Western Union is a 1941 Western film directed by Fritz Lang and starring Randolph Scott, Robert Young, and Dean Jagger. The film is set during the post-Civil War era and revolves around the construction of the telegraph line by Western Union, which coordinates communication between the eastern and western coasts of America.
The film begins with Edward Creighton (Dean Jagger), a businessman from Omaha, Nebraska, who is tasked with building a telegraph line that connects the east to the west. To accomplish the task, he hires Vance Shaw (Randolph Scott), a reformed outlaw who is familiar with the terrain, and Richard Blake (Robert Young), a tenderfoot Eastern surveyor who is an expert in mathematics. Vance is hesitant to accept the job at first, but he is soon convinced by the high wages promised by Creighton.
The team travels westward and faces many challenges along the way, including hostile Native American tribes and dangerous terrain. Despite these obstacles, Vance and Richard eventually become close friends and begin to work together effectively.
As the telegraph line reaches its final stages, Vance's former gang leader, Jeff Carter (Barton MacLane), arrives with plans to sabotage the operation and steal the money intended for the workers. Vance, Richard, and the rest of the team band together to fight off Carter and his men and successfully complete the telegraph line.
The film ends with Vance and Richard parting ways, with Vance riding off into the sunset and Richard returning to the East. However, Creighton offers both of them positions with the Western Union, indicating that their contributions were valued and that they will remain connected to each other and to the greater American community.
