Pittsburgh (1942)

Pittsburgh: Directed by Lewis Seiler. With Marlene Dietrich, Randolph Scott, John Wayne, Frank Craven. Charles ‘Pittsburgh’ Markham rides roughshod over his friends, his lovers, and his ideals in his trek toward financial success in the Pittsburgh steel industry, only to find himself deserted and lonely at the top. When his crash comes, he finds that fate has dealt him a second chance.

“No doubt things were confusing at the onset of World War Two, especially with one American defeat after another, yet political confusion is no reason to move Dodge City to Pennsylvania and call it Pittsburgh. This movie is a warmed-over western, pure and simple. All the ingredients of a formula plot are incorporated, including the ambition, the fist fight and the rich u0026quot;cowgirl.u0026quot; The themes of redemption for the good of the nation and cooperation in steel production define the conversion of steel plants during the war. The only real question is whether an overly ambitious industrialist (John Wayne) can be corralled for the benefit of the nation, of labour, and of the company itself. The acting is fairly stiff and the plot predictable. One expects more from the film, but it just doesnu0026#39;t happen. Redemption is a common salvation for overly selfish industrialist, but there is little that can redeem this movie–it seems to be a remake of a remake of a remake. For anyone who likes westerns, this movie is ideal. How often does one find a western in the East?”