Western Union (1941) User Reviews

Top notch Western

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 8/10 · 18 April 2020]

Admittedly, you do have to get past some historical inaccuracies. But then again, this isn't a documentary. It's an entertainment film, and as such, it is far better than your average Western. And while historically somewhat inaccurate, my sense is that it gives one a feel for what a particular chapter in American life may have been like.

First off -- a great cast. This is certainly one of Robert Young's best roles, albeit we don't usually think of him as a Western star. Randolph Scott did often star in Westerns, and he is likable here. Dean Jagger -- always a fine actor, and just the right balance here in terms of being a businessman and a man of a somewhat enlightened West (although here is one of the historical inaccuracies -- his real-life character was relatively enlightened toward the American Indian, and here the treatment of American Indians is quite stereotypical). By the way -- this is Dean Jagger with hair! Virginia Gilmore is fine as the love interest and sister, however, she did not have a very productive film career. There are a number of traditional character actors here -- John Carradine, Barton MacLane (who never impresses me), Slim Summerville, Chill Wills, and one of my favorites -- Minor Watson (although in a different type of role than I am used to).

Also on the plus side, the director here is the highly respected Fritz Lang, and wonderful Technicolor, bringing out the beauty of the American West. And scale -- this is a "big" story and a "big" production. The forest fire late in the film is handled quite spectacularly for 1941!

To be honest, I can't find much here to complain about, and lots to like. Highly recommended, and the Kino Lorber Blu Ray is nearly pristine.

Colorful Western From Fritz lang.

[jpdoherty · 7/10 · 24 April 2009]

"Western Union" is something of a forgotten classic western! Perhaps the reason for this lies in the fact of its unavailability on DVD in the United States. However, all is not lost as it has now appeared on Region 2 in England. This - being a blessing in some ways - is not only incongruous but totally ironic when one considers that a movie depicting the founding and establishment of such a uniquely American organization as The Western Union Telegraph Company is without a Region 1 release. It beggars belief! It simply doesn't make sense!

Produced by Fox in 1941 "Western Union" was directed by Fritz Lang. This was only the second occasion the great German director undertook to direct a western! He had done an excellent job the year before with Fox's "The Return Of Frank James" and would have only one more western outing in 1952 with the splendid "Rancho Notorious". Lang was no Ford or Hawks but with "Western Union" he turned in a fine solid western that holds up very well. Beautifully photographed in early three strip Technicolor by Edward Cronjager it boasted a good cast headed by Robert Young, Randolph Scott and Dean Jagger. The female lead is taken by Virginia Gilmore who really has little to do in the picture. An actress who never made anything of her career. Her presence here is merely cosmetic.

It is curious that Robert Young has top billing over Scott! It is clearly Scott's picture from the very beginning when we first see him in the film's terrific opening scene being chased by a posse across the plains. Young doesn't have much to do throughout the movie and seems out of place in a western. He just looks plain silly going up against Barton McLane in a gunfight! An actor who never really distinguished himself - except perhaps with "Crossfire" (1947)- Young appeared in a string of forgettable romantic comedies in the forties and fifties culminating with his greatest success when for seven years he was TV's "Marcus Welby MD" in the seventies. He died in 1998 at the age of 91.

"Western Union" recounts the connection by telegraph wire of Omaha and Salt Lake City. Scott plays a reformed outlaw hired by Western Union boss Dean Jagger to protect the line from marauding Sioux and to also take on McLane and his gang who are trying to destroy the line for their own devious ends. Robert Young is the young engineer from back east who joins the company and vies with Scott for the affections of Miss Gilmore. Some comic relief is provided by - and irritatingly so some would say - by Slim Summerville and John Carradine turns up in a meager role as the company doctor.

Altogether though a spanking good western, albeit on Region 2, but in sparkling good quality that fans will be delighted with. My only crib is that there are no extras, not even a trailer and that terrible cover with those dull graphics. UGH!

Footnote: Interestingly the associate producer on "Western Union" was Harry Joe Brown who later with Randolph Scott would create a partnership that would produce some of Scott's finest westerns in the fifties.

Epic treatment of construction of transcontinental telegraph line.

