The Big Trail (1930)

INFORMATION FROM IMDb

Plot Summary
Breck leads a wagon train of pioneers through Indian attack, storms, deserts,
swollen rivers, down cliffs and so on while looking for the murder of a trapper
and falling in love with Ruth.

Full Cast
John Wayne .... Breck Coleman
Marguerite Churchill .... Ruth Cameron
El Brendel .... Gussie
Tully Marshall .... Zeke
Tyrone Power Sr. .... Red Flack, wagon boss (as Tyrone Power)
David Rollins .... Dave 'Davey' Cameron
Frederick Burton .... Pa Bascom
Ian Keith .... Bill Thorpe
Charles Stevens .... Lopez
Louise Carver .... Gussie's mother-in-law
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chief John Big Tree .... Indian (uncredited)
Ward Bond .... Sid Bascom (uncredited)
Nino Cochise .... Indian (uncredited)
Iron Eyes Cody .... Indian (uncredited)
Don Coleman .... Wrangler (uncredited)
Emslie Emerson .... Sairey (uncredited)
Alphonse Ethier .... Marshal (uncredited)
Dannie Mac Grant .... (uncredited)
Marcia Harris .... Mrs. Riggs (uncredited)
Marilyn Harris .... Pioneer girl (uncredited)
DeWitt Jennings .... Boat Captain Hollister (uncredited)
Marjorie Leet .... Mildred Riggs (uncredited)
Marion Lessing .... (uncredited)
William V. Mong .... Wellmore, trading post owner (uncredited)
Pete Morrison .... Wrangler (uncredited)
Dodo Newton .... Abigail Vance (uncredited)
Jack Padjan .... Pioneer (uncredited)
Helen Parrish .... Honey Girl Cameron (uncredited)
Robert Parrish .... Pioneer boy (uncredited)
Jack Peabody .... Bill Gillis (uncredited)
Russ Powell .... Windy Bill (uncredited)
Frank Rainboth .... Ohio man (uncredited)
Apache Bill Russell .... (uncredited)
Andy Shuford .... Bit part (uncredited)
Gertrude Van Lent .... Sister from Missouri (uncredited)
Lucille Van Lent .... Sister from Missouri (uncredited)

Writing Credits
Hal G. Evarts (story)
Raoul Walsh (story contributor) uncredited
Marie Boyle (screenplay) (dialogue) uncredited &
Jack Peabody (screenplay) (dialogue) uncredited
Florence Postal (screenplay) (dialogue) uncredited

Original Music
R.H. Bassett (uncredited)
Peter Brunelli (uncredited)
Alfred Dalby (uncredited)
Arthur Kay (uncredited)
Jack Virgil (uncredited)

Cinematography
Lucien N. Andriot (photographed by) (35mm version) (as Lucien Andriot)
Arthur Edeson

Stunts
Steve Clemente ... stunts (uncredited)
Iron Eyes Cody ... stunts (uncredited)
Jack Padjan ... stunt coordinator (uncredited) Camera and Electrical Department

Trivia
Gary Cooper was originally offered the role of Breck Coleman and wanted it, but he was under contract to Paramount Pictures, which refused to loan him out. The role was eventually given to John Wayne.

This was his only talking film of Tyrone Power Sr., father of Tyrone Power. He died in 1931.

Incredibly, five different versions of this film were shot simultaneously. (1) a 70mm version in the Grandeur process for exhibition in the biggest movie palaces; (2) a standard 35mm version for general release; (3) a 35mm alternate French language version La piste des géants (1931)' (4) a 35 mm alternate Spanish language version La gran jornada (1931), and (5) a 35 mm alternate German language version Die große Fahrt (1931). The three alternate language versions were shot with (mostly) different casts.

Reportedly this film debuted at a running time of 158 minutes. However, this is unconfirmed as of May 2008.

This film was shot in both the wide screen format, synonymous with "Cinemescope", as well as the standard format. Special wide screens were needed. Most theaters featured only the standard version of the film. Moviegoers at that time, the 1930s, had difficulty paying higher ticket prices to accommodate the new process. This process was soon abandoned but reappeared in 1953 with The Robe (1953), produced in Cinemescope. Television had taken some revenue away from the movie industry and the economy had improved.

