The movie “Pony Express,” released in 1953, tells the story of how Buffalo Bill Cody (Charlton Heston) and Wild Bill Hickok (Forrest Tucker) joined forces to establish the Pony Express, a system that reduced mail delivery time from coast to coast. The film depicts their efforts to get the service running between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, while contending with individuals trying to sabotage it—played by Rhonda Fleming and Michael Moore—and facing conflict with Native Americans under the leadership of chief Yellow Hand (Pat Hogan). It’s an enjoyable Western featuring vibrant Technicolor cinematography and a strong cast. It's hard to dislike a film starring Charlton Heston and Rhonda Fleming, and Jan Sterling provides some amusement as a woman reminiscent of Calamity Jane who has her eye on Buffalo Bill. The Pony Express operated for just a year and a half, from April 1860 to November 1861. During that brief period, it was the fastest way to communicate between East and West until Western Union completed the transcontinental telegraph in late October 1861, which then rendered the Pony Express unnecessary. Despite its financial failure, the service delivered approximately 35,000 pieces of mail and played a crucial role in connecting California with the rest of the United States. As is common in Hollywood productions, particularly those from that era, historical accuracy takes a backseat to dramatic license. While Buffalo Bill Cody did work as a messenger for the Pony Express owners at Leavenworth, Kansas—not as a rider—he was 14 years old at the time, not the 29 he appeared to be during filming. Although Cody later claimed in his autobiography that he had been a rider, historians have found no evidence to support this assertion (a fact complicated by Cody’s need for ongoing publicity). He did engage in a fight and kill someone named Yellow Hair, but that incident occurred in 1876, sixteen years after the events portrayed in the film; hence the name change to Yellow Hand. Wild Bill Hickok was 23 when he worked for the Pony Express as a stableman at Rock Creek station in eastern Nebraska. The movie does acknowledge the dangers of working for the Pony Express. Sixteen employees were killed at relay stations during the Pyramid Lake War of 1860 in Nevada, also known as the Paiute War. Additionally, eight riders died during the 19 months the service was active: four were killed by Native Americans, one was hanged after killing a man while intoxicated, one died accidentally, and two succumbed to freezing temperatures. The film includes a brief appearance of mountain man Jim Bridger (Porter Hall), who discovered Bridger Pass in south-central Wyoming in 1850, a route used by the Pony Express. While the narrative could have been more captivating, “Pony Express” is generally entertaining and avoids being silly, and it might inspire viewers to learn more about the actual history. The film has a running time of 1 hour and 41 minutes and was filmed in Kanab, Utah; Arizona; and at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. GRADE: B-

Source on TMDB