[weezeralfalfa · 8/10 · 21 March 2017]

Obviously intended to be an epic western, based on the Zane Gray novel of the same title. A rare, for the times, Technicolor western, it concerns the trials of the telegraph line construction crew in dealing with 2 sets of antagonists: 1)an outlaw gang working for the Confederacy, as well as for itself, often dressed as Indians 2) real Indians(Lakota Sioux), who sometimes object to the building of the line through what they consider their hunting grounds. In contrast, historically, construction apparently went smoothly, being completed in only 3 summer months. However, the line was constructed out of Chicago, instead of Missouri to hopefully avoid interference from Confederate sympathizers, and in the years after it was built, there was occasional sabotage by Native Americans. Also, strangely, historically, construction toward the east and west BEGAN, rather than ended, at Salt Lake City, not at Omaha, as dramatized. This is in contrast to the first transcontinental railway. This was a rudimentary single iron wire system. Near the end of the decade, a multi-wired system was constructed along the path of the transcontinental railway, presumably using the railway to haul equipment and provide shelter for the workmen, thus making construction much easier.

Robert Young was a curious choice as first-billed. Clearly, it's much more Randy Scott's picture. Perhaps this was because Young's character wasn't tainted with a history of outlawry, as was Scott's, and because he survives to the end of the film, whereas Scott's character doesn't. In any case, Young seemed rather out of place in a western, usually playing aristocratic urbane characters. Although Scott sometimes played urbane characters, mainly in the '30s, he was also a well-established western character. Dean Jagger, as Creighton, serves as the chief engineer and office boss, to Scott's main role as field boss and trouble shooter. Scott opens the film, a lone rider, with a posse on his tail some distance away, riding through a bison herd(looks dangerous), before discovering an injured Creighton, whom he helps get to a stage outpost to rest up.

Veteran comedian Slim Summerville serves as the unlucky and reluctant "Cookie", whose culinary efforts sometimes are destroyed by bumpy wagon rides, invading Indians, etc.. In an Indians attack, a stray bullet puts a hole in his pot of boiling water, spouting a leak that burns his hind side. Chill Wills and John Carridine are also sometimes present to add a bit of authenticity and humor. Virginia Gilmore serves as the romantic interest for both Scott and Young, humor included when they separately show up at the office where she is in the evening to do a bit of flirting, and find the other there. However, there's no hint of a serious romance developing, even at film's end. Young(or presumably his stuntman) also provides some humor when he wants to impress the westerners with his horse-handling skill in riding the worst bucking bronco in the town coral. He stays on for a wild ride around the coral, followed by a ride down the main street of Omaha, into and out of a saloon.

Scott's character is one of those ambiguous persons that the Hays Commission hated, who straddles the fence between the 'good' and 'bad' guys, trying to go straight, but bothered by his old outlaw buddies, who could spill the beans on his past to his employer. Scott spends most of the film reluctantly deflecting blame from them for vanishing cattle or horses or unexplained fires and "Indian" attacks. But finally, he, as well as Creighton, has had enough, and he goes gunning for the outlaws, including his brother, who is the leader. This episode is the finale of the film.

This film was released just 2 years after Cecil DeMille's related epic film "Union Pacific", which is based on the building of the first transcontinental railroad, which occurred a few years after the building of this telegraph system. Of course, this project took years, instead of a few summer months, to finish. Sometimes, these two films get confused in people's minds because of the rather similar subject and common word "union" in their 2 word title. I think "Union Pacific" is the more interesting of the two.

Fine technicolor western deserves classic status...

[Doylenf · 15 April 2001]

Blazing early technicolor is an awesome ingredient of this fast-moving Fritz Lang western featuring Robert Young and Randolph Scott in one of their best cowboy epics. Basically the story of their rivalry for the affections of a girl (Virginia Gilmore), as well as a story of how the telegraph brought communication to the wilderness. Some inept comedy is the only spoiler in an otherwise straightforward telling of an interesting tale. Randolph Scott is excellent as the man with a past hired to protect Western Union from Indian attacks. Robert Young is perfect as the dapper surveyor from back East. This must have been great "Saturday afternoon at the Bijou" sort of fare for kids and the elders who simply wanted to enjoy a good old shoot 'em up western with cowboys and Indians. It's still enjoyable on that level--and you'll see some of the best early technicolor ever captured on film. Deserves more recognition as one of the best of its kind.

