CANADIAN PACIFIC
US, 1949, 95 minutes, Colour.
Randolph Scott, Jane Wyatt, J.. Carrol Naish, Victor Jory, Nancy Olson, Robert Barratt.
Directed by Edwin L.Marin.
This is a film about the building of the Canadian Pacific Railroad, crossing Canada from east to west. The initial difficulties are hinted at the beginning, the men on strike, the need for pay, the politicians discussing the feasibility of the project, the presence of the builder, Van Horne.
Randolph Scott, in one of the several films he made in 1949, a number of them with this director Edwin L.Marin, six of his final films were Randolph Scott Westerns before he died in 1952, portrays a surveyor, a western hero. two romances, one with Nancy Olson who was introduced in this film playing a country girl and with Jane Wyatt as a doctor working for the railway. Victor Jory, who had worked with Randolph Scott in the same year in Fighting Man of the Plains (not as a villain) is a baddie here.
The scenic photography is quite impressive, giving some indication of the difficulties for building the railroad.
In 1950, the film Broken Arrow with Jeff Chandler and James Stewart heralded a big change in attitude towards Native American Indians who were generally seen as the enemy and as inferior. This pervades much of the screenplay here – although, with hope, there is a brokering of peace at the end.
1. A picture of the Canadian Pacific rail and its building, difficulties, attacks? A fictitious story?
2. Colour photography, the Rockies, natural beauty? Action sequences? Musical score?
3. The boardroom, the difficulties in building the railway, possibilities of secession from British Columbia, the presence of Van Horne?
4. The role of Tom Andrews, surveying, exploring, being shot at? The hostility of Rourke towards the railway? Andrews and his meeting with Van Horne, the discussions, the surveyor’s map, his wanting to leave, his being employed? His work at the site, with the men, their respecting him? Progress? Difficulties?
5. His being attacked by Rourke’s men, the injuries, the initial encounter with Edith, as a doctor, her dislike of his using guns, getting to know him, his deeper self, tending his wounds? Romance? Her urging him not to take up his guns?
6. Cecile, the attraction towards Tom, life with her father, his siding with Rourke? Upset with his relationship with Edith? Her words to the Indians, siding with them? changing her mind, riding to warn Tom, participating in the siege, shooting, with Edith?
7. Edith, the doctors, working for the Canadian Pacific, the hospital carriage? The initial dislike of Tom, getting to know him, falling in love, urging a pacifist stance, the disappointment with Tom picking up his guns, the shootings, a commitment to nursing? Her not wanting him to confront the men, the Indians? The disappointment, consistency of principles, riding away at the end?
8. Rourke, his reasons for being against the railway, his colleagues, the violence, the meetings with the Indians, staring them up? The attack on the train? Setting the signal on fire, confronting Tom? The fire falling on him? Cecile’s father and his change of heart, joining Tom?
9. Dynamite, his work on the trains, friendship with Tom, his riding to warn the railroad? The confrontation with the Indians, their smoking the dynamite? The superior attitudes towards the Indians?
10. Van Horne, in real life, his ambitions, building the railway, achievement?
11. The presence of the priest, missionaries in Canada, his friendship with Tom, with the railroad, his presence at the end, the siege, and mediating peace
with the Indians?
12. A film of 1949, attitudes towards Native American Indians, belittling them, calling them treacherous, the episode with the dynamite and smoking? Some kind of reconciliation at the end?
