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Western Union (1941)

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Top Critics

Average Rating: 6.6/10
Reviews Counted: 5
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 1

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Release Date: Feb 21, 1941 Wide

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Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 270

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Movie Info

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

Unrated, 1 hr. 34 min.

Western, Classics

Directed By: Fritz Lang

In Theaters: Feb 21, 1941 Wide

Cast

Robert Young
Richard Blake
Randolph Scott
Vance Shaw
Dean Jagger
Edward Creighton
Virginia Gilmore
Sue Creighton
Barton MacLane
Jack Slade
George "Slim" Summerville
Herman
John Carradine
Doc Murdoch
Chill Wills
Homer
Russell Hicks
Governor
Victor Kilian
Charlie
Minor Watson
Pat Grogan
George Chandler
Herb
Chief Thundercloud
Indian Leader
Dick Rich
Porky
Charles B. Middleton
Stagecoach Rider
Addison Richards
Capt. Harlow
Irving Bacon
Barber
Paul E. Burns
Chief John Big Tree
Chief Spotted Horse
Cliff Clark
Ralph Dunn
Man
James Flavin
Vance Shaw
Harry Strang
Henchman
Eddy Waller
Stagecoach Driver
Francis Ford
Stagecoach Driver
Frank Mills

Critic Reviews for Western Union

All Critics (11) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (4) | Rotten (1) | DVD (2)

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.

August 9, 2007 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Fascinating if uneven Western

August 22, 2006 Full Review Source: Classic Film and Television

| Comment

Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Greatly satisfies.

March 18, 2005 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Audience Reviews for Western Union

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Sprawling and well produced western depicting the Western movement in the US during the 1800's. Not very inspired, but entertaining. A decent cast does an adequate job. Fritz Lang's direction helps.

November 16, 2005

James Higgins

the movie Western Union hit a good cord with me because I worked for the WU company for thirty plus years. But the best movie I ever watched was the wild North with Steward Granger. Very outdoorsey and clean action. Not one four letter word.

March 16, 2004

bernard walli

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