rdjeffers Thursday July 15, 7pm, The Castro, San Francisco"In the heart of one man there is no rivalry" Set amid the romance and mythology of the American West, construction of the Transcontinental Railroad is recounted in cinematic splendor by Hollywood's master of the genre. Bestowing an almost religious patriotism to the story, central characters Dave Brandon (George O'Brien) and Miriam Marsh (Madge Bellamy) are introduced as the childhood neighbors of Abraham Lincoln. Years pass, expansion progresses and they reacquaint when he leaps aboard her moving train to escape a band of Indians. The pioneers fight harsh conditions, crooked businessmen and each other as the rails push toward May 10, 1869 and the Golden Spike.A defining landmark in film history and the greatest western of the silent era, director John Ford's crowning achievement was The Iron Horse. Filmed on a magnificent scale with memorable performances by O'Brien, Bellamy, J. Farrell Macdonald and a cast of thousands, the sentimental idealization of historic events and exquisite photography were simply unequalled.

John W Chance An amazing film for its scope, visuals and acting.We get to see many of John Ford's classic trophes in this film: the interplay and comic relief of European characters, great bar scenes and wonderfully photographed Indian action. The white man masquerading as an Indian becomes a common cliché, though, in many future westerns. It turns out that the classic long shot of seeing riders crossing the crest of a mountain was already old, having been used in how many of the westerns, and countless more to come, including 'The Vanishing American' (1925) which was filmed in Ford's beloved Monument Valley.The film's biggest problem is that Ford's passion for history gives us too many intertitles that interfere with and slow down the action-- especially at the end.But this film is so worth seeing for its vision, scope and execution. I give it an 8.

MartinHafer This movie was shown on Turner Classic Movies last night and I was awfully surprised--as TCM normally doesn't show films made by Fox Studios. Considering how important this film is historically, I am glad they were able to work out the details.This edition was amazingly gorgeous--with a painstakingly perfect print that looked as good today as when it was first made in 1924. Additionally, the musical score made to accompany this film was one of the best I have heard for a silent--very rousing at times and always appropriate to the movie. From a technical standpoint, it is a wonderful film and those responsible for restoring it are geniuses.Now when it comes to this John Ford film, you have to admire all the immense effort that went into making it. Thousands were assembled in the Arizona desert and the film has absolutely breathtaking scope and grandeur. Additionally, there are plenty of moments of excitement and action to make it a must for all serious buffs of the silent age. About the only negatives are the slightly old fashion style and subplots (but which were very current and innovative for 1924) and the film never captured my attention the way some other silents have. Surely a tremendous film, but one that also isn't among the very best of the silents--not quite up to the same standards as METROPOLIS, FAUST, and a few of the other standout films of the 20s. Still, for any serious fan of silents, it's a must-see.

bigdinosaur Since I live in Cheyenne, WY this type of movie really appeals to me. As all historians know, various towns along the route of this railroad (which coincides quite closely to interstate 80 in Wyoming) were made during its construction. Cheyenne and Rock Springs (because of its coal mining) were especially notable.I had seen this movie several years ago and was delighted to see it being broadcast on the Turner Classic Movies channel. Perhaps they will re-broadcast it again in the future.This movie, while not completely accurate historically, certainly gives an idea of the magnitude of the endeavor being undertaken. And it does feature a real locomotive which operated on the railroad during the period portrayed. Historical buffs definitely should not be swayed from enjoying this title simply because it may not strictly conform to history.I won't go into the story except to say that the various sub-plots keep the viewer very entertained. This was a very well-done movie in my opinion. Acting was very good. And the cinematography was very impressive.Fans of either westerns or silent-era films certainly should not miss this one.