Movie Background
Movie Poster

Union Pacific

In one of President Lincoln's final enactments, a bill authorizes driving the Union Pacific Railroad through the untamed West to California. Yet opportunist Asa Barrows schemes to profit by blocking the project. Chief troubleshooter Jeff Butler grapples with Barrows' operative, gambler Sid Campeau; Campeau's ally Dick Allen is Jeff's wartime comrade and a rival suitor for the engineer's daughter, Molly Monahan. Who will endure the mission to push the railroad through at any cost?

Director(s)

Cecil B. DeMille

Arthur Rosson

Cast & Crew

Anthony Quinn

Anthony Quinn

Cordray

Nestor Paiva

Nestor Paiva

Canadian Pacific Conductor (uncredited)

Robert Barrat

Robert Barrat

Duke Ring

Stanley Andrews

Stanley Andrews

Dr. Harkness (uncredited)

Harry Woods

Harry Woods

Al Brett

Monte Blue

Monte Blue

Indian (uncredited)

Dick Botiller

Dick Botiller

Indian with Accordion (uncredited)

George Anderson

George Anderson

Railwayman (uncredited)

Jimmie Dundee

Jimmie Dundee

Laborer (uncredited)

Ethan Laidlaw

Ethan Laidlaw

Irishman (uncredited)

Noble Johnson

Noble Johnson

Native American Shooting Piano (uncredited)

Cyril Ring

Cyril Ring

Surveyor (uncredited)

Don Beddoe

Don Beddoe

Reporter (uncredited)

Tex Driscoll

Tex Driscoll

Man (uncredited)

Sam Ash

Sam Ash

Railwayman (uncredited)

Harry A. Bailey

Harry A. Bailey

Senator (uncredited)

Louis Natheaux

Louis Natheaux

Card Player (uncredited)

Mitchell Ingraham

Mitchell Ingraham

Official (uncredited)

Francis Sayles

Francis Sayles

Railwayman (uncredited)

Russ Powell

Russ Powell

Vendor (uncredited)

Bert Stevens

Bert Stevens

Man (uncredited)

Russell Hicks

Russell Hicks

Sergeant (uncredited)

Steve Carruthers

Steve Carruthers

Telegrapher (uncredited)

Harold Goodwin

Harold Goodwin

Calvin

Dick Gordon

Dick Gordon

Reporter (uncredited)

Chuck Hamilton

Chuck Hamilton

Card Player (uncredited)

Syd Saylor

Syd Saylor

Barker (uncredited)

Ernie Adams

Ernie Adams

Gen. Philip Sheridan (uncredited)

Jim Farley

Jim Farley

Laborer-Grader (uncredited)

William Haade

William Haade

Dusky Clayton

Buddy Roosevelt

Buddy Roosevelt

Fireman (uncredited)

Richard Denning

Richard Denning

Reporter (uncredited)

Kenneth Gibson

Kenneth Gibson

Card Player (uncredited)

Wilbur Mack

Wilbur Mack

Jake (uncredited)

Charles McMurphy

Charles McMurphy

Irishman (uncredited)

Richard Alexander

Richard Alexander

Card Player (uncredited)

Stanley Ridges

Stanley Ridges

Gen. Casement

Frank Mills

Frank Mills

Irishman (uncredited)

George Magrill

George Magrill

Surveyor (uncredited)

Will Geer

Will Geer

Foreman (uncredited)

Byron Foulger

Byron Foulger

Andrew Whipple (uncredited)

Edward Hearn

Edward Hearn

Sergeant (uncredited)

Henry Kolker

Henry Kolker

Asa M. Barrows

Hal Price

Hal Price

Surveyor (uncredited)

Lon Chaney Jr.

Lon Chaney Jr.

Dollarhide

Edward Keane

Edward Keane

Man (uncredited)

Joe Sawyer

Joe Sawyer

Shamus (uncredited)

Joseph Crehan

Joseph Crehan

Ulysses S. Grant

James Flavin

James Flavin

Paddy (uncredited)

Oscar 'Dutch' Hendrian

Oscar 'Dutch' Hendrian

Irishman at Bar (uncredited)

Emory Parnell

Emory Parnell

Foreman (uncredited)

William Pawley

William Pawley

Dinty (uncredited)

John J. Richardson

John J. Richardson

Official (uncredited)

Frank Shannon

Frank Shannon

Old Man (uncredited)

James Pierce

James Pierce

Card Player (uncredited)

Frank Yaconelli

Frank Yaconelli

Saloon Gambler (uncredited)

Earl Askam

Earl Askam

Bluett (uncredited)

Duke York

Duke York

Railwayman (uncredited)

Lane Chandler

Lane Chandler

Train Conductor (uncredited)

Guy Usher

Guy Usher

Leland Stanford (uncredited)

E.H. Calvert

E.H. Calvert

Major (uncredited)

Davison Clark

Davison Clark

Doctor (uncredited)

Edward LeSaint

Edward LeSaint

Fr. Ryan (uncredited)

William Worthington

William Worthington

Oliver Ames (uncredited)

Akim Tamiroff

Akim Tamiroff

Fiesta

Robert Preston

Robert Preston

Dick Allen

Iron Eyes Cody

Iron Eyes Cody

Indian (uncredited)

Ward Bond

Ward Bond

Tracklayer (uncredited)

Jack Pennick

Jack Pennick

Harmonicist (uncredited)

Bob Kortman

Bob Kortman

Gentleman at Golden Spike Ceremony (uncredited)

David Clyde

David Clyde

Irishman (uncredited)

J.M. Kerrigan

J.M. Kerrigan

Monahan

A.S. Byron

A.S. Byron

Old Irishman (uncredited)

Edward Peil Sr.

