On his latest gold and silver shipment from Carson City to Virginia City, Banker William Sharon is hi-jacked by a group of outlaws known as "The Champagne Bandits", who've gotten their name by treating the passengers of any robbery to a picnic dinner with Champagne after robbing them. Desperate to protect his wealth, William Sharon decides that the only way to protect himself is by building a railroad, which will require a tremendously skilled engineer, given the area's dense, mountainous terrain. Enter Jeff Kincaid, an engineer specializing in the most difficult of jobs, who agrees to help due to being a former resident of Carson City. Kincaid's new project draws the attention of a band of outlaws who plan to plunder Carson City's new railroad, leading Kincaid to not only deal with the outlaws but the local hostility towards the project, who fear the criminal element which the railroad will bring. Andre De Toth's Carson City is a middle-of-the-road western with a formulaic plot which holds it back from being something truly worthy of note. Starring Randolph Scott, Carson City is engaging enough simply because of his presence, being a man stuck in-between the outlaws who wish to rob the railroad and the civilians who distrust what technology will bring. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Carson City is how it portrays the effect technology has on a community. Andre De Toth captures how society as a whole is fearful of something they don't understand, with the people of Carson City terrified of the railroad disrupting their lives. In exploring these ideas, De Toth creates a film that plays like an ode to engineers and forward-thinkers, capturing the importance of creativity and innovation even in an industry known for precision and arithmetic. Featuring an impressive climax and visually pleasing aesthetic, Andre De Toth Carson City is an average western that is elevated by the craft involved.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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