Daily Archives: February 4, 2014

Union Pacific
Directed by Cecil B. DeMille
Written by Walter de Leon, C. Gardner Sullivan, Jesse Lasky et al
1939/USA
Paramount Pictures
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Monahan: That Jeff Butler doesn’t have all his brains in his holster.[/box]

As the Civil War draws to a close, Congress approves a transcontinental railroad.  A corrupt banker decides to bet against the Union Pacific being able to connect with the Central Pacific Railroad starting in California before the line reaches Ogden, Utah.  As insurance, he hires gambling hall operator Sid Campeau (Brian Donlevy) to keep the Union Pacific workers drunk and unproductive.  Campeau is assisted by Dick Allen (Robert Preston).  The railroad counters by hiring troubleshooter Jeff Butler (Joel McCrea).

At first, things appear rosy between Dick and Jeff as they were comrades in the army and Jeff saved Dick’s life during the war.  Soon, however, they are vying for the affections of Molly Monahan (Barbara Stanwyck), who with her father is delivering mail and operating the telegraph along the line.  The story proceeds to follow the love triangle and Jeff’s efforts to thwart the many dirty tricks played by Campeau’s men.  The ending of the railroad story is told by history.

I love Barbara Stanwyck and Joel McCrea and they and the other performers ensure that this, if a bit over-long, is entertaining.  Stanwyck’s Irish brogue is actually not too bad, although I doubt if it would convince an Irishman.  The FX with the trains are good.  I went in with some trepidation but I vastly preferred this to DeMille’s Roman and Biblical epics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfGyU2a59fc

Re-release trailer

Bulldog Drummond’s Bride
Directed by James P. Hogan
Written by Stuart Palmer and Garnett Weston from the novel Bulldog Drummond and the Oriental Mind by Herman C. McNeile (“Sapper”)
1939/USA
Paramount Pictures
First viewing/Streaming on Hulu Plus

[box] Tagline: HIS Greatest CASE…HIS TOUGHEST BATTLE WAS ON ITS WAY AS WEDDING BELLS WERE RINGING![/box]

The last installment in Paramount’s “Bulldog Drummond” series has plenty of action and some good performances.

The oft-jilted Phyllis (Heather Angel) has threatened to marry Drummond’s (John Howard) rival on the 11th if Drummond does not make her his wife on the 10th.  Just as Phyllis is about to leave to see her aunt in France, the couple witnesses a bank robbery.  The clever bank robber (Eduardo Cannelli) disguises himself as a painter and holes up in the apartment the Drummonds intend to set up housekeeping in.  The rest of the story sees Drummond confront the robber and a pursuit of the loot across the channel.  With regulars Reginald Denny and E.E. Clive as Algernon and Tenny and H.B. Warner replacing John Barrymore as Colonel Nielson.

This was one of the most fun entries in the series.  Eduardo Cannelli, always so good as an Italian gangster, is given a chance to ham it up when the robber fakes insanity.  H.B. Warner is absolutely perfect as the Colonel – it is hard to imagine anyone else in the role after seeing him.  Be prepared for some surprises!

The film is in the public domain and several full-length videos are available on YouTube.