Edward Peil Sr.

Laborer (uncredited)

Evelyn Keyes

Evelyn Keyes

Mrs. Calvin

Joe Gilbert

Joe Gilbert

Telegrapher (uncredited)

Tony Urchel

Tony Urchel

Indian (uncredited)

Mala

Mala

Indian Finding Cigar Store Indian (uncredited)

Selmer Jackson

Selmer Jackson

Jerome (uncredited)

Adrian Morris

Adrian Morris

Railwayman (uncredited)

Robert Homans

Robert Homans

Man (uncredited)

William Gillis

William Gillis

(uncredited)

Wheaton Chambers

Wheaton Chambers

Businessman (uncredited)

Edwin Stanley

Edwin Stanley

Businessman at Financiers' Meeting

Charles Stevens

Charles Stevens

Indian Shooting Mollie (uncredited)

Ed Brady

Ed Brady

Bartender (uncredited)

David Thursby

David Thursby

Irishman (uncredited)

Francis McDonald

Francis McDonald

Gen. Dodge

Hal Craig

Hal Craig

Cassidy (uncredited)

Dick Rush

Dick Rush

Irishman (uncredited)

Walter Long

Walter Long

Irishman (uncredited)

Morgan Wallace

Morgan Wallace

Sen. Smith (uncredited)

May Beatty

May Beatty

Mrs. Hogan (uncredited)

George Regas

George Regas

Indian Hearing Mollie's Telegraphy (uncredited)

Robert R. Stephenson

Robert R. Stephenson

Irishman (uncredited)

Brian Donlevy

Brian Donlevy

Sid Campeau

John Power

John Power

Irishman (uncredited)

Mary MacLaren

Mary MacLaren

Official's Wife (uncredited)

J. C. Fowler

J. C. Fowler

Official (uncredited)

Frank Lackteen

Frank Lackteen

Indian (uncredited)

Gus Glassmire

Gus Glassmire

Gov. Stafford (uncredited)

Regis Toomey

Regis Toomey

Paddy O'Rourke

Paul Everton

Paul Everton

Rev. Dr. Todd (uncredited)

Willard Robertson

Willard Robertson

Oakes Ames

Sidney D'Albrook

Sidney D'Albrook

Man (uncredited)

Peter Du Rey

Peter Du Rey

Reporter (uncredited)

Max Davidson

Max Davidson

Card Player (uncredited)

Richard Lane

Richard Lane

Sam Reed

Sam McDaniel

Sam McDaniel

St. Louis Waiter (uncredited)

Sonny Chorre

Sonny Chorre

Indian (uncredited)

John Harmon

John Harmon

One-Armed Reporter (uncredited)

James P. Spencer

James P. Spencer

Indian (uncredited)

Barbara Stanwyck

Barbara Stanwyck

Mollie Monahan

Eddie Fetherston

Eddie Fetherston

Reporter (uncredited)

James McNamara

James McNamara

Mr. Mills (uncredited)

David Newell

David Newell

Reporter (uncredited)

Joel McCrea

Joel McCrea

Jeff Butler

John Merton

John Merton

Laborer (uncredited)

Cecil B. DeMille

Cecil B. DeMille

-

Julia Faye

Julia Faye

Mame

Archie Twitchell

Archie Twitchell

Secretary (uncredited)

Elmo Lincoln

Elmo Lincoln

Card Player (uncredited)

Margaret Roach

Margaret Roach

Violet (uncredited)

Jack Chapin

Jack Chapin

Fireman (uncredited)

George Guhl

George Guhl

Irishman (uncredited)

Nick Thompson

Nick Thompson

Indian (uncredited)

Chief Thundercloud

Chief Thundercloud

Indian (uncredited)

Florence Lake

Florence Lake

Woman (uncredited)

Nora Cecil

Nora Cecil

Snoring Woman on Train (uncredited)

Jack Rube Clifford

Jack Rube Clifford

Bartender (uncredited)

Ruth Warren

Ruth Warren

Mrs. Cassidy (uncredited)

Fuzzy Knight

Fuzzy Knight

Cookie

Si Jenks

Si Jenks

Old Prospector (uncredited)

Pat Moriarity

Pat Moriarity

Mike (uncredited)

Horace Murphy

Horace Murphy

Irishman (uncredited)

Jack W. Johnston

Jack W. Johnston

Man (uncredited)

