Union Pacific [VHS]
starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea, Akim Tamiroff, Robert Preston, Lynne Overman
directed by: Cecil B. DeMille
directed by: Cecil B. DeMille
![Union Pacific [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511MX1F10GL._SL160_.jpg)
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"The legend of Union Pacific is the drama of a nation, young, tough, prodigal and invincible, conquering with an iron highroad the endless reaches of the West."This stemwinder of a foreword strikes the pseudo-biblical/American Empire keynote for Cecil B. DeMille's "history" of building the transcontinent railroad.Only the bombast--and Arthur Rosson's second-unit direction--rises to the film's epic mission.The mustache-twirling villainy is right out of 19th-century melodrama, and the romantic triangle of Joel McCrea's railroad troubleshooter, Barbara Stanwyck's aggressively "Oirish" postmistress-on-wheels, and their black-sheep chum played by newcomer Robert Preston is a feeble distraction.Worse, the stars do their stuff on studio sets, in sterile isolation from the locomotives, Indians, and buffalo hovering slightly out of scale on process screens behind them.There's not one but two train wrecks (always a DeMille favorite); in every other department, John Ford had C.B. beat 15 years earlier with The Iron Horse.--Richard T. Jameson
"The legend of Union Pacific is the drama of a nation, young, tough, prodigal and invincible, conquering with an iron highroad the endless reaches of the West."This stemwinder of a foreword strikes the pseudo-biblical/American Empire keynote for Cecil B. DeMille's "history" of building the transcontinent railroad.Only the bombast--and Arthur Rosson's second-unit direction--rises to the film's epic mission.The mustache-twirling villainy is right out of 19th-century melodrama, and the romantic triangle of Joel McCrea's railroad troubleshooter, Barbara Stanwyck's aggressively "Oirish" postmistress-on-wheels, and their black-sheep chum played by newcomer Robert Preston is a feeble distraction.Worse, the stars do their stuff on studio sets, in sterile isolation from the locomotives, Indians, and buffalo hovering slightly out of scale on process screens behind them.There's not one but two train wrecks (always a DeMille favorite); in every other department, John Ford had C.B. beat 15 years earlier with The Iron Horse.--Richard T. Jameson
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- "Me heart's still shakin' on me back teeth," chirps Barbara Stanwyck, courtesy of Cecil B. DeMille
What was it that Cecil B. DeMille gave to his movies? Well, how about sentimentality as thick as mashed potatoes, florid exposition, corny humor, American patriotism on a platter, shameless death scenes, ethnic stereotypes, casual and condescending racism, hypocritical bible thumping, leering sex, truly hairy beards and mustaches, ponderous oratory and the kind of obviously manipulative situations that can turn even the best actors into mannequins. Did I leave anything out?
But DeMille ... Read More
Rating: - The film is undoubtedly great fun although perhaps embarrassingly patriotic...
DeMille's railroading epic owed a debt or two to Ford... He was obviously influenced by "The Iron Horse"(1924) and there are some sequences which seem more than derivative--in fact, they are remarkably similar... But it was a film that nevertheless deserved the warm reception that it got...
Here was Joel McCrea in fine form with something more worthy of his talents... McCrea played a trouble-shooter whose task was to keep the transcontinental project moving... Barbara Stanwyck played opposite ... Read More
Rating: 
- Union Pacific
Well, it must be a good movie, since I never forgot what I have seen when I was 11. This movie was one of the first we got to watch in Bavaria, after the war. I am a little older now, but would like to see it again, mayby in the original, why not? Johannes.
Rating: - This is the "Must Have" Classic for all true Railroad Buffs...
I had always thought I was a Kathryn Hepburn fan, but Barbara Stanwyck can sling a line or two also!Her Irish brogue is truly delightful. Joel McCrea does a fine job also, but is a bit wooden at times.
Great acting and directing, and a story line that was very well done for the period in which it was written.
However, the Union Pacific tries mightily to steal as many scenes as possible, and often does so quite handily.The track laying scenes are very instructive, with wonderful ... Read More
Rating: - Classic DeMille Potboiler Epic
My favorite western of 1939, with apologies to Cooper, Wayne, Fonda and Power. Joel McCrea is serviceable as the hero, but Cooper or any of the others above would have made a much better romantic partner-in-the- wings for Barbara Stanwyck, who was perfect for her role. Yes, the plot sounds a little screwy, maybe there's too much flagwaving and stereotyped characters, but still you've got a whole trainload of memorable characters, a variety of action sequences and a complicated romantic dance involving Stanwyck ... Read More
- "Me heart's still shakin' on me back teeth," chirps Barbara Stanwyck, courtesy of Cecil B. DeMilleWhat was it that Cecil B. DeMille gave to his movies? Well, how about sentimentality as thick as mashed potatoes, florid exposition, corny humor, American patriotism on a platter, shameless death scenes, ethnic stereotypes, casual and condescending racism, hypocritical bible thumping, leering sex, truly hairy beards and mustaches, ponderous oratory and the kind of obviously manipulative situations that can turn even the best actors into mannequins. Did I leave anything out?
But DeMille ... Read More
- The film is undoubtedly great fun although perhaps embarrassingly patriotic...DeMille's railroading epic owed a debt or two to Ford... He was obviously influenced by "The Iron Horse"(1924) and there are some sequences which seem more than derivative--in fact, they are remarkably similar... But it was a film that nevertheless deserved the warm reception that it got...
Here was Joel McCrea in fine form with something more worthy of his talents... McCrea played a trouble-shooter whose task was to keep the transcontinental project moving... Barbara Stanwyck played opposite ... Read More
- Union PacificWell, it must be a good movie, since I never forgot what I have seen when I was 11. This movie was one of the first we got to watch in Bavaria, after the war. I am a little older now, but would like to see it again, mayby in the original, why not? Johannes.
- This is the "Must Have" Classic for all true Railroad Buffs...I had always thought I was a Kathryn Hepburn fan, but Barbara Stanwyck can sling a line or two also!Her Irish brogue is truly delightful. Joel McCrea does a fine job also, but is a bit wooden at times.
Great acting and directing, and a story line that was very well done for the period in which it was written.
However, the Union Pacific tries mightily to steal as many scenes as possible, and often does so quite handily.The track laying scenes are very instructive, with wonderful ... Read More
- Classic DeMille Potboiler EpicMy favorite western of 1939, with apologies to Cooper, Wayne, Fonda and Power. Joel McCrea is serviceable as the hero, but Cooper or any of the others above would have made a much better romantic partner-in-the- wings for Barbara Stanwyck, who was perfect for her role. Yes, the plot sounds a little screwy, maybe there's too much flagwaving and stereotyped characters, but still you've got a whole trainload of memorable characters, a variety of action sequences and a complicated romantic dance involving Stanwyck ... Read More
