Western Union (1941)

80% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
57% of users liked it
(272 ratings)

20th Century-Fox's Western Union was loosely based on a story by Zane Grey. The basic historical facts behind the connecting of telegraph wires between Omaha and Salt Lake City serve as a backdrop for a fictional story straight out of Manhattan Melodrama. Randolph Scott and Barton MacLane are cast… More 20th Century-Fox's Western Union was loosely based on a story by Zane Grey. The basic historical facts behind the connecting of telegraph wires between Omaha and Salt Lake City serve as a backdrop for a fictional story straight out of Manhattan Melodrama. Randolph Scott and Barton MacLane are cast as brothers who pursue wildly divergent paths in adulthood: Scott, an ex-outlaw, goes to work for Western Union, while MacLane remains a criminal, leading a concerted effort to sabotage the telegraph company. The Indians, too often merely villains in films of this nature, are treated with relative sympathy. When they do attack the whites, it is principally because they have been falsely accused of crimes committed by MacLane and his bunch. Western Union was the second Technicolor western effort from director Fritz Lang; the first was the equally popular The Return of Frank James. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: Fritz Lang
Genres: Western, Classics

In Theaters: Feb 21, 1941 Wide

Critic Reviews

Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Things pick up in the dark final third; there's a famous -- very Langian -- scene in which Scott, tied up with rope, escapes by holding his bonds over a real fire.
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Fascinating if uneven Western
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Greatly satisfies.

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Cast

            Robert Young as Richard Blake

            Randolph Scott as Vance Shaw

            Dean Jagger as Edward Creighton

            Virginia Gilmore as Sue Creighton

            Barton MacLane as Jack Slade

            George "Slim" Summerville as Herman

            John Carradine as Doc Murdoch

            Chill Wills as Homer

            Russell Hicks as Governor

            Victor Kilian as Charlie

            Minor Watson as Pat Grogan

            George Chandler as Herb

            Chief Thundercloud as Indian Leader

            Dick Rich as Porky

            Charles B. Middleton as Stagecoach Rider

            Addison Richards as Capt. Harlow

            Irving Bacon as Barber

            Paul E. Burns
            
            Chief John Big Tree as Chief Spotted Horse

            Cliff Clark
            
            Ralph Dunn as Man

            James Flavin
            
            Vance Shaw
            
            Harry Strang as Henchman

            Eddy Waller as Stagecoach Driver

            Francis Ford as Stagecoach Driver

            Frank Mills
            
See full cast

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