Blackie Whiteford

Blackie Whiteford

Irishman on Dance Floor (uncredited)

John Marston

John Marston

Durant (uncredited)

Maude Fealy

Maude Fealy

Woman (uncredited)

Jack Kennedy

Jack Kennedy

Man (uncredited)

Ray Miller

Ray Miller

Laborer (uncredited)

Wesley Giraud

Wesley Giraud

Boy (uncredited)

Douglas Gordon

Douglas Gordon

Irishman (uncredited)

Ed Schaefer

Ed Schaefer

Irishman (uncredited)

John M. Sullivan

John M. Sullivan

Man (uncredited)

Mark Strong

Mark Strong

Connors (uncredited)

Lynne Overman

Lynne Overman

Leach Overmile

Sheila Darcy

Sheila Darcy

Rose

Genevieve Bell

Genevieve Bell

Kate (uncredited)

Tom Burke

Tom Burke

Laborer (uncredited)

George Burton

George Burton

Laborer (uncredited)

Allen Connor

Allen Connor

Laborer (uncredited)

Alfonso De Cruz

Alfonso De Cruz

Draftsman (uncredited)

Victor De Linsky

Victor De Linsky

Card Player (uncredited)

Mike Driscoll

Mike Driscoll

Denny (uncredited)

Martin Faust

Martin Faust

Railwayman (uncredited)

John Fee

John Fee

-

George B. French

George B. French

Senator (uncredited)

Wylie Grant

Wylie Grant

Savage (uncredited)

Pat Hartigan

Pat Hartigan

Irishman (uncredited)

Beth Hartman

Beth Hartman

Belle (uncredited)

Leon Holmes

Leon Holmes

Vendor (uncredited)

T.C. Jack

T.C. Jack

Irishman (uncredited)

Jane Keckley

Jane Keckley

Official's Wife (uncredited)

Jim Kelso

Jim Kelso

Railwayman (uncredited)

Bobby LaSalle

Bobby LaSalle

Fanny (uncredited)

Alexander Leftwich

Alexander Leftwich

Official (uncredited)

Viola Louie

Viola Louie

Lil (uncredited)

Evelyn Luckey

Evelyn Luckey

Lulu (uncredited)

Evelyn Luckey

Evelyn Luckey

Lulu (uncredited)

Hugh MacDonald

Hugh MacDonald

Gambler (uncredited)

Tom Mahoney

Tom Mahoney

Irishman (uncredited)

Ida May

Ida May

Goldie (uncredited)

Charles McAvoy

Charles McAvoy

Railwayman (uncredited)

Jack Murphy

Jack Murphy

Terry (uncredited)

Doreen Pastor

Doreen Pastor

Ruby (uncredited)

Albert Petit

Albert Petit

Watercolorist (uncredited)

Frances Rather

Frances Rather

Official's Daughter (uncredited)

Richard Robles

Richard Robles

-

Ynez Seabury

Ynez Seabury

Shrimp (uncredited)

Michael Slade

Michael Slade

Irishman (uncredited)

Lew Short

Lew Short

Laborer (uncredited)

Albert Taylor

Albert Taylor

Irishman (uncredited)

Calla Waltz

Calla Waltz

Maggie (uncredited)

Stanhope Wheatcroft

Stanhope Wheatcroft

Secretary (uncredited)

Greg Whitespear

Greg Whitespear

Indian (uncredited)

Arthur Rosson

Arthur Rosson

-

Details

GenresDrama, Western
Runtime2h 15 mins
Released on05 May 1939
Languageen
Produced InUnited States of America
Advertisement

Reviews

John Chard

7/10

There's nothing like hearing an engine whistle in the still night. Union Pacific is directed by Cecil B. DeMille (aided by others due to illness) and based upon the novel Trouble Shooter, written by Ernest Haycox. It stars Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea, Robert Preston, Brian Donlevy, Akim Tamiroff and Lynne Overman. Story is a fictionalised account of the building of the railroad across the American West, encompassing the trials, tribulations and rivalries that formed as history was being made. "The legend of Union Pacific is the drama of a nation, young, tough, prodigal and invincible, conquering with an iron highroad the endless reaches of the West. For the West is America's Empire, and only yesterday Union Pacific was the West". A big production that went down a storm at the box office upon release, Union Pacific, in spite of its overt patriotic bluster, is an entertaining and important part of the Western movie story. Alongside John Ford's Stagecoach, which was released a couple of months previously, DeMille's movie helped take the Western to a new and more adult level. It wouldn't be until the 50's that the Western truly found its mojo, but the influence of both Stagecoach and Union Pacific was firmly felt through each passing decade. Film manages to be literate whilst puncturing the plot with doses of action, the story underpinned by a love triangle between McCrea, Stanwyck and Preston. The former as the stoic troubleshooter brought in to keep order, the latter as the charming villain with a heart. Cast all work well with the material to hand, and if one is not bothered by the historical tampering involved in the story? Then it's an easy film to recommend to Western movie seekers. 7/10

All Trailers

"Union Pacific" (1939) Trailer
Advertisement