Entertaining western

[nnnn45089191 · 6/10 · 13 July 2006]

Fritz Lang's "Western Union" is a entertaining movie with good heroes in Randolph Scott,the strong and silent man trying to escape his outlaw past,Robert Young as the easterner trying to conform to the code of the wild west,and Dean Jagger as the determined boss of the Western Union gang.I think the acting honors go to Dean Jagger who is very good in his part. Randolph Scott found his prototype of western hero in this movie and would play variations of that type in westerns to come for the next two decades.The movie looks very good in early Technicolor. Barton MacLane makes a good villain.I enjoyed this western much,although I consider it pretty standard stuff.

Mistakes Cannot Always Be Corrected

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 23 January 2008]

While escaping from a heist of a bank, the outlaw Vance Shaw (Randolph Scott) helps Edward Creighton (Dean Jagger), the chief-engineer of the Western Union that is surveying the Wild West and had had an accident with a horse. In 1861, Vance regenerates and is hired to work for the Western Union with the team that is installing the poles and cable from Omaha to Salt Lake City. Vance and the engineer from Harvard Richard Blake (Robert Young) flirt with the gorgeous Edward's sister Sue Creighton (Virginia Gilmore) and she chooses Vance. However, his past haunts him when the outlaw Jack Slade (Barton MacLane) steals the Western Union cattle disguised of Indians.

"Western Union" is a good but predictable western directed by Fritz Lang. The story shows the difficulties of the brave and idealistic men responsible for installing the telegraph through the West, facing thieves and Indians. The entertaining story has action, drama, romance and funny situations, but with the exception of the identity of Jack Slade, there is no surprise in the story. Randolph Scott gives another magnificent performance with a great cast. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Os Conquistadores" ("The Conquerors")

pretty good western

[KyleFurr2 · 7/10 · 29 November 2005]

Hard to believe this was directed by Fritz Lang since he mostly directed crime dramas and mysteries. This movie has a cast that includes Robert Young, Randolph Scott, Dean Jagger and John Carradine. Scott plays an outlaw who tries to go straight and leave his old gang and winds up saving Jagger's life. Jagger works for Western Union, a telegraph company that plans to have telegraphs out west. Jagger hires a lot of men to make sure it is done because they have to worry about Indian attacks and bandits. Scott is in charge of the men and Young is a telegraph expert who can't shoot a gun but can ride. Scott meets up with his old gang who want to stop them but Scott can't tell anyone. It's a pretty good western and Lang should of directed some more westerns.

Adventures while setting up the telegraph line on the Great Plains

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 22 November 2020]

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

old western

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 23 November 2020]

Bank robber Vance Shaw (Randolph Scott) is being pursued by a posse. He rescues injured Western Union engineer Edward Creighton (Dean Jagger) and he loses the posse. Later, Creighton is laying down more cable and operating an expanding network. Vance is trying to go straight and gets a job at Western Union. With Civil War looming, the group faces many different challenges.

It has big visual of the big country. It has big action. It has color and is directed by legendary Fritz Lang. Based on a novel, the first half rambles around and the tension isn't able to build. The action keeps the movie going and the second half is an improvement. Now, the Indians are a drunken rabble and the definition of childlike savagery. The interesting take is that the villains are whites pretending to be Indians. It's all old school and a little muddled.

Historical and lavish Western involving stubborn promoters who carry out the telegraph route from Omaha to Salt Lake City

[ma-cortes · 8/10 · 8 April 2016]

A spectacular and mighty adventure during the Civil War when America's destiny rode in the saddle bags of adventurers and hard-working laborers installing the poles and cable . The ¨Western Union¨ feats were similarly developed to ¨Pony Express¨ that was a mail service delivering messages , newspapers , mail , and small packages from St. Joseph , Missouri , across the Great Plains , over the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada to Sacramento , California , by horseback , and hardy riders , using a series of relay stations and it reduced the time for messages . It became from April 3 , 1860, to October 1861 , the West's most direct means of east–west communication before the telegraph was established and being vital for tying the new state of California with the rest of the United States . Later on , ¨Pony Express¨ was replaced by the telegraph , and ¨Western Union¨ quickly became romanticized and became part of the lore of the American West . ¨Pony Express¨ , stagecoach and freight company ¨Wells Fargo¨ provided secure US mail service until the construction of telegraph lines proceeded by ¨Western Union¨. It was seen as evidence of rugged American individualism of the Frontier times . This movie concerns Vance Shaw (Randolph Scott) gives up outlawing , he meets Edward Creighton (Dean Jagger) who leads the construction of the Western Union to unite East with West ; the latter hires Vance and a tenderfoot Eastern surveyor as well as engineer from Harvard , Richard Blake (Robert Young) . Both of whom become romantically involved with the Edward's sister (Viginia Gilmore) . Meanwhile , some outlaws (Barton MacLane) attempting to prevent the company connecting the line and robbing the Western Union cattle masked of Indians Ogalaya .

