Film That Commemorates Great Historic Event

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 257, 28 July 1939, Page 14

Film That Commemorates Great Historic Event

SPEAKING in the United States Senate at the end of May Senator Edward R. Burke, Nebraska, paid a glowing tribute to the pioneers who built the American transcontinental railways in the years immediately following the war. between the States, and at the same time hailed as an outstanding piece of entertainment the motion picture “Union Pacific,’’ produced for Paramount by Cecil B. de Mille. Senator Burke said: “On Wednesday, April 25, 1939, at the White House, a key was pushed by President Roosevelt. Halfway across the continent, at Omaha, Nebraska, that act of the President’s resulted in opening a fourday celebration of ‘Golden Spike Days and the world premiere of ‘Union Pacific.’ This festival marks the seventieth anniversary of an event of unusual significance, for it was in 1869 that the steel bands, stretching westward from the Missouri River across the wide expanse of prairie, were joined with those which had crept eastward from the edge of the blue waters of the Pacific. The first transcontinental ra’lroad. a long dream, had become a reality. “A golden spike was driven to mark completion of the great undertaking. That spike today is on exhibition in Omaha as a symbol of the consumnation of one of the great achievements of history. The war between the States, made certain that this Union was to be indissoluble. The successful construction of the Union Pacific Railroad, despite hostile Indians, the scorching heat of arid plains and the almost impassable mountain ranges, demonstrated that this was to be one nation from coast, to coast. It was an epoch in man’s struggle to conquer space. “Thanks to the genius of Cecil B. de Mille, we of this day and all future generations have the glorious opportunity of viewing upon the screen in dramatic and historically accurate presentation the story of this great accomplishment. The picture, ‘Union Pacific’ is, in its way, as great a wonder as the building of the railroad itself. To our children, and to us who watch the drama unfold before our eyes, it cannot fail to bring a quickening of the pulse. We have a heritage for which our fathers endured every form of hardship. It is ours to preserve. The significant celebration taking place this week in Omaha, and the showing over the country of this picture, destined to rank as one of the greatest productions of all time, will do much to unify our people. For tha r reason 1 have welcomed this ipportnn--1 Ity to give expression to these unique ivents.”