Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Canadian Pacific Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 9, 2016

Big skies and deep mountains dominate 1949’s “Canadian Pacific,” which stars Randolph Scott as a surveyor caught up in railroad development tensions, villainous schemes, and the passions of two women. It’s period entertainment that trusts in pronounced emotions and action, making for a pleasingly traditional take on heroes and villains, but with an outdoorsy, pioneer atmosphere that offers escapism flavored with historical events.

Director Edwin L. Mann delivers a steady pace to “Canadian Pacific,” which volleys between railroad concerns and more intimate issues with the lead character, who’s struggling to define his professional and personal lives as industry upheaval commences. While thrills are limited, the feature remains on the move, using studio environments and location shooting to inspire a cross-country viewing experience, giving “Canadian Pacific” appropriate scope. Dramatics may not always be riveting, but sweep is secured.

Canadian Pacific Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.37:1 aspect ratio) presentation is an unusual situation, delivering "Canadian Pacific" with an extensive restoration striving to return to the feature's original CineColor exhibition standards. A text-based introduction fully explains the viewing experience to come (including a brief moment at the end of the picture that's in black and white), making it clear just how much time and effort went into the endeavor. Damage is present through scratches, but severity is muted, finding the movie delivering bright, relatively clear adventuring with encouraging detail, helping to explore grand locations and performance nuance. Colors are revived to satisfaction, leading with heavier reds and blues, preserving slightly unreal but cinematic hues. Delineation is secure. Grain is filmic.

Canadian Pacific Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is also prefaced with an explanation of source limitations, and hiss is quite pronounced during the listening event, even after efforts to minimize age-related issues. The track is far from precise, but it's perfectly acceptable, handling dialogue exchanges adequately. Scoring is also restrained, but mood is understood. Again, this isn't an ideal audio experience, but the restoration team does a fine job massaging quality out of damage.

Canadian Pacific Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Recombining and Restoring Two-Strip CineColor Components" (59:55, HD) is a text-heavy documentary exploring the extensive hours and concentration required to put the "Canadian Pacific" puzzle together. Narration is minimal, but comparisons are plentiful, providing the viewer with a larger understanding of this extraordinary effort to bring a feature once doomed to black and white presentations back to its original color state.

• "16mm Excerpts" (20:57, HD) offer a different color presentation of the film.

• "8mm Version" (8:53, HD) provide a peek at a popular German release of "Canadian Pacific."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:40, HD) is included.

Canadian Pacific Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Matching the effort's scale are performances, which dig into distinct characterization, delivering personality. Scott leads with defined heroism and determination, also offering satisfying chemistry with co-stars Jane Wyatt and Nancy Olson. Acting is a major part of the feature's appeal, mixing well with genre interests including Native American activity (inappropriate depictions, but the norm for the era) and standard matinee villainy. "Canadian Pacific" isn't a historical document, but an exaggerated presentation of railroad construction and industry issues, coming together with cinematic gusto.