This traditional Western of the founding of telegraph routes westward contains thrills , rousing action , frontier adventure , shootouts , Indian attacks and exuberant outdoors . This vintage epic Western turns out to be a throughly entertaining picture that will appeal to Western fans . Big budget Western by Darryl F Zanuck's 20th Century Fox , and even studio publicity noted that Fox contract star Henry Fonda -though uncredited- had served as technical adviser on the film, due to his experience as a young man working as a lineman . Dealing with the political machinations and fights that accompanied the construction of the glamorous ¨Western Union¨ route from Omaha , Nebraska , to Salt Lake City , Utah , in which brave riders battling hostile Indians , cutthroats attempting on robbing , firing , astute bandits and many other things . Screenwriter Robert Carson utilized the title , but not the screenplay , of a Zane Grey novel . The main protagonists result to known players , such as Randolph Scott as a Western reformed outlaw , Robert Young as an obstinate surveyor and Dean Jagger as manager . Support cast is frankly magnificent , such as : John Carradine , Chill Wills , Barton MacLane , Slim Summerville , Charles Middleton and the ordinary Indians : Chief John Big Tree , Chief Thundercloud , Iron Eyes Cody , Jay Silverheels .

The film displays a brilliant cinematography by expert cameraman Edward Cronjager in rich Technicolor . In addition , thrilling and evocative musical score by David Buttolph . The motion picture produced by Harry Joe Brown and Darryl F Zanuck was compellingly directed by Fritz Lang and with great enthusiasm . This was Lang's second Western , following his favorite ¨The return of Frank James¨ . The German Fritz showed himself a master of the most American of genres , yet made only one more Western : ¨Rancho Notorious¨. As Lang directed masterfully all kind of genres as Noir cinema as ¨Big heat¨ , ¨Scarlet Street¨ and ¨Beyond a reasonable doubt¨ , Epic as ¨Nibelungs¨, suspense as ¨Secret beyond the door¨ , ¨Clash by night¨ and Lang's trilogy about Nazi time as ¨Cloak and dagger¨, ¨Man hunt¨ and ¨Hangmen also die¨, and of course , Sci-Fi with the classic ¨Metropolis¨. Rating Western Union : Better than average . Well worth watching .

Very entertaining,....but FRITZ LANG?!?

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 12 January 2008]

This Western was set in 1861 and had to do with the creation of the first transcontinental wireless lines that were laid by Western Union. While nice guy Dean Jagger (sporting lots of hair) did his best to get this done, there was a bad guy just waiting to undo this for his own selfish reasons. So, it's up to either Randolph Scott or Robert Young to save the day.

This is certainly one of the better 1940s Westerns I have seen and it nearly garnered an 8--it was that good. However, for the life of me, I have no idea why Fritz Lang was assigned to direct this film--after all, he knew nothing about Westerns. His forte was drama--and I guess this movie is a drama of sorts--just set in the old West. Strange, yes, but it seemed to work out okay, though I wonder how this great German director felt about being given this job.

As for the rest of the film, it's exceptional--with vivid color, great location shooting and very good acting. As usual, Randolph Scott put in another relaxed and realistic performance. I was surprised, though, with Robert Young being also cast in the film, but it was a good casting decision--he was supposed to be a Harvard-educated Easterner. When I saw Barton MacLane was also in the film, I pretty much assumed he'd be the "baddie" and my thoughts were well founded, since he made a career out of playing jerks! As for the script, it seemed pretty ordinary for the most part, but the final showdown between Scott and Barton MacLane was a lot better than I'd hoped--making this movie ending on a very high note.

Best love triangle ever

[HotToastyRag · 8/10 · 17 March 2019]

This movie is so cute! Marketed as a western that chronicles the advent of the Western Union telegraph office and telephone lines, it doesn't exactly scream cute, but it is. Randolph Scott provides enough eye candy to turn any movie cute, but it's not just he who turns the film into an educational western into a feisty, flirty comedy-it's Robert Young, too.

