ONCE AGAIN WE find ourselves indebted to Turner Classic Movies for bringing us so much more than the usual, well known feature pictures that we all know and love. The inclusion of these short subjects fills in so much of the otherwise empty gaps in one's movie knowledge.
WHILED IT'S TRUE that all celluloid historical accounts are, by their very nature, at least somewhat fictionalized, they do at least serve in whetting the curiosity; which does lead to one's doing further investigation into a given area of study. If one can be introduced to an historical figure, which was heretofore an unknown, all the effort is worthwhile.
CONSIDERING TODAY'S LUCKY subject, PONY EXPRESS DAYS (Warner Bros./Vitaphone, 1940), we have before us a telling of the establishment of this service. It ran between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California; promising to, and delivering on that promise deliver letters in ten days between the two points. The point is made in the film of how important tghis was to the Union then. The hostilities known as the American Civil War had begun and the new State of California neede to be kept in contact.
THE STORY FURTHER circles in on one of the Pony Express' most famous alumnus; that being one William Frederick Cody (1846-1917). He, of course later became famous as Buffalo Bill. The real Mr. Cody who was hired as a Pony Express rider at the age of 14, found himself being portrayed by a then 26 year old actor named George Reeves. That's right the future "Man of Steel" showed off his great range of acting ability in playing the role as a somewhat shy, awkward youngster.
THE CRUX OF the story involves young Mr. Cody's heroic multi station ride, fighting off hostile Indians and voluntarily substituting for fallen or disabled riders. His ride proves to save the Union, keeping Californians happy and secure with the guy in the White House, Mr. Lincoln.
AS IS True with the other Warners/Vitaphone non comedic short subjects that we've seen, our curiosity is piqued with this viewing. And having one's curiosity piqued is a good thing, isn't it Schultz ?
WHILED IT'S TRUE that all celluloid historical accounts are, by their very nature, at least somewhat fictionalized, they do at least serve in whetting the curiosity; which does lead to one's doing further investigation into a given area of study. If one can be introduced to an historical figure, which was heretofore an unknown, all the effort is worthwhile.
CONSIDERING TODAY'S LUCKY subject, PONY EXPRESS DAYS (Warner Bros./Vitaphone, 1940), we have before us a telling of the establishment of this service. It ran between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California; promising to, and delivering on that promise deliver letters in ten days between the two points. The point is made in the film of how important tghis was to the Union then. The hostilities known as the American Civil War had begun and the new State of California neede to be kept in contact.
THE STORY FURTHER circles in on one of the Pony Express' most famous alumnus; that being one William Frederick Cody (1846-1917). He, of course later became famous as Buffalo Bill. The real Mr. Cody who was hired as a Pony Express rider at the age of 14, found himself being portrayed by a then 26 year old actor named George Reeves. That's right the future "Man of Steel" showed off his great range of acting ability in playing the role as a somewhat shy, awkward youngster.
THE CRUX OF the story involves young Mr. Cody's heroic multi station ride, fighting off hostile Indians and voluntarily substituting for fallen or disabled riders. His ride proves to save the Union, keeping Californians happy and secure with the guy in the White House, Mr. Lincoln.
AS IS True with the other Warners/Vitaphone non comedic short subjects that we've seen, our curiosity is piqued with this viewing. And having one's curiosity piqued is a good thing, isn't it Schultz ?