Canadian Pacific
At the beginning when Tom Andrews is in Cornelius Van Horne's private train car, there is a picture of a 4-4-0 engine. This is a print of the Western & Atlantic Railroad engine, "The General" famous for the Andrews Raid during the American Civil War. The General used to be in Chattanooga, TN, but is now housed in Kennesaw, GA.,The Métis people are often discussed, but their name is mispronounced in this film. It should be "MAY-tee", not "MET-is".,Dr. Edith Cabot: My father was killed, Mr. Andrews, because he tried to use a gun against a man instead of reasoning with him. If he hadn't worn a gun, he'd still be alive.
Tom Andrews: I'm sorry about your father. I've learned, though, that in this country if I draw faster, I keep living.,Referenced in A Fellow Journeyman: Byron Haskin at Paramount (2022),The building of the Canadian Pacific railway was as much a milestone in the history of Canada as the transcontinental railroad in the United States of America. But the circumstances were so incredibly different the Canadians must have had a laugh and a half at this Hollywood story of one of the great events from their history.

The great challenge of the railroad was getting it through just that last stretch of mountains in British Columbia. The track went through a mountain trail known as Kicking Horse Pass and it was quite the engineering feat. That was the main story with the building of the Canadian Pacific.

But we have here is the plot of Union Pacific essentially brought under the Maple Leaf with villain Victor Jory stirring up the Indians to prevent the Canadian Pacific from getting through. Of course since he's up against chief engineer Randolph Scott, you know how this is going to come out.

Randy as was the case in a lot of his westerns has two girls to choose from, railroad brat Nancy Olson and Quaker doctor Jane Wyatt. I really think Wyatt was a bit ridiculous pushing her pacifist beliefs in the middle of the Indian attack at the climax.

On the plus side that Indian attack is one of the best I've ever seen in a western and you will be on the edge of your seat during the final shootout between Randolph Scott and Victor Jory. Also look for a good performance from the always dependable J. Carrol Naish as the locomotive engineer and Scott's sidekick. Also Dick Wessel as a murderous bartender is also quite good.

Too bad that this particular episode in Canadian history got Americanized though.,