The Big Trail (1930)

The Big Trail (1930)****

Fox Film Corporation
Director: Raoul Walsh

   Billed as "The most important picture ever produced," The Big Trail is indeed an historic moment in the history of motion pictures. One of the earliest widescreen films, the on-site locations are amazing and combined with the format, one truly feels the significance of this film even 80 years after its creation. That being said, I do have to warn you though the run time is as epic; 2 hours and 5 minutes. Set aside some time to enjoy it though. While Walsh was casting this film he stumbled on a prop guy named Marion "Duke" Morrison. Walsh didn't like the name and went with something a bit more all-American - John Wayne!
   This film has it all! Great performances all around ,though I didn't need the gimmicky cat noises from Pa Bascom (Frederick Burton). This is standard stuff at the time, along with the comic relief of Gus and his mother-in-law. Wayne leads the cast as scout Breck Coleman who is after the men who murdered his friend. In his pursuit, he joins up with one of the first wagons heading into the wild frontier of Oregon. The wagon boss (played by Tyrone Power Sr.) has hired the two men (Ian Keith, Charles Stevens) to help lead the wagons and so Coleman tags along as a scout. There is of course the romantic involvement with a young girl (Marguerite Churchill) so already in 1930 we have the standard western plot highlights. In any case, a must see!