Prior to this movie, I'd been known to not particularly like Robert Young, but this was one of the first to make me really change my mind about him. He's so adorable in this movie! Virginia Gilmore is the love interest, and while a young Dean Jagger is crossed off the list due to his brotherly relationship, she has to choose between Scottie and Robert. When Scottie comes in the picture, he's impossible to resist. He's handsome, he knows how to ride a horse-thanks to his WWI service days-and he's got a shady past. In short, he's a cow-bad-boy with an authentic Southern accent.

Then, Robert shows up. He's a total dandy, but absolutely adorable. He's smart, charming, and puts the fun in sarcasm. In his first scene, he meets Virginia and she taps out a message in Morse code in the telegraph office to her coworkers making fun of the well-dressed gentleman. Robert merely smirks and, completely devoid of smugness, corrects her spelling. "I don't know what you're talking about," she sniffs indignantly. "Yeah, but I know what you're talking about," he smiles. He's irresistible, too!

In my favorite scene, Robert pays a call on Virginia late in the evening. Scott has beaten him to the office, so he's not allowed any romantic time with her. She ends up sending them both away, and laughing, they realize-alongside the audience-that they can't help but like each other even though they're rivals. It's really impossible to choose between them.

The best place to be alone sometimes is in a crowd.

[hitchcockthelegend · 7/10 · 21 May 2011]

Western Union is directed by Fritz Lang and written by Robert Carson who adapts from the Zane Grey novel of the same name. It stars Robert Young, Randolph Scott, Dean Jagger, Barton MacLane and Virginia Gilmore. Music is by David Buttolph and R.H. Bassett, and cinematography by Edward Cronjager and Allen M. Davey. It's a Technicolor production out of 20th Century Fox and locations used for the shoot were House Rock Canyon, Arizona, and Kanab and Zion National Park in Utah. Plot finds Scott as outlaw Vance Shaw, who in an attempt to reform himself joins the company wiring the Great Plains for telegraph service in 1861. However, the Western Union is meeting resistance, from both the Native Americans and Vance's old gang, while there's also a love triangle forming between Vance, Sue Creighton (Gilmore) and tenderfoot Richard Blake (Young). It's all going to come to a head...

Fritz Lang's second Western after The Return of Frank James (1940), Western Union is at times exciting, always brisk, but lacking a claustrophobic edge so befitting the director's trade marks. Which is surprising considering this was the one Western he had the most control over. But with an almost patriotic fervour pulsing throughout and the outdoor locations wonderfully utilised, it's a Western movie that's easy to revisit for further inspection. The final third takes the film down a darker road, where it lifts the film out of the conventional story rut, and Lang and Cronjager produce memorable scenes and camera work to seal the deal. Cast wise it's Scott who is the stand out, as the man trying to do good as his past closes in, and Jagger provides earthy appeal as Western Union boss man Edward Creighton. Gilmore is weak and Young, while adequate playing a tenderfoot, just never convinces as things get serious. Best to look at the minor support slots for acting value, where the likes of John Carradine, Slim Summerville and Chill Wills provide some quality. 7/10

Dodgy brother and sister union

[AAdaSC · 5/10 · 2 January 2015]

Randolph Scott (Vance) is an outlaw trying to make good. He abandons his old gang and finds a job working for the Western Union company under the lead of Dean Jagger (Creighton). Joining him in his new employment is new recruit Robert Young (Blake). Both take a shine to Virginia Gilmore (Sue) who works for the company. She is Jagger's sister. As they go about their work of setting up a telecommunication system across the land, they encounter hostility from Scott's old gang, headed by Barton MacLane (Jack). And the Indians don't seem too pleased about things either.

This film looks impressive in technicolour. It is definitely a bonus. The story is all rather humdrum, though. The only real interest in the first half of the film comes from the comedy sections between Scott and Young as they compete for the affections of Miss Gilmore. Hardly gripping. Talking of comedy, there is far too much with a special mention going to the very unfunny cook that is Slim Summerville (Herman).

In the second half of the film, we finally get some action sequences – including a very badly acted drunken Indian – but it's nothing that hasn't been seen before. Something of concern that kept revealing itself throughout the film was the incestuous relationship between Jagger and Gilmore. They needed to get a room!

Lang on Form

[FilmFlaneur · 13 March 2001]

While it doesn't quite reach the giddy heights of 'Rancho Notorious', Lang's Western is still an excellent example of his art within formulaic genres. Given his career history until he reached America in studio bound, mono films, it is a surprise that his Westerns were so successful in conventional terms. But they were. Even the least remarkable, 'The Return of Frank James' is worth a viewing. Like that film, here too the colour cinematography is glorious, the leads sympathetic, the story exciting and involving.

