western union be something of a forgotten classic western . perhaps the reason for this lie in the fact of it unavailability on dvd in the united state . however and all be not lose a it have now appear on region 2 in england . this be a blessing in some way be not only incongruous but totally ironic when one consider that a movie depict the founding and establishment of such a uniquely american organization a the western union telegraph company be without a region 1 release . it beggar belief . it simply doesn not make sense . produce by fox in 1941 western union be direct by fritz lang . this be only the second occasion the great german director undertook to direct a western . he have do an excellent job the year before with fox the return of frank james and would have only one more western outing in 1952 with the splendid rancho notorious . lang be no ford or hawk but with western union he turn in a fine solid western that hold up very well . beautifully photograph in early three strip technicolor by edward cronjager it boast a good cast head by robert young and randolph scott and dean jagger . the female lead be take by virginia gilmore who really have little to do in the picture . an actress who never make anything of her career . her presence here be merely cosmetic . it be curious that robert young have top billing over scott . it be clearly scott picture from the very begin when we first see him in the film terrific open scene be chase by a posse across the plain . young doesn not have much to do throughout the movie and seem out of place in a western . he just look plain silly go up against barton mclane in a gunfight . an actor who never really distinguish himself except perhaps with crossfire ( 1947 ) young appear in a string of forgettable romantic comedy in the forty and fifty culminate with his great success when for seven year he be tv marcus welby md in the seventy . he die in 1998 at the age of 91. western union recount the connection by telegraph wire of omaha and salt lake city . scott play a reformed outlaw hire by western union bos dean jagger to protect the line from maraud sioux and to also take on mclane and his gang who be try to destroy the line for their own devious end . robert young be the young engineer from back east who join the company and vies with scott for the affection of miss gilmore . some comic relief be provide by and irritatingly so some would say by slim summerville and john carradine turn up in a meager role a the company doctor . altogether though a spanking good western and albeit on region 2 and but in sparkle good quality that fan will be delight with . my only crib be that there be no extra and not even a trailer and that terrible cover with those dull graphic . ugh . footnote represent interestingly the associate producer on western union be harry joe brown who later with randolph scott would create a partnership that would produce some of scott fine western in the fifty .