Recensioni degli utenti

"Kansas Pacific" is another building of a railroad picture that turns out to be quite good. It was produced by Allied Artists on a larger than normal budget for an "A-minus" or "B-plus western. It was shot in color and contains some great shots of vintage trains as well as, some exciting battle sequences. There's one particularly convincing attack where the confederate supporters blow up an entire train.

The story takes place just prior to the American Civil War. A railroad is being built by the Union Army to supply its western posts. Confederate sympathizers are trying to prevent its completion.

Union engineer John Nelson (Sterling Hayden) is sent out from Washington to oversee the building of the railroad. Construction boss Cal Bruce (Barton MacLane) and his engineer "Smokestack" (Harry Shannon) have been experiencing troubles from unknown sources. It turns out that southern sympathizer Bill Quantrill (Reed Hadley)is behind the problems. Bruce's daughter Barbara (Eve Miller) is the token heroine who provides the love interest for Hayden.

There are many familiar faces to western fans in the supporting cast. Members of Hadley's gang include the likes of Douglas Fowley, Lane Bradford, Myron Healey, Riley Hill and a moustachioed Clayton Moore. James Griffith plays Joe Farley, a railroad guard. Hill was never a major player as a villain in westerns but he could always be singled out in the gang because he was usually clean cut and wore a "hero style" white hat. Moore of course was better known as TV's "The Lone Ranger" and had appeared in many Republic and Columbia serials (on both sides of the law) of the period.

Hayden was a big man, six foot six I believe, and was always more convincing in his screen fights than many of his contemporaries. MacLane although giving a good performance, was usually on the wrong side of the law in his movies and was better suited to brutish villainous roles.

A better than average railroad film.

I was going to write a scathing report of all the anachronisms in this movie, from the dynamite to the completed U.S. Capitol Dome to the knuckle couplers and air brakes on the railroad equipment (if they look familiar, it's because the engine and the baggage/coach combination were the stars of "Petticoat Junction") to Eve Miller's Capri slacks and Maidenform bra.

But if I did I'd miss the point.

This movie isn't about what happened in Kansas in the late 1850's, it's another trip into the Hollywood Old West. It's the kind of movie you'd watch on a Saturday afternoon to forget that C- Miss Kursinsky gave you in Algebra.

Don't worry about the details. Just sit and relax, grab some popcorn and Juju Fruits and enjoy the ride. Which, at the end of the day, isn't all that bad.

I saw "Kansas Pacific" in theatrical release, as the second half of a double bill with "War of the Worlds". What a day at the movies that was! Since then, I've sought this film out and have seen it repeatedly. There could be more rail action for my taste, but what there is, plus the solid performances of the fine cast, makes for a very good Western indeed. And Albert Sendrey's terrific gonna-build-a-railroad soundtrack music is epic. I've always wished Hollywood had given him more to do. You'll be humming that theme, and carrying fond memories of steaming down the high iron aboard the "Kansas Pacific". Highly recommended to all.

"Kansas Pacific" is a dramatization of one of the types of confrontations that took place in the West during the Civil War. In an area where the residents had divided loyalties, a group of Southern sympathizers wants to prevent the completion of a railroad being built by the Union, so the Union Army sends in experts and eventually backs them up with strength. It's a decent Western, and it is also interesting as a fictional depiction of a little-known aspect of the Civil War era.

The story is straightforward, and the script and acting are fairly routine, though there are some familiar faces in the cast such as Sterling Hayden, Barton MacLane, and Clayton Moore.

The action sequences, especially towards the end, are done well and are the main reason to watch the movie. The period setting is convincing, the special effects during the battles are realistic and exciting, and there is also a decent musical score.

There should be plenty in "Kansas Pacific" for any Western fan to enjoy it, and you might also give it a try if you enjoy historical-based fiction.

