Efforts to prevent the railroad from getting through Indian territory to the Pacific coast has government agents determined to stop who's ever responsible, manipulating the natives to commit crimes on their behalf. Randolph Scott as the surveyor making it move forward finds himself a target of the gang of fur hunters (led by Victor Jory) and at odds with doctor Jane Wyatt who believes that peaceful methods should be utilized to stop efforts to cease the continuation, but obviously that isn't going to work.
There's good support by J. Carroll Naish, Nancy Olson and Robert Barrat as real life head of the railroad company, but the color photography is the dull Cinecolor process that is not at all sharp and gives the film less than a two dimensional look. A scene where Scott talks piggin English to the native chief (Chris Willow Bird) just looks ridiculous in perspective. But it is an interesting look at the real attempt to settle the west and give at least some perspective of that era.
Scott as usual is commanding, and Wyatt as a rare female physician in this era stands up strongly to him even though it's predictable where their relationship is going to go. Jory as usual is a great villain, and Olson strong as the daughter of someone against the railroad standing up for it also memorable. It's just a shame that better photography wasn't used because it's a wasted opportunity considering all these vistas.
There's good support by J. Carroll Naish, Nancy Olson and Robert Barrat as real life head of the railroad company, but the color photography is the dull Cinecolor process that is not at all sharp and gives the film less than a two dimensional look. A scene where Scott talks piggin English to the native chief (Chris Willow Bird) just looks ridiculous in perspective. But it is an interesting look at the real attempt to settle the west and give at least some perspective of that era.
Scott as usual is commanding, and Wyatt as a rare female physician in this era stands up strongly to him even though it's predictable where their relationship is going to go. Jory as usual is a great villain, and Olson strong as the daughter of someone against the railroad standing up for it also memorable. It's just a shame that better photography wasn't used because it's a wasted opportunity considering all these vistas.