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Western Union

Play trailer Poster for Western Union 1941 1h 34m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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75% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Engineer Edward Creighton (Dean Jagger) is part of a vast enterprise: stringing a telegraph line across America. When he has an accident in the field, Creighton is saved by bank robber Vance Shaw (Randolph Scott). Creighton later hires Shaw as a scout, despite his criminal past. As Western Union starts construction of the telegraph line through American Indian territory, Shaw's criminal past resurfaces when an old criminal cohort makes an appearance.
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Western Union

Critics Reviews

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Joshua Polanski Midwest Film Journal Jul 22, 2024
The film’s big development lacks the character specifics that would have interjected it with a dramatic force, so the “twist” feels more like a pointless contortion that prolongs things for another 10 minutes or so. Go to Full Review George Orwell Time and Tide Oct 2, 2023
None of the acting is definitely bad, but Randolph Scott, as the Bad Man who turns over a new leaf but afterwards rides away to a romantic death and leaves the woman he loves to a man who is worthier of her, gives the outstanding performance of the film. Go to Full Review Grant Watson Fiction Machine Jan 11, 2022
7/10
This is an enjoyable, albeit old-fashioned western, that should please most genre enthusiasts while providing a look at how the story form developed in its earlier years. Go to Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid Aug 9, 2007
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. Go to Full Review Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Aug 22, 2006
Fascinating if uneven Western Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jul 2, 2005
3/5
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Audience Reviews

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S R @ScottR Dec 30, 2024 A different type of Western Union than I figured the plot would be. It was decently made and bit stiff in the acting, but it entertained and I saw it because I read about it in my "When Hollywood Came to Utah" book since it was all filmed near Kanab. RUS. See more Ashley H @ashleyhobgood87 Feb 27, 2024 Western Union is a decent film. It is about Edward Creighton who leads the construction of the Western Union to unite East with West. Robert Young and Randolph Scott give good performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. Fritz Lang did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the adventure. See more Mar 4, 2017 One of the best westerns ever made, right up there with "Shane" and "The Searchers". See more Oct 2, 2014 a very good movie beautiful breeds of horses too See more Sep 26, 2014 Solid western -- but not really recognizable as a Fritz Lang film. I suppose you could argue that Randolph Scott's fate is spelled out from the very first scenes and that doom closes in as the team putting the telegraph line up gets farther along and we learn more details about Scott. But it's possible that this is more Zane Grey's doing than Lang's. By the way, Randy Scott is great as usual in a typically morally ambiguous role but he does gain a certain gravitas when he ages into the Budd Boetticher films in the '50s. Robert Young, on the other hand, seems out-of-place in the wild west. Portrayals of Native Americans is generally less than positive. If you're interested in a Fritz Lang western, try Rancho Notorious first. See more Aug 23, 2013 130823 141029: I've always heard the civil war was a dark and destructive time, and apparently the chaos it caused even occurred between combatants on the same side. Found this film an enjoyable fictitious look at the laying of the telegraph line across the US. Well worth watching even at 73 years of age. Some strong acting and characters. See more Read all reviews
Western Union

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Cast & Crew

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Fritz Lang

Director

Robert Young

Richard Blake

Randolph Scott

Vance Shaw

Dean Jagger

Edward Creighton

Virginia Gilmore

Sue Creighton

John Carradine

Doc Murdoch

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Western Union

Western Union (1941) Western Union (1941) Western Union (1941) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Engineer Edward Creighton (Dean Jagger) is part of a vast enterprise: stringing a telegraph line across America. When he has an accident in the field, Creighton is saved by bank robber Vance Shaw (Randolph Scott). Creighton later hires Shaw as a scout, despite his criminal past. As Western Union starts construction of the telegraph line through American Indian territory, Shaw's criminal past resurfaces when an old criminal cohort makes an appearance.
Director
Fritz Lang
Screenwriter
Robert Carson
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Genre
Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 31, 1941, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Runtime
1h 34m
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