Western Union
Western Union

Western Union

1941Movie95 minEnglish

When Edward Creighton leads the construction of the Western Union to unite East with West, he hires a Western reformed outlaw and a tenderfoot Eastern surveyor. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation in 2000.

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Insights

IMDb6.2/10
Director: Fritz LangGenres: Western, Adventure, Romance, Drama

Plot Summary

In 1860, a dedicated man is hired to lead the construction of the first transcontinental telegraph line across the American West. He faces numerous obstacles, including treacherous terrain, harsh weather, and violent opposition from those who seek to profit from the existing slow communication methods. As he battles these challenges, he also navigates personal relationships and moral dilemmas.

Critical Reception

Western Union was a commercially successful film that received generally positive reviews for its grand scope, exciting action sequences, and strong performances, particularly from its lead actors. It is considered a solid entry in the Western genre, notable for its depiction of a significant historical undertaking.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its epic scale and historical significance in depicting the telegraph's construction.
  • Commended for its action-packed sequences and solid performances by the cast.
  • Noted as a well-crafted, if somewhat conventional, Western from its era.

Google audience: Audience reviews often highlight the film's classic Western elements and the compelling narrative of building the telegraph line across challenging landscapes. Many appreciate the historical aspect and the performances.

Fun Fact

The film was one of 20th Century Fox's first major productions shot entirely in Technicolor.

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TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

I wonder if Fritz Lang had these three imposed on him by the studio system or whether he chose them? Anyway, sadly the folks we have leading this interesting, pioneering, adventure don't really manage to raise the film from a rather procedu...
Wuchak

Wuchak

_**Adventures while setting up the telegraph line on the Great Plains**_ As the Civil War breaks out in 1861, a former outlaw (Randolph Scott) joins the team wiring what is now Nebraska and Wyoming for telegraph service. Dean Jagger play...