This very appealing and simple railroad western is a Monogram Picture made in color and labeled 'An Allied Artists Film" to up-size its image. Other comments on this site will tell you the story and the history of the time and setting; I shall stick to my reaction. Basically filmed on a short distance of track at the back of some western lot, AA have succeeded in creating a suspenseful B grade chase western that allows for some very well staged train stunts and explosive set pieces. With a excellent music score matching the rousing action and photographed superbly in Cinecolor (I did not know this 'cheap' process was so beautiful) all clearly adds to the welcome comic book look and feel of this handsome railroad drama. Other excellent train chase films include NORTHWEST FRONTIER (1959) and THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE (1956) and recently: TV movie Young Indiana Jones And The Phantom Train Of Doom which in itself is almost an elaborate remake of Kansas Pacific but set in WW1..... and If you love Republic action pix in glorious Trucolor like I do, then find a tape of TIMBERJACK (1954) which has a fantastic contraption style logging train in peril, more Sterling Hayden and even a few songs by Hoagy Carmichael and (gulp) Vera Ralston - with tambourine! The Americana of Kansas Pacific and Timberjack make a excellent western train double feature if you are keen for some track work and explosions in your own lounge room. Fun to watch with Nephews and pre-teens whilst babysitting....like I did. So easy to enjoy. Wait 'till you see the cannon battle with the carriages blasted off the tracks! Well done!

Kansas Pacific is directed by Ray Nazarro and written by Daniel B. Ullman. It stars Sterling Hayden, Eve Miller, Barton MacLane, Harry Shannon, Tom Fadden and Reed Hadley. A Cinecolor production with music by Albert Sendrey and cinematography by Harry Neumann.

"In the years preceding the War between the States, 'Bleeding Kansas' was split down the middle. Being a border state-and not legally committed to either side-Kansas was almost torn apart by its two equally violent factions.

A railroad to the West was being built. To the rapidly forming Confederacy, this line, if completed, could mean the difference between defeat and victory, because it could well become the lifeline for the Union's western military installations.

Some Southern groups therefore, took strong steps to see that the Kansas Pacific did not reach completion. Northern interests, on the other hand, took equally strong steps to see that it did. All of this happened before any formal declaration of war, so neither side was really justified in the acts of total violence which resulted."

It's a fictionalised account that would surely have the historians frothing at the mouth, but on its own modest terms Kansas Pacific is solid entertainment. It's 1860 and Hayden is an undercover Army engineer who is sent in to ensure that the railroad is built. Not easy because the construction is plagued by sabotage attacks by Southern Rebels led by William Quantrill (Hadley).

Thus the story follows a familiar path that sees Hayden viewed with suspicion by some, admired by others, and as the sabotage attempts increase in ferocity, so does Hayden's will to succeed. Some love action comes his way (Miller on dressage duties only), as does the chance for some stoic engine driving. The action is well staged by Nazarro, who oversees dynamite attacks and cannon warfare, and the location photography coupled with the train sequences are most pleasing.

Modest for sure, but performed well in the right areas and at 73 minutes in length it barely has time to annoy anyone but the history buffs. 6/10

In the years right before the Civil War both the North and the South struggled over the state of Kansas. It got so bad that the state was nicknamed "Bloody Kansas" due to all of the violence. Since many on both sides realized that war was about to erupt it became imperative for the North to complete a railroad through the state that would link up with their forts out west. Conversely, the South wanted to stop the Kansas-Pacific railroad from being built at all costs. This film is about the building of this railroad and features a Union officer named "Captain John Nelson" (Sterling Hayden) being dispatched by General Winfield Scott (Roy Gordon) to Kansas to try to prevent any disruptions. Fearing any possibility of a misunderstanding which might trigger a war, Captain Nelson is sent in civilian clothes and given the title of the lead engineer. This infuriates the current person-in-charge "Cal Bruce" (Barton MacLaine) and his daughter "Barbara Bruce" (Eve Miller) who have worked very hard building the railroad and feel that they are being demoted. Likewise, the main antagonist named "Bill Quantrill" (Reed Hadley) isn't too pleased about his sudden appearance either. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a solid B-movie which should appeal to most fans of the western genre. Admittedly, some parts were a bit corny but since this is a movie about Kansas I guess that's quite alright. In any case, I have rated the movie accordingly. Average.

This is a curious unpretentious little western from the former Monogram Studios about the building of the Kansas Pacific Railroad. The action takes place before and during the Civil War with Sterling Hayden as the Army Captain sent west to supervise. He supersedes Barton MacLane who is the foreman and has some time to romance MacLane's daughter played by Eve Miller.

