Wed 23 Nov 2016
A Western Movie Review by Jonathan Lewis: CANADIAN PACIFIC (1949).
Posted by Steve under Reviews , Western movies[6] Comments
CANADIAN PACIFIC. 20th Century Fox, 1949. Randolph Scott, Jane Wyatt, J. Carrol Naish, Victor Jory, Nancy Olson. Director Edward L. Marin.
Directed by the prolific Edwin L. Marin, Canadian Pacific opens in semi-documentary form with the recounting of the political struggles involved in constructing the Canadian Pacific Railway. Then the movie quickly shifts into a rather mediocre frontier melodrama before settling into its natural rhythm. It ends up a slightly above average and surprisingly enjoyable, late 1940s shoot ’em up.
It goes without saying that absent Randolph Scott’s formidable screen presence, this rather staid Western wouldn’t have had much of a shelf life. But with Scott’s trademark grit and wit, combined with on screen character’s repartee with a sidekick portrayed by J. Carrol Naish, the film eventually grows upon the viewer. Dimitri Tiomkin’s rousing epic-like score likewise lends itself well to the film, providing it with momentum during some altogether formulaic scenes.
The plot. Scott portrays Tom Andrews, a surveyor who also doubles as a security guard for the railroad. After discovering a pass that would allow the railroad to continue all the way to the Pacific, Andrews quits the railroad life and returns to Calgary to visit his fiancée, the lovely Cecile Gautier (Nancy Olson). It’s there that he learns to what depths trading post owner Dirk Rourke (Victor Jory) is willing to sink in order to prevent the construction of the railroad through Alberta. Forced to choose between Cecile and the railroad, Andrews opts for the latter and heads back to help his former employer fend off Rourke and his Indian allies.
Aiding him in his efforts is Dynamite Dawson (Naish), a sidekick that could have just as easily been portrayed by Gabby Hayes. Andrews also has female help. After Andrews is injured in a dynamite explosion, Dr. Edith Cabot (Jane Wyatt) ends up tending to him. A physician who soon becomes romantically involved with her recovering patient, Cabot also has strident pacifist views and is charming enough to temporarily convince Andrews not to wear his gun belt.
But sometimes, good guys need a gun. Tom Andrews is no exception. So once again, Andrews is forced to choose between a woman and his loyalty to the railroad. Soon enough, Cecile is back by his side and they’re fighting Rourke and marauding Indian bucks. As melodrama gives way to action, Canadian Pacific revs up for a bit before winding down into a happy Hollywood bury-the-hatchet ending.
November 23rd, 2016 at 5:55 pm
You nailed the picture, but Randolph Scott is not a security guard, he is a trouble shooter. Foreman. Boss. I have security guards working around the place in which I live, and none of them are like Tom Andrews, or Randolph Scott.
November 23rd, 2016 at 8:37 pm
Your point is well taken re Randolph Scott’s role in this picture, Barry. I also agree with Jon that Scott is pretty much the only reason to watch it. I thought all of the conflicts between characters were forced, and the crises were manufactured purely for purposes of the story. Nothing flowed easily, in other words, and my interest wandered badly throughout.
November 23rd, 2016 at 10:51 pm
The chief things, other than Scott, going for this are the color and outdoor shots, and a few attempts to go a little beyond the usual building a railroad in the wilderness films.
As you and Barry both point out it is at best a film for Scott completist, though I would argue his Tom Andrews is interesting enough to carry over any bumps in the sometimes mundane road.
Scott’s character here is roughly in the same job as Joel McCrea in UNION PACIFIC or James Stewart in NIGHT PASSAGE.
November 23rd, 2016 at 11:03 pm
David, the Union Pacific observation is dead on. It should be noted that this film, and its brothers, Cariboo Trail and Fighting Man of the Plains were part of a three film project between Randolph Scott and producer Nat Holt. The next year, Randy made the top ten box office stars for the first of four consecutive times.
Canadian Pacific should probably be seen in proximity to Red River, if for nothing else, both John Wayne and Randy are called Tom, and both Colleen Gray and Nancy Olson, in her first film, caress that name as we would all like our names caressed.
November 24th, 2016 at 1:41 pm
I’ve said this before but….
Until he partnered regularly with producer Harry Joe Brown, Randy played some very dull characters. This was one of them.
January 28th, 2021 at 7:30 pm
I find it more than bizarre that when reading any kinda review of this film there is no mention of the Wiliy Coyote scene where Tom is stacking hundreds of sticks of dynamite when they all explode and somehow his body parts don’t go flying all over the Canadian wilderness.
How did that scene not get a mention? This is, for me, the single most unbelievable scene in cinematic history. I can’t even think of a #2 in this category. How about that little omission?