Engineer Johnny Munroe is enlisted to build a railroad tunnel through a mountain to reach mines. His task is complicated, and his ethics are compromised, when he falls in love with his boss's daughter
Practical Effects
Real location shooting in Peru—1947 studio execs actually left Burbank!
Production
Massive sets that cost more than the actual Peruvian economy.
Acting
Judith Anderson stealing scenes as the spinster secretary with opinions.
Director
Richard Wallace
John Wayne
Johnny Munroe
Laraine Day
Maura Alexander Munroe
Cedric Hardwicke
Frederick Alexander (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)v
Judith Anderson
Miss Ellen Braithwaite
Anthony Quinn
Ricky Vegas
James Gleason
Pop Mathews
Grant Withers
Fog
Paul Fix
Joe
Fernando Alvarado
Chico
Harry Woods
Holden
Charles Trowbridge
Señor Tobar
Martín Garralaga
Chavez
Blanca Vischer
Young Woman (uncredited)
Max Wagner
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The film's Peruvian locations were so remote that crew members had to be flown in by military aircraft, and John Wayne reportedly hated every minute of the altitude.
This was RKO's attempt to give Wayne a 'prestige' drama after WWII, but audiences preferred him shooting people to building infrastructure—explaining that 5.3 TMDB score.
US
