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 (screenplay), Kenneth Gamet (screenplay)

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 ...

---

Plot Keywords:

damsel in distress | henchman | deception | canada | canadian | 

---

Taglines:

it's Terrific

---

Genres:

Adventure | History | Romance | Western

---

Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

It's the first Cinecolor film to use a post-exposure flashing technique to enable interior scenes to be shot with less light.

---

Goofs

The Métis people are often discussed, but their name is mispronounced in this film. It should be "MAY-tee", not "MET-is".

---

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

The Canadians Must Laugh At This One

The building of the Canadian Pacific railway was as much a milestone in the history of Canada as the transcontinental railroad in the United States of America. But the circumstances were so incredibly different the Canadians must have had a laugh and a half at this Hollywood story of one of the great events from their history.

The great challenge of the railroad was getting it through just that last stretch of mountains in British Columbia. The track went through a mountain trail known as Kicking Horse Pass and it was quite the engineering feat. That was the main story with the building of the Canadian Pacific.

But we have here is the plot of Union Pacific essentially brought under the Maple Leaf with villain Victor Jory stirring up the Indians to prevent the Canadian Pacific from getting through. Of course since he's up against chief engineer Randolph Scott, you know how this is going to come out.

Randy as was the case in a lot of his westerns has two girls to choose from, railroad brat Nancy Olson and Quaker doctor Jane Wyatt. I really think Wyatt was a bit ridiculous pushing her pacifist beliefs in the middle of the Indian attack at the climax.

On the plus side that Indian attack is one of the best I've ever seen in a western and you will be on the edge of your seat during the final shootout between Randolph Scott and Victor Jory. Also look for a good performance from the always dependable J. Carrol Naish as the locomotive engineer and Scott's sidekick. Also Dick Wessel as a murderous bartender is also quite good.

Too bad that this particular episode in Canadian history got Americanized though.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 1950 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

Canadian Pacific

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