Pony Express

Galloping Thrills of the Pony Express
I remember watching this movie on television on Saturdays and Sundays when I was growing up. Now, it's finally coming out on DVD. It's always a pleasure to watch the legendary actor (Ben Hur, The Big Country, Planet of the Apes, The Ten Commandments) Charlton Heston at work. While it might not be historically accurate, this movie does pay tribute to those early days of the Pony Express and the hardships that the riders encountered. Buffalo Bill (played by Charlton Heston) and Wild Bill Hickok (Forrest Tucker) join forces to establish a mail route that can get mail from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, in ten days. Along the way they must battle bad weather, hostile Indians and cunning outlaws intent on robbing the mail and shutting down the entire mail delivery operation. The supporting cast (Forrest Tucker, Rhonda Fleming, Jan Sterling) are excellent and help make this movie exciting, enjoyable and fun to watch.

Great Scenery
Charlton Heston stars as Buffalo Bill, who along with partner Wild Bill Hickock, played by Forrest Tucker, is attempting to set up the Pony Express to help connect California with the rest of the country. Beautiful Rhonda Fleming and her brother are part of a group trying to prevent that from happening, wanting California to go it alone, rather than be part of the Union. Not only must Chuck do battle with them, but there are also the Indians to consider, not to mention the nagging presence of Jan Sterling, a tomboy in love with him. Pony Express is not short on action and that is its saving grace. The plot and dialogue are routine, the direction uninspired, and the characters comes across as sketches. The beauty of Rhonda Fleming and the technicolor scenery helps to make this acceptable viewing. There could be a great movie made about the Pony Express. This just isn't it.

Great Western
What a fun exciting western with Heston playing Buffalo Bill Cody and Forest Tucker as Wild Bill Hickock. Great technicolor cinematography that has many well composed John Ford type shots make this movie beautiful to look at. The movie dramatizes the begining of the pony express with a California leaving the US subplot..I don't know how accurate the story is, but I was entertained.

Jan Sterling steals the movie as a lovesick tomboy..................what a performance!!

Heston is really good in this movie.................he actually plays his part with some humour..something he did not do in a lot of his roles..He shows he can really handle a horse in this movie.....in fact my 2 favorite Heston roles are this one and the role of the tough ranch foreman in The Big Country. If you like high quality westerns, this is a must have.

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