One of the last bills signed by President Lincoln authorizes pushing the Union Pacific Railroad across the wilderness to California. But financial opportunist Asa Barrows hopes to profit from obstructing it. Chief troubleshooter Jeff Butler has his hands full fighting Barrows' agent, gambler Sid Campeau; Campeau's partner Dick Allen is Jeff's war buddy and rival suitor for engineer's daughter Molly Monahan. Who will survive the effort to push the railroad through at any cost?
Barbara Stanwyck
as Mollie Monahan
Joel McCrea
as Jeff Butler
Akim Tamiroff
as Fiesta
Robert Preston
as Dick Allen
Lynne Overman
as Leach Overmile
Brian Donlevy
as Sid Campeau
Robert Barrat
as Duke Ring
Anthony Quinn
as Cordray
Stanley Ridges
as Gen. Casement
Henry Kolker
as Asa M. Barrows
Francis McDonald
as Gen. Dodge
Willard Robertson
as Oakes Ames