Many of Lang's characteristic themes are here: fate, guilt/innocence, crime, and cruelty amongst them. Western fans will relish the strong part given to veteran heavy Barton MacLane as Scott's brother Jack Slade (even though the resemblance is hardly striking) - the sneering MacLane's face in close up, daubed in war paint, is a real sight to behold, a highlight of the film..

More unusually for Lang is the use of a comic sub plot, as Herman the cook struggles against the vicissitudes of his employment. Even today this tale of woe remains amusing making one regret, perhaps, that the director didn't go down this route more often. Lightly handled, too, is the romance triangle. Scott and Young make an excellent pairing in this context, and again the scenes are lightly amusing. This sort of play is more reminiscent of another German emigre, Lubitsch, than the more severe Lang.

(SPOILER)

The most shocking incident in the film is undoubtedly the death of Vince Shaw at the hands of his brother. Even those, like myself, who have seen the film several times, still hope against memory that in fact Jack Slade meets his deserved end at the receiving end of his brother's bullets. To see Scott die on screen is profoundly upsettling, even though his demise is (as the Hollywood code demanded) avenged shortly afterwards by the grim Blake. But for long seconds, as the burly villain prods Scott's body, as Scott's flaxen hair flaps lifelessly, we feel that the world is really out of joint.

This death, both inevitable and feared, is a typical Lang touch - as Scott's character has been ultimately fighting against fate through the film. In fact much of the time we have been aware of a paradox, one which is at the heart of the story: Scott/Shaw is presented to us as a man of action and mystery. In fact his relationship to his brother paralyses him in every sphere, except that of love. The hand that grips around Sue's locket can easily remind one of the destiny that closes on men. Ultimately Vince Shaw is as much trapped in a hostile universe as is Herman the Cook, but his fall is much the greater.

Spectacular Technicolor Western!

[bsmith5552 · 7/10 · 27 December 2013]

"Western Union" as one might expect, is about the building of the Western Union telegraph line to the west. It takes place in 1861 at the out break of the American Civil War. In fact a note from Abraham Lincoln is read wishing the company good luck and expressing the need for coast to coast communication as soon as possible.

Outlaw on the run Vance Shaw (Randolph Scott) saves the life of surveyor Edward Creighton (Dean Jagger). Later, Vance goes to work for Western Union unaware that Creighton is now the boss. Creighton promises Shaw that their previous meeting will be kept confidential.Tenderfoot surveyor from the east Richard Blake (Robert Young) arrives on the scene. Both he and Shaw pursue Creighton's comely young sister Sue (Virginia Gilmore.

A group of renegades professing allegiance to the south and led by outlaw Jack Slade (Barton MacLane) begin raids on the Western Union camps stealing their horses and cattle. Vance goes after them and discovers that the gang doing the raiding are his former gang. Eventually this leads to a confrontation between Vance and Slade.

"Western Union" is directed by Fritz Lang who had a soft spot for American Westerns. He gives us plenty of action and color. There are encounters with a herd of buffalo, a Indian attack, a spectacular fire and a gunfight finale to enjoy. The Technicolor photography is breath taking showing long lines of telegraph poles stretched across the open prairie, a colorful town that has more than just the usual main street, an opening sequence showing Scott galloping through a herd of buffalo across the hills escaping a pursuing posse. Perhaps the most spectacular color sequence is the fire set to the camp by the renegades.

Scott is excellent as the man with a past as is Jagger (with hair) as the tough no nonsense boss. Robert Young though giving a competent performance seems to me to be miscast in a western setting. Others in the cast include John Carradine as the camp doctor, Slim Summerville along for comedy relief, as the camp cook and Chill Wills as Homer, one of the linemen. Chief Big Tree, Chief Thundercloud and Iron Eyes Cody appear in various Indian roles.

An under rated western to be sure.

Epic

[xredgarnetx · 7/10 · 11 March 2008]

WESTERN UNION tells in melodramatic fashion the stringing of telegraph lines between two points out west. Siblings Dean Jagger and Virginia Gilmore work for Western Union, and Randolph Scott and Robert Young work for the Creightons. Indians and some bad white guys get in the way, but nothing can stop America's progress. This sense of manifest destiny is greatly enhanced by a first-rate musical score and vibrant color photography. Scott is a bank robber looking to mend his ways, and both he and engineer Young vie for the attention of the perky Gilmore. Lots of great character actors help keep the large production moving forward.

