Watch Canadian Pacific

Set in the 1880s, Canadian Pacific is a Western drama that tells the story of a surveyor named Tom Andrews (Randolph Scott) who is tasked with the monumental job of building a transcontinental railroad from Montreal to the Pacific Ocean. Tom faces a number of challenges throughout the film, including opposition from powerful businessmen, harsh weather conditions, and attacks from First Nation tribes.

The movie begins with Tom standing in front of the Canadian Pacific Railroad's president, William Van Horne (Robert Barrat), who is determined to complete the railway before his competitors. Van Horne hires Tom to survey the Western portion of the railroad and ensure that it can be completed within the given time frame.

Tom is joined on his journey by his old flame, Cecile Gautier (Jane Wyatt), who is traveling west to start a new life after the death of her husband. The two have a complicated past, and their rekindled romance is constantly threatened by the obstacles they face on the journey. There is also a subplot involving J. Carrol Naish's Fogarty, a notorious gun-runner and smuggler who is attempting to derail the railway project by sabotaging Tom's surveying work and creating chaos along the track.

The film's stunning action sequences, including shootouts, chases, and train derailments, are some of the most exciting features of the movie. The locomotives are portrayed as powerful, dangerous machines that can quickly become death traps if not properly maintained. The scenes of the railroad construction are also incredibly impressive, showing the backbreaking work required to lay tracks through mountainous terrain.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is how it portrays the relationship between the First Nations and the railroad workers. Although the First Nations characters are not fully fleshed out, they are not portrayed as mindless savages, but as people desperate to protect their land and way of life. The scenes involving the First Nations attacks on the railroad workers are intense and create a palpable sense of tension and danger throughout the movie.

Another noteworthy feature of Canadian Pacific is the beautiful scenery captured on film. The film was shot on location in Banff National Park and the Rocky Mountains, providing breathtaking backdrops for the action. The vibrant landscapes of the Canadian wilderness add another layer of depth to the story and reinforce the sense of adventure and daring in the characters.

Overall, Canadian Pacific is a thrilling and entertaining Western drama that offers a unique perspective on the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. The cast delivers strong performances, the action sequences are impressive, and the beautiful scenery will leave viewers in awe.

Canadian Pacific is a western with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.9.