Canadian Pacific (1949)

A surveyor for the Canadian Pacific Railroad must fight fur trappers who oppose the building of the railroad by stirring up Indian rebellion.

Director:

Edwin L. Marin

Writers:

Jack DeWitt (story), Jack DeWitt

Stars:

Randolph Scott, Jane Wyatt, J. Carrol Naish

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Randolph Scott	...	Tom Andrews
Jane Wyatt	...	Dr. Edith Cabot
J. Carrol Naish	...	Dynamite Dawson
Victor Jory	...	Dirk Rourke
Nancy Olson	...	Cecille Gautier
Robert Barrat	...	Cornelius Van Horne
Walter Sande	...	Mike Brannigan
Don Haggerty	...	Cagle
Grandon Rhodes	...	Dr. Mason
Mary Kent	...	Mrs. Gautier
John Parrish	...	Mr. Gautier
John Hamilton	...	Pere Lacomb
Dick Wessel	...	Bailey (as Richard Wessel)
Howard Negley	...	Mallis

Storyline

After finding a vital pass through the Canadian Rockies for the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway, Tom Andrews tells his boss Cornelius Van Horne that he is resigning to marry the girl he loves, Cecille Gautier. From Cecille, Tom learns that fur trader Dirk Rourke fears the coming of the railroad because it threatens his hold on the Indians and other trappers. Tom and Rorke have a bitter fight over Cecille, and Tom asks her to wait for him, as he has to go back and finish his job with the railroad. Aided by Dynamite Dawson, Tom finds evidence of Rourke's work against the railroad construction and almost loses his life when Rourke fires into some crates of dynamite Tom is unloading. The construction camp's doctor, Edith Cabot, gives her own blood in a transfusion to save Tom's life. Cecille, realizing that her father is working with Rourke against the railroad,rides off to warn Tom. Rourke intercepts her and tells her that Tom is in love with the lady doctor, but she bullwhips ...

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Taglines:

A Land to be Conquered...A Love to be Won!

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Genres:

Adventure | History | Romance | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 1950 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

Corazones de acero

Filming Locations:

Banff, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nat Holt Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White (German version) Color (Cinecolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At about 25 minutes into the movie, Nancy Olson's character lifts her left arm and we can see the armpit of her white top is discolored. We didn't often see the evidence of "ladies" perspiration on their clothing in that era of filmmaking.

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Goofs

At the end of the film when the Indian's come into the camp they speak in their own language, which needs to be translated by the pastor. Yet when the pastor (who the leader of railroad gang is speaking to the Indian's through) explains the railroads decision to the Indian's he speaks English back to Indians; leaving us to wonder how the Indian's now understand English.

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Quotes

Dr. Edith Cabot: My father was killed, Mr. Andrews, because he tried to use a gun against a man instead of reasoning with him. If he hadn't worn a gun, he'd still be alive.
Tom Andrews: I'm sorry about your father. I've learned, though, that in this country if I draw faster, I keep living.

User Reviews

Fair Western, but not very accurate

In the opening of the film there is a scene of a modern steam-powered freight train leaving Calgary, and there the accuracy comes to an end. This film is supposed to be based on the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway, but it's pure Hollywood hokum. Nobody did their homework. There is the usual shoot-outs, gun battles, renegade Indians, "bad guys," sabotage, and the "romantic angle." None of these things happened during the building of the Canadian Pacific; the ever-present Mounties saw to it. In defense of the film it is a typical out-of-the-file story. Not good, but not that bad either. Randolph Scott is good (Randolph Scott was always good!) If you're looking for a Saturday-afternoon-matinée Western, this one will do. If you're looking for an accurate story of the building of the Canadian Pacific, forget it.