Cecil B DeMille goes for a sprawling would be epic with Union Pacific.
President Lincoln pushed ahead with the westward expansion of the railways after the civil war. After his death the investors of the Union Pacific want this to be Lincoln's legacy. However conniving baddie Asa Barrows hopes to profit by shortening the stock and placing obstructions.
Barrows has placed an inside man on the train to cause chaos if and when required. He is corrupt gambler Sid Campeau (Brian Donlevy) aided by associate Dick Allen (Robert Preston.) They get the workers drunk and hooked on gambling.
Dick has the hots for Molly Monahan (Barbara Stanwyck) who is working on the train.
The Union Pacific send in Jeff Butler (Joel McCrea) as a troubleshooter to make sure that the train is operating efficiently by cleaning up the gambling and the baddies.
Campeau knows that Jeff is trouble. However Dick is an old pal and a fellow war veteran of Jeff and is pleased to see him. Both Dick and Jeff have romantic sparks with Molly.
This is an overlong episodic film but the central premise never quiet gains momentum. Dick is being corrupted by Campeau and it is not long before Dick comes into conflict with Jeff when a wages roll is stolen.
The bromance turned into a rivalry over Molly should had been a stronger part of the story.
Preston is charming as a fledgling villain who ultimately values Molly more than greed. Donlevy is good as the slimy crook.
Stanwyck is the plucky Irish lass that men adore. I thought McCrea was solid but boring. He comes off worse compared to Preston and Stanwyck.
President Lincoln pushed ahead with the westward expansion of the railways after the civil war. After his death the investors of the Union Pacific want this to be Lincoln's legacy. However conniving baddie Asa Barrows hopes to profit by shortening the stock and placing obstructions.
Barrows has placed an inside man on the train to cause chaos if and when required. He is corrupt gambler Sid Campeau (Brian Donlevy) aided by associate Dick Allen (Robert Preston.) They get the workers drunk and hooked on gambling.
Dick has the hots for Molly Monahan (Barbara Stanwyck) who is working on the train.
The Union Pacific send in Jeff Butler (Joel McCrea) as a troubleshooter to make sure that the train is operating efficiently by cleaning up the gambling and the baddies.
Campeau knows that Jeff is trouble. However Dick is an old pal and a fellow war veteran of Jeff and is pleased to see him. Both Dick and Jeff have romantic sparks with Molly.
This is an overlong episodic film but the central premise never quiet gains momentum. Dick is being corrupted by Campeau and it is not long before Dick comes into conflict with Jeff when a wages roll is stolen.
The bromance turned into a rivalry over Molly should had been a stronger part of the story.
Preston is charming as a fledgling villain who ultimately values Molly more than greed. Donlevy is good as the slimy crook.
Stanwyck is the plucky Irish lass that men adore. I thought McCrea was solid but boring. He comes off worse compared to Preston and Stanwyck.