hate the way people look at a black and white classic film and automatically think that the movie has to be bad. People only see the poor special effects and the absense of color but never judge a book by it's cover. " Union Pacific " is has a great western backed by a terrific director, great actors, and a large scale plot. Definently a great movie and a true classic.

Union Pacific

Well, it must be a good movie, since I never forgot what I have seen when I was 11. This movie was one of the first we got to watch in Bavaria, after the war. I am a little older now, but would like to see it again, mayby in the original, why not? Johannes.

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Classic DeMille Potboiler Epic

My favorite western of 1939, with apologies to Cooper, Wayne, Fonda and Power. Joel McCrea is serviceable as the hero, but Cooper or any of the others above would have made a much better romantic partner-in-the- wings for Barbara Stanwyck, who was perfect for her role. Yes, the plot sounds a little screwy, maybe there's too much flagwaving and stereotyped characters, but still you've got a whole trainload of memorable characters, a variety of action sequences and a complicated romantic dance involving Stanwyck through most of this long film. Things never get dull, as there is a caboose full of villains who alternately take the stage for McCrea and his colorful bodyguards to deal with, often in a humorous fashion. Anthony Quinn did not like his role as a crooked layabout, hence refused to do another film for DeMille, his future father-in-law. Brian Donley is perfect as another devil incarnate. Robert Preston, whom I often confuse with Donlevy, has a more complicated role, trying to decide whose side he's on and who Stanwyck is actually in love with.

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This is the "Must Have" Classic for all true Railroad Buffs...

I had always thought I was a Kathryn Hepburn fan, but Barbara Stanwyck can sling a line or two also! Her Irish brogue is truly delightful. Joel McCrea does a fine job also, but is a bit wooden at times.

Great acting and directing, and a story line that was very well done for the period in which it was written.

However, the Union Pacific tries mightily to steal as many scenes as possible, and often does so quite handily. The track laying scenes are very instructive, with wonderful angles and creative photography. While I have never been an Uncle Pete fan, I knew my railroad library could never be complete without this Cecil B. De Mille classic.

This movie is truly a "must have" and I highly recommend it!

CHT in Virginia

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Carry Your Brains in Your Holster?...

This is artful entertainment; this is Cecil B. De Mille presenting an odd blend of celebration and deconstruction in his portrayal of the burgeoning American empire. Far-sighted statesmen and greedy corporate barons; vigilante "justice," racism, ridicule and praise for the durable Irish immigrants, a bolloxed love triangle, a spunky and noble Irish lass, a dissipated lover, a grim strong and silent type, a comic Mexican thug: De Mille's scriptwriters seem inspired to throw in as many elements to the plot as their imaginations allow; and the result isn't the mess you'd suspect but fascinating fun, some gripping action sequences, and a lovely story of confused love.

Barbara Stanwyck plays a guileful innocent, a warm-hearted dame better than both her suitors in her generous and wise understanding of human nature. Joel McCrea plays a super-stolid hero whose better part is realized by his attraction for Stanwyck's character; and Robert Preston is a flim-flam man, a gambler and crook whose love for Stanwyck's "Molly Monahan" redeems his otherwise unrepentent self.

De Mille plays this beguiling troika against the "canvas of history" and so personalizes the abstraction of history. John Ford's "Stagecoach," also released the same year, 1939, is more accomplished and its story more subtle, but not so much more. De Mille obviously enjoys his broad canvases, and his "history" tends to pompous pronouncement at times, but all history is biography for him, which means that -- just as with Ford -- the individual stories are what is important.

You'll like this movie: you'll love "Missy" Stanwyck, McCrea and Preston -- you'll even forgive its somewhat more than occasional moments of silliness.

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reviews: page 1, 2

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