Film has some nice action sequences, but the script has a lot of holes in it. Reed Hadley plays William Quantrill who's doing a lot of

sabotage and pretty successfully. Then for no real reason he stops and lets construction proceed. He says he's waiting for some artillery from the Confederate States of America. That's the only indication we get that the Civil War has officially begun. Then when the railroad is finished, Quantrill decides to use the artillery to attack moving trains. I suppose while he's waiting, Quantrill is out doing the stuff he's more infamous for.

Quantrill is a stock villain in a whole lot of westerns, yet no one has ever done a reasonably accurate film with him in it. Reed Hadley, who had one of the best speaking voices in Hollywood, does his best with what he's given here. All you folks who watched Racket Squad back in the 50s remember Hadley narrating and portraying Captain Braddock. His voice is unmistakeable.

Another unmistakeable voice belongs to Clayton Moore who has a bit part as one of Quantrill's henchman while on hiatus from The Long Ranger.

Don't expect too much from this. DeMille did it better in Union Pacific, but he had a lot more resources to work with.

I had hoped to like this grandiose railroad Western as much as the other epic railroad Westerns: Canadian Pacific and Western Union are great, and UNION PACIFIC is simply the best Western ever made, the definitive Western. This one has some assets. The hero, played by Sterling Hayden, maybe the homeliest lead actor in film History, is likable, as are the other good guys. The most interesting of the good guys is killed off in a bit of a contrived way, however, and the contrivance seems to be very Republican in that only low level people are killed, giving the impression of demi god qualities among the elite, an impression needed by the elite to keep the minions in line. Always suspicious. The romance angle works well enough. In fact, it's good to see two people who are more "next door" types being in the lead.

While this is not a great film, it certainly is well worth watching--especially in light of Sterling Hayden's nice performance. While hardly a household name today and never a top star, Hayden was a terrific performer with his direct, no nonsense style of acting. Oddly, however, this film finds Barton MacLane playing a nice guy...can you figure?!

The film begins with a particularly useless and bad prologue--it was poorly written and seemed to pull its punches as it didn't want to offend anyone...though the Civil War had been over for almost 90 years when the movie was made! It is set in Kansas just before the war and concerns the US government and railroad's desire to get the railroad completed...especially as it will be needed to bring in needed supplies if war breaks out (which it did). But, Quantrill and his gang are doing everything they can to sabotage the railroad, so an Engineer (Hayden) is brought in to help the foreman (MacLane) get the project completed. All in all, it's a pretty ordinary sort of film, though it plays fast and loose wit the facts...in particular Quantrill's life. Despite this, the film is enjoyable, well-made and worth seeing--even if you aren't a dyed in the wool western lover.

This Western film is set in the time just before the start of the Civil War in the U. S. It's a fictional account of the Southern sympathizers working to sabotage the work to build the Kansas Pacific Railway. Sterling Hayden plays an undercover Union engineer, Capt. John Nelson, who is sent to Kansas to see the railroad completed before the start of the Civil War.

Reed Hadley plays the real renegade Confederate raider, William Quantrill, whose aim is to disrupt the project. Some of the rest of the cast will be recognized by movie buffs of the mid-20th century. Barton MacLane, Clayton Moore, Irving Bacon, James Griffith and Jonathan Hale were stalwart supporting actors of the day.

Those who enjoy history, especially of the pioneer, Western and Civil War period, may enjoy this film. Of course, with a grain of salt as to the accuracy of the plot and the fictional characters.

I can't recall Clayton Moore as anyone but the "brave masked man," but here he is as a bad guy with no mask. I'd say that counts as irony.

Also: who ever heard of a main character named "Mr. Bruce" in the Westerns. I think I know the source of the name, as my dad wrote the script. The same goes for the daughter, Barbara. If they had a daughter, my folks planned to name her Barbara. Three years later, they did and my sister's name is Barbara.

The memorable quotes struck a chord with me, especially when Mr. Bruce says that no one pushes him around -- except his daughter and his wife. Such dry humor was a hallmark of my father and I miss it and, of course, him.

