Tycoon (1947)
Engineer Johnny Munroe (John Wayne) 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' daughter.
Breath-taking Adventure !
Johnny Munroe: I'm gonna' build your railroad, mister. And when I'm finished with it, you can take it and wrap it around your neck for a lavaliere!
Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden - 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California, USA
RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
(Studio)
Produced for three million two hundred nine thousand dollars, this was R.K.O. Pictures' biggest flop of 1947, losing one million thirty-five thousand dollars.
Maureen O'Hara was originally to play the female lead in this movie. R.K.O. producers, however, assigned her to make Sinbad, the Sailor (1947) and cast Laraine Day instead.
James Agee's review of this movie included one of the most famous critical quotes of all time: "Several tons of dynamite is set off in this film, none of it under the right people."
This was the most expensive movie produced by R.K.O. Pictures to date.
Uncredited theatrical movie debut of Jan Sterling (Dancer at Fiesta).
Revealing mistakes
As the work crew is putting the last bridge span in place, their shadows are clearly visible on the lower part of the sky in the background.
When the tunnel is blown leaving Curly dead inside, the front of the mountain surrounding the tunnel is clearly a fake facade as it shakes and moves during the explosion.
Miscellaneous
In the closing scenes where the engine and the bridge span fall into the torrent below, Johnny (John Wayne) escapes by running along the tops of the wagons. It is obviously a stunt man since his body shape and hair are different from that of John Wayne's.