Colorful and interesting western.

[michaelRokeefe · 6/10 · 13 January 2001]

Director Fritz Lang uses scenic venues of the west as the backdrop for this interesting film. A bad guy (Randolph Scott)changes his ways by becoming a scout for Western Union. The telegraph company is beating their own deadline for installing the 'singing wire' from Omaha to Salt Lake City. Of course, Indians and bad guys try to cause trouble along the way.

Dean Jagger is the company's boss man and the beautiful Virginia Gilmore is his sister. Robert Young plays a New York tender foot that has signed on to work and is in competition with Scott for the affections of Gilmore. Chill Wills does what he usually does...cooks and provides comic relief.

Just a average mainstream movie aimed to be popular

[Gloede_The_Saint · 6/10 · 22 January 2009]

Fair to say I didn't like it much as some other people. It was just too common. This was all things you have seen before and not done too well either. It's the classic nice guys walk around jolly and laugh at a lot with some silly humor thrown in here and there and a bit of shooting and of course the obligatory ending you knew from the start.

Very poor and stagy acting. Rather common for a lot of 30's and 40's films but still. The plot jumps all around and there's next to no build up. Something is thrown out, then it's resolved or forgotten. Also all these characters have been in so many films before and after that it's rather sad.

It had a few good scenes though, love the magic wire scene with the Indians. Some of the "oh so cute, lol" scenes are enjoyable of course and of course Lang isn't a bad director so he did manage to pull it together, BUT this is by far his worst film IMO. from me.

Pls confirm year movie was made

[mckenziemike-96662 · 6/10 · 6 October 2019]

I have seen the year listed as 1941 here. Today I watched the movie and the listing stated 1948.

Given the actors' age appearances, I'd guess the later date. Can anyone sort this out?

Mike

"I hate to part company but it's you or me"

[boscofl · 8/10 · 17 May 2021]

1940 was a pretty good year for Randolph Scott as he was given meaty roles in two big budget Westerns: Virginia City and Western Union. It is debatable as to which performance is superior (both are among his finest) but Western Union affords him the unique opportunity to portray a doomed outlaw who cannot escape his past. The film itself is entertaining albeit formulaic while boasting spectacular color photography and a stellar cast including Robert Young, Dean Jagger, and John Carradine.

The narrative weaves two tales together: the endeavor to lay the initial telegraph wire across hostile territory and the story of Vance Shaw (Scott), an outlaw attempting to go straight. He first rescues Western Union surveyor Edward Creighton from certain death in the wilderness and is rewarded by being offered a job with the company. As they string poles from Omaha to Salt Lake City the workers are beleaguered by Jack Slade (Barton MacLane) and his bandits who have a connection to Shaw. How they are linked precipitates the drama that unfolds and Shaw's loyalties are put to the test.

Directed by Fritz Lang the film is brilliantly lensed In Technicolor and boasts the requisite amount of both action and drama; all of which is prodded along by an energetic musical score. The movie is not without its drawbacks: it periodically bogs down with the slapstick comedy of Slim Summerville as the overwhelmed cook and the stock romantic triangle of Scott, Young, and Virginia Gilmore. Watchdogs of political correctness will no doubt take issue with the way the Native Americans are portrayed and there are some painfully poor rear projection shots. However, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Despite taking second billing to Robert Young this is Randolph Scott's film all the way. He is clearly the main character and every major development in the story hinges on his actions. Scott is brilliant in subtly conveying the tragedy of Vance Shaw and expertly demonstrates the mental struggle he endures while torn between his new life and his old outlaw ways. He even wins the heart of Miss Gilmore although he knows they can never be together. Ultimately a heartbreaking performance and easily one of Scott's best.

Robert Young is wasted as the tenderfoot surveyor who takes a backseat to Scott in all their scenes. He is eclipsed in screen time and importance not only by Scott but also Dean Jagger as the boss of the Western Union outfit. It is difficult to reconcile the youthful Jagger with the bald, useless drunk he played 15 years later in Bad Day at Black Rock but that should speak to his adeptness as a performer. He is both dynamic and commanding here. Beautiful Virginia Gilmore is delightful as his sister Sue and enlivens a role that could easily have been forgettable; it is a shame Miss Gilmore's career never amounted to much. As the villain of the piece Barton MacLane delivers his trademark nastiness while reliable John Carradine is a breath of fresh air in his limited opportunities as the company doctor. The rest of the cast is peppered with many familiar faces including a very young Chill Wills.

