KANSAS PACIFIC
US, 1953, 73 minutes, Colour.
Sterling Hayden, Eve Miller, Barton Mac Lane, Harry Shannon, Reed Hadley, Jonathan Hale. All
Directed by Ray Nazzaro.
This is an enjoyable railroad movie. It is the story of the development of the Kansas Pacific, especially in the years prior to the outbreak of the Civil War.
The film shows in some detail the building of the line and the hazards, especially in the midwest with Southern interests, later Confederate interests, sabotaging the line to prevent its use during the war.
Barton Mac Lane and Harry Shannon have good roles as the expert engineers. Eve Miller works on the site with her father – and, while ultimately she is attracted to the soldier sent out to supervise from Washington, this is not a romance and she is not a languishing heroine.
Sterling Hayden, always stern and upright in hero roles, is the engineer who is able to take command, challenge the saboteurs, prevent further destruction, continues the line.
Ray Nazzaro was an expert this kind of popular Western.
1. A railroad Western? The background of the railroads? Pre-Civil? War? The use of the railroad during the war? The politics? Rebellion?
2. The actual building of the railroad, Kansas and the tracks to Colorado? The details scenes of the building, the attacks, the sabotage, the role of the workers, their fears, wages, infiltration by the rebels?
3. The West, Kansas, the scenery, the rail camps, the towns and saloons? The musical score?
4. Cal, his expertise, working with Smokestack, the other men? Their achievement? The opposition to the railroad? Cal, memories of his wife, love for Barbara, her working with her father? The hold-up to the building of the railroad?
5. Washington, the military, the politicians, not wanting to start the Civil War? Summoning John Nelson? His commission? As engineer? Military background? Supervising but protecting the railroad? The strong character? His going to Kansas, in the town, defending Quantrill, the fight, his being observed?
6. Cal, wanting to go back east, his expertise, discussions with Smokestack, Smokestack deciding to stay? Barbara wanting to go back east? The first encounters with John Nelson? His being agreeable and Cal working with him? Barbara and her suspicions?
7. Quantrill, his men, trigger-happy, the attacks on the train, shooting, explosives, the later getting cannon? The motivations? Quantrill and his control?
8. The recruiting of the men, the hard work? Pay? The infiltrators? Their staging fights, holding up the work? The men wanting to quit? In town, Nelson and his strong stances, their going back to work? The military scout and his observations and saving the day?
9. Cal, the enthusiasm of his work, the train going through, being shot at, the death, Smokestack wounded? Nelson saving the train? The later attacks, the cannon, the destruction of the train, sending the next train through, changing the time, the disguise, the military? The attack on the cannon and the pursuit?
10. The success of the railroad? The importance for the Civil War? Cal and Smokestack and their achievement? Nelson and his work? The significance of Barbara and her being essential to the work, the Telegraph, in the film not having the token woman in the saloon and singing…?
11. The memories of the establishment of the American railroad system?