John Wayne's first movie role. Raoul Walsh was having trouble casting the movie when he saw Wayne taking furniture off a truck. Wayne worked for the studio in the prop department.

Marion Morrison was discovered working in the part department and was cast in this film. The producers didn't like his name. Raoul Walsh (the director, who discovered him) suggested Wayne as a last name. He had recently been reading about General Anthony Wayne (Mad Anthony Wayne). The studio added John and the rest was history.

The story is set somewhere between 1837 and 1845. The first major wave of settlers arrived on the Oregon Trail in 1843.

According to the Nov. 12, 1930 issue of the Idaho Falls Post, this movie was once set to be titled "The Oregon Trail". The change, as stated, was made in response to the requests from nearby residents of Jackson, WY, where the bulk of the movie was filmed.

At the beginning of filming John Wayne became ill with dysentery and lost 20 lbs.

Goofs
Continuity
In the last scene where Breck and Ruth are reunited,
Breck comes up the trail and is seen by Ruth.
A close up of Breck shows him carrying his rifle in his right hand.
Breck starts to run to meet Ruth.
The shot shifts to a distant shot as we watch Ruth and Breck running to each other.
Breck's rifle is now slung over his shoulder.

Factual errors
(at around 10 mins) Breck Coleman leans his rifle against the water pump,
then leaves it there and goes into the house. Not something a 'real' frontiersman would do.
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Revealing mistakes
After Thorpe is killed while trying to murder Breck Coleman (John Wayne),
Flack (Tyrone Power Sr.) talks about dismissing Breck as a guide.

While he does this, Ward Bond (standing to the right) is clearly mouthing Flack's lines.

Memorable Quotes

Filming Locations
Buttercup Dunes, Imperial County, California, USA
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA
Grand Teton Pass, Wyoming, USA
Hurricane Bluffs, Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah, USA
Imperial County, California, USA
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA
Moise-National Buffalo Range, Montana, USA
Moisie, Montana, USA
Oregon, USA
Sacramento River, California, USA
Sacramento, California, USA
Sequoia National Park - 47050 Generals Highway, Three Rivers, California, USA
St. George, Utah, USA
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
Yuma, Arizona, USA
Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah, USA

The Big Trail is a 1930 lavish early widescreen movie shot on location across
the American West starring John Wayne in his first leading role and directed by Raoul Walsh.
The-Big-Trail-Photo.jpg
In 2006, the United States Library of Congress deemed this film "culturally,
historically, or aesthetically significant",
and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.

I enjoyed the film, and although it was a flop at the Box Office,
it brought the name of John Wayne, to the big time screen.
Raoul Walsh, giving the young John Ford prop man, a surprise leading role,
changing Dukes name in the process!!

It's amusing now, to see the big fella dashing and scampering
around with a squeaky voice,
and apart from the hammy acting, typical of the era,
and Ward Bond, mouthing everyone elses words,
it's a great film.

User Review

Quote

Big, gritty and ... wide screen in 1930?
14 August 2001 | by Rodger Schultz (Severna Park, MD)

John Wayne's first starring role just blew me away. Televised letterbox style on AMC, I had to check and make sure I had the right date. Sure enough, this 1930 film was made using a 55 mm wide-screen process. Aside from that, it features some of the grittiest, most realistic footage of the trek west I've seen. Wagons, men and animals are really lowered down a cliff face by rope. Trees are chopped by burly men -- and burly women -- so the train can move another 10 feet. The Indians are not the "pretty boy" city slickers who portrayed them later; they're the real deal. A river crossing in a driving rain storm is so realistic, it has to be real (In fact, I understand that director Raoul Walsh nearly lost the entire cast during this sequence). I could smell the wet canvas. Each day is an agony. The various sub-plots are forgettable but the film as a whole is not. I can't think of another title that can beat The Big Trail in evoking a sense of living history on the trail to Oregon. Bravo.