Breezing through at a rapid 95 minutes Western Union is certainly an entertaining, eventful film that is a must for fans of Randolph Scott. It is wonderful to see him surrounded by top production values, a distinguished cast, famous director, and given a terrific character to play. For an actor who epitomized the Western hero it is a treat to witness his particular skill set on display to such advantage.

Good entertainment

[Philipp_Flersheim · 7/10 · 11 April 2022]

Fritz Lang was as prolific as he was versatile: He directed fantasy films (Die Nibelungen, 1924), scifis (Metropolis, 1927; Frau im Mond, 1929) and a large number of thrillers and noir films, which is probably the genre for which he is remembered best. A western is unusual, but 'Western Union' still shows Lang's unmistakable style. The film is very well-acted, has excellent dialogue and is beautifully photographed. There are some great scenes, for example the one where after having negotiated with the Sioux, Robert Young, Randolph Scott and Dean Jagger simultaneously draw their revolvers. There are also a couple of running gags that contribute to making 'Western Union' great entertainment: For example, watch out how Scott and Young try to meet Virginia Gilmore alone. In fact, the film is so entertaining that Slim Summerville as comic relief is not really necessary. I almost rated it 8 stars, but one thing held me back: the ending that involves a dramatic turn which comes so late that it feels incongruous with the rest of the film. Hence 7 stars. But 'Western Union' is still a highly entertaining film.

Grand Western with Lang's touches and there.

[theowinthrop · 8/10 · 18 October 2006]

I doubt if the real story of the development of Western Union would ever have gained a real audience. Instead of talking about the building of the telegraph system out west, it was the story of board rooms, dominated by one of the most interesting (and disliked) of the great "Robber Barons": Jay Gould. Gould picked up the struggling company and turned it into a communication giant - and part of his attempt at a national railway system to rival Vanderbilt's. But this, while interesting, is not as exciting as the story of the laying of the telegraph lines themselves. At least, that is how audiences would see it. Jay Gould died in 1892. Had he lived into the modern era, and invested in Hollywood, he probably would have agreed to that assessment too.

The film deals with how the laying of the telegraph system is endangered by Indians, spurred on by one Jack Slade (Barton MacLane). Slade, a desperado, is not happy with the development of a communication system that will certainly put a crimp in his abilities to evade the police in the territories. He is confronted by the man in charge of the laying of the telegraph wires, Edward Creighton (Dean Jagger), Creighton's associate Richard Blake (Robert Young), and a quasi-lawman Vance Shaw (Randolph Scott), who is Slade's brother. Blake, an Easterner with little understanding of the West, is romancing Creighton's sister Sue (Virginia Gilmore), but finds it hard to get used to his new surroundings. But he does become a close friend of Shaw, especially in trying to confront Slade.

Slade was a real Western criminal, by the way, and the subject of a section of Mark Twain's ROUGHING IT. He was hanged in the 1870s. But he did not have any involvement in stirring up Indians against railroads or telegraph companies. However, MacLane makes him a memorably evil, and totally vicious type. His killing of one of the major characters is done suddenly and from behind - and he views the corpse as though he has just got rid of an annoyance. But Lang is responsible for that, as well as other touches. Look at the sequence with Chill Wills, where he is on a telegraph pole repairing it. He spits tobacco juice several times while talking to Young, who gets a little splattered. Then there is an Indian attack which we watch from the ground level. At the conclusion, Young suddenly gets splattered again, but it's not brown but red that covers him. He looks up at the pole's top, and there is Wills with an Indian arrow through him.

It is an exciting film to watch, and well worth catching.

Western Union

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 16 April 2023]

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.

Bit of Movie Trivia

[hugedeal · 27 August 2005]

A good part of this movie was shot on location in southern Utah. When Fritz Lang arrived and saw the local Indians who were hired for the movie they were short stocky built people like many of the tribes in the southwestern area of the United States. This did not meet Langs idyllic picture of the tall thin and muscular Indian he had cultivated while he was still in Europe where he was already fascinated with the American west and its's western films. He promptly fired all of the local tribes people and had extras sent from central casting in Hollywood, most of whom were Anglo, to meet his view of Native Americans.