source: Pony Express

Pony Express

I'll be brief here. This is what we called "inspired by real events" in the film production world, which I spent 29 years. The only thing in this movie that is NOT fiction, is the event, the creation of the Pony Express, and a couple of names, Buffalo Bill Cody and Wild Bill Hickok. In reality, Cody was 14, not Heston's age of 29. And Hickok was 15, not Forrest Tucker's 34. And their colorful names had not yet been established. Two fictional characters in the film are the Hastings siblings who opposed the Pony Express when in reality, the B. F. Hastings building was the western terminus in Sacramento, California. And while there were indeed issues with bandits and Indians, the Pony Express ended after only 18 months because it wasn't financially feasible and the telegraph was finally completed to the west coast. Still, if you like westerns, it worth watching at least once just to watch Heston, Tucker. Jan Sterling and Ronda Fleming.

I liked this action-packed story about the Pony Express, even if the authenticity of the history may be questionable. I was impressed with the cast, made up of Charlton Heston, Forrest Tucker, Rhonda Fleming, and Jan Sterling. The story dealt with problems concerning subfertuges of the underhanded crooks against it and Indians out on the plains who did not want the Pony Express riders riding across their land- all the way from St. Louis, MO to Sacramento, CA. On a somewhat unrelated matter, since I as a boy always was struck by Jan Sterling, I did not like the way she was treated. (Yes, I know that's an aside.) I was really taken with those hard riders who risked their lives as they were traveling across the land, going more than half way across the USA. Yes, because of the cast and especially the riders riding their long distances, I do like this western.

Fairly ordinary 1860s Western tells a fictional account of how the Pony Express Mail Delivery System was founded, helped along by Buffalo Bill Cody (Charlton Heston) and Wild Bill Hickok (Forrest Tucker). A young Heston's determined and self-assured characterization makes for some enjoyment early on in the picture, though the second half becomes somewhat routine with typical "Cowboys and Indians" confrontations. Forrest Tucker doesn't invest as much in his Hickok personage. The leading women are Rhonda Fleming and Jan Sterling, both of whom are rivals who are sweet on Buffalo Bill. Sterling's is the more engaging of the two, and we can't help but feel sorry for her as the young tomboy whose infatuation for Heston goes unrequited. ** out of ****

I'm suspicious to talk about Charlton Heston, due l've been considered him the best actor ever, Pony Express l did watch it on first time in 1980, has an wrong Hollywood's dramatization for commercial purpose, joint Buffalo Bill and Wild Bill Hickok in this enterprise, although they never attended in those facts, the picture is inaccurate, forgetting this outrageous mistake the picture worth a look, telling one more chapter of the America's history, Rhonda Fleming is in full shape, beauty than never, Forrest Tucker had a rare opportunity to play a good guy and Jan Sterling was at peak of her career, the simple presence of the Chuck, the picture gets strenght due his fabulous and resounding performance, an average production that deserves some recognition !!! Resume: First watch: 1980 / How many: 4 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7

Rhonda fleming and jan sterling are the only reasons to watch this film .. charlton heston plays his usual cocky self and forrest tucker should have found a better role because he was no wild bill hickock in anyone's wildest imagination ..so so production ... but ms fleming beams

Charles Marquis Warren is one of the worst western scriptwriters.Responsible(also for directing it) for the very mediocre -and a bit racist- "Arrowshead"-which featured Heston as well,he wrote an even more dreadful story here.Will Cody must be turning in his grave! The story is incoherent,every sequence seems to be the beginning of the film,there's the de rigueur (check "Arrowshead") Heston/Indian fight,and Jan Sterling's part is so thin it's a wonder she can do something with it(This actress found her best role in Wilder's masterpiece "the big carnival").Only the last sequences of the mail might redeem that,but the "writer" wanted a "moving" ending so he spoils everything . You'll always be better off with Cecil B.De Mille's "the plainsman"(1936)with Gary Cooper ,Jean Arthur and James Ellison,as far as Buffalo Bill is concerned.Hickock 's character is also featured,and on top of that ,Calamity Jane in the flesh.

This really is not that bad of a early 1950 western but since most know the history of the pony express plus Bill Hickok it does not add up to the expectation. It is more-or-less a fantasy of the writers as they makes up nearly the entire script. It does not take long into the film before Cody jumps on a stagecoach, that is as fancy as any five star hotel that you would see today, and takes a smooth ride into Indian territory. This is just the beginning of things that do not add up for the period of time the film is suppose to represent. As stated, this is not a bad western but with the information provided by the preview, the movie is a far reaching story that is hard to believe- it turned negative fast. The movie felt so out of character that even Charlton Heston could not overcome the staged events. If you did not read the previews, or the title, then this is a nice early western film. But the details provided with the script made the movie rather sad.