Kansas Pacific is not a good movie. I have seen a number of Sterling Hayden films and some of them like The Godfather snd Dr. Strangelove are some of the greatest of all time. This is not one of them. One big problem is the love interest Barbara (Eve Miller) brings nothing to the table. It is about Captain John Miller ( Hayden) and his attempt to get the railroad built before the Civil War. Is it an absolute waste of time? No the idea was good it is just the execution that failed.3/10 stars

On Civil War's eve, the Union pushes for completion of a railroad to the West, while the Confederacy works to prevent it.

Decent western that makes good us of its limited budget. The cannon duel is imaginative as heck and a good effect that avoids western cliché. Lots of familiar faces in supporting roles, especially MacLane, Hadley and Fowley. Since the plot concerns Civil War rivalries, the bad guys can't be too bad since they're fighting for the Southern cause. I like the way attention is paid to technicalities of railway building, which lends realistic atmosphere. Too bad they have to work in a romance that dangles like a needless appendage, but I guess that's commercial filmmaking

Something should be said for Sterling Hayden, always an interesting actor even if he hated the profession. Too gangly and taciturn to be a leading man, he's perfect for an action role like this. And who can forget his grim- faced attachment to his horses in The Asphalt Jungle (1950). It's an outward stoicism that still conveys unexpected feeling. Or his philosophical resignation upon leaving the airport in Kubrick's masterpiece The Killing (1956). By all accounts he was a fascinating man as well as an underrated actor.

Anyway, this is a nicely done outdoor western with a good cast.

Yeah, many old films were a real cliché - good cause, good guys, bad guys, war looming, fights, beautiful lady in between the fights, lone hero, sandy mountain views, horse riders, gun fights, silly dialogs, pathetic phrases, shallow plot, very correct and inspiring words written across the screen either at the beginning or at the end credits - well, this is more or less this old film about Bleeding Kansas and all in the interim that follows. There is nothing exciting, unusual, fresh or new here, just a bunch of predictable baddies, bunch of heroic goodies, lady, sands, trains, railroad, fights and yes, this is over before you can say Kansas Pacific. Very trite and banal

I knew it was a B movie when I saw it, but with a couple of my favorites, Sterling Hayden and Barton MacLane, I hoped it might be better. The material is weak and the plotline hackneyed. The bad guys come up with Wile E Coyote type plans to sabotage the trainline. The love interest, Eve Miller, was stiff and bland. OK for a Saturday afternoon time killer.

I would have given this a 10, backing down because it played loosely with history. Otherwise, it was a helluva good movie - rousing, exciting, constantly moving like a train with the tracks intact.

It has to do with building the rail through Kansas to the Colorado border, train/tracks coveted by the Confeds and the Union.

The action is never-ending, most of the fight scenes convincing and leading man, Sterling Hayden is rock solid (not Rock Hudson). His own life was far more exciting. Check his unbelievable bio. Wow!! All in all, there is not a thing wrong with the movie. If you like westerns, if you like action, it is all there on the "Kansas Pacific." Final thought: If Sterling Hayden married Robert Sterling, he would be Sterling Sterling.

Speaking of sterling - as in silver - the hi-yo man has a small part in this adventure.

In a time after the South has seceded from the United States, but before the American Civil War, an effort is made to build a railway from Kansas across the West Coast is sabotaged by Southern sympathizers, to the point where John Nelson, captain of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering (played by Sterling Hayden) to keep the project going, as the railway is to supply Union outposts for when the anticipated war starts. Not only must he thwart the saboteurs, led by Confederate William Quantrill (played by Reed Hadley), but he also aims to win the heart of Barbara Bruce (played by Eve Miller), the daughter of the railroad foreman.

It's an okay western. The acting and action are good, and the story is neat (even with an intro where it said neither side was justified in the events of the film due to it happening before declaration of war). Sadly, the pacing is slow in some points, and some of the actions don't seen well choreographed (like that one scene where one of the saboteurs trips a worker). But still, it's a good western worth checking out.

Kansas is a battleground between north and south even before the Civil War. Lincoln has just been elected. Kansas Pacific is trying to build its railroad across the state, but southern sympathizers are impeding its progress. The government sends in Capt. John Nelson (Sterling Hayden) as the construction engineer and fixer. Cal Bruce is told to hire a big crew to work under Nelson.

They have a train. They have some explosive action. All that stuff is fine. I'm just not feeling for any of the characters. I don't really care who wins this fight. With some more context, these characters could do more to jump out of the screen.