Kansas Pacific (1953)

With the Civil War about to begin, Southern saboteurs attack frontier railroad construction.

Director:

Ray Nazarro

Writer:

Daniel B. Ullman (adapted from his play)

Stars:

Sterling Hayden, Eve Miller, Barton MacLane

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Sterling Hayden	...	Capt. John Nelson
Eve Miller	...	Barbara Bruce
Barton MacLane	...	Cal Bruce
Harry Shannon	...	Smokestack, Train Engineer
Tom Fadden	...	Gus Gustavson, Train Fireman
Reed Hadley	...	Bill Quantrill
Douglas Fowley	...	Max Janus
Robert Keys	...	Lt. Sam Stanton (as Bob Keys)
Irving Bacon	...	Telegrapher Casey
Myron Healey	...	Morey
James Griffith	...	Joe Farley - Railroad Guard
Clayton Moore	...	Henchman Stone
Jonathan Hale	...	Railroad President Sherman Johnson

Storyline

Just before the Civil War (but after the South has seceded), Southern saboteurs try to prevent railroad construction from crossing Kansas to the frontier; army captain Nelson is sent out to oppose them. As the tracks push westward, Nelson must contend with increasingly violent sabotage, while trying to romance the foreman's pretty daughter Barbara.

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Plot Keywords:

civil war | army | sabotage | u.s. army | kansas | 

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Taglines:

Built by bullets, dynamite, and blood-stained spikes!

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Genres:

Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 February 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kansas Pazifik

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Allied Artists Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Cinecolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Though the film is set in late 1860/early 1861, firearms used in the film appear to be from 1870s and later. They include lever-action rifles and Peacemaker revolvers. These weapons use modern metallic cartridges. Most weapons of 1860 and 1861 were percussion arms.

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Quotes

Barbara Bruce: What's the sense in worrying about something that might not happen?
Cal Bruce: Well, if we worry enough maybe it won't happen.

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Connections

Featured in The Sierra Number 3 Locomotive: A Star Is Reborn (2012)

User Reviews

Straightforward Civil War Western with Good Action Sequences

"Kansas Pacific" is a dramatization of one of the types of confrontations that took place in the West during the Civil War. In an area where the residents had divided loyalties, a group of Southern sympathizers wants to prevent the completion of a railroad being built by the Union, so the Union Army sends in experts and eventually backs them up with strength. It's a decent Western, and it is also interesting as a fictional depiction of a little-known aspect of the Civil War era.

The story is straightforward, and the script and acting are fairly routine, though there are some familiar faces in the cast such as Sterling Hayden, Barton MacLane, and Clayton Moore.

The action sequences, especially towards the end, are done well and are the main reason to watch the movie. The period setting is convincing, the special effects during the battles are realistic and exciting, and there is also a decent musical score.

There should be plenty in "Kansas Pacific" for any Western fan to enjoy it, and you might also give it a try if you enjoy historical-based fiction.