1RU0N52d7_mkHnWtbWKaCVohu0Tvcctm40TVhmSHSEE.jpg

Previous discussion:-
The Big Trail

Thought it would be a good idea to transfer all the previous comments, across to,
this, new Forum.

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The Ringo Kid*
post Dec 5 2005, 10:13 PM
This sounds like a great idea.

Though I have not watched The Big Trail in several years, I do remember liking it and thought it was great to see a really young Duke at the helm.

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SXViper
post Dec 6 2005, 02:49 AM
It has been along time for me as well since I have seen this movie. I must confess it is not one of my favorites. And to be honest it was not a well acted movie by Duke in my opinion. I realize that this was his first major starring role, and it shows, but he did learn allot from the filming of this movie and it shows througout the rest of his career. The one notable thing about the movie was some of the technical aspects, like being 1 of the 1st widescreen movies ever filmed and some of the stunts that were performed were quit outstanding for the era. Overall, I would give this movie 2.5 stars out of 5.*

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arthurarnell*
post Dec 6 2005, 07:13 AM
Hi

I think the film is quite watchable, allowing for the fact that it is some years since I saw it.

Critics at the time liked it The New york Times saying that MR Wayne acquits himself with no little distinction. His performance is pleasingly natural[I].
and Variety The Big puzzle to the Big Trail is why it was not given drawing names

Later William K Everson said It carried far more drama and conviction than anything in the Covered Wagon one of the most impressive of all superwesterns[I]

You also have to bear in mind when watching it that a number of theatrical actors were in the film and their acting showed. They were also a drunken bunch of bums and it should have been titled the Big Drink as most of them were rarely sober.

The scenes such as lowering the wagons down the cliff are very good and way ahead of their time.

The reason the film was not the success it should have been was the format the super 70 was in place in only a few cinemas throughout the United States and owners were not prepared to accommodate the film by putting the special screens in. Later as Cinemscope the new innovation became popular fifty years after its initial failure. At the same time Able Gance was encountering the same difficulties with His Napolean which was shown on three screens (the forerunner to Cinerama).

It shoud also be taken into account that apart from it being John Wayne's first major role for a large portion of the making of the picture he was ill, and at one point it was even suggested that he be dropped from the picture.

In view of all the hardships trials and tribulations that went on. I think his performance was creditable.

If you watch Ford's The Iron Horse which is credited as being a masterpiece then Walsh's The Big Trail for both story and filming is on a par.

Regards

Arthur

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Senta*
post Dec 6 2005, 10:55 AM
Hi all,
it is a great idea of reviewing films of the week. Even if some of us (like me) didn't see the film yet, it will encourage them to somehow get and see it at last.
I didn't see The Big Trail for the pity, but I hope to see it sometime. May be I shall look for it at e-bay. I like other Walsh films, so I think that this one was also good and it is really interesting to see Duke in his first major part.
I have read all your comments with great interest.
Regards,
Senta

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ZACK613
post Dec 6 2005, 07:46 PM
Duke's acting is solid in the Movie. I found it well made and well acted over all. As to being as good as the IRON HORSE...I don't know about that. I don't think BIG TRAIL was any were as many powerful images as IRON HORSE has. The acting is pretty much on par but Walsh is no John Ford. *

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Hondo Duke Lane*
post Dec 6 2005, 11:25 PM
QUOTE(arthurarnell @ Dec 6 2005, 02:13 AM)
.....You also have to bear in mind when watching it that a number of theatrical actors were in the film and their acting showed. They were also a drunken bunch of bums and it should have been titled the Big Drink as most of them were rarely sober.

.....Regards

Arthur

Hey Arthur,

Are you talking about drunk in the movie or drunk while production was going on?

Cheers B)

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ejgreen77*
QUOTE(Hondo Duke Lane @ Dec 6 2005, 07:25 PM)
Are you talking about drunk in the movie or drunk while production was going on?
*

Drunk while production was going on. If I recall correctly, "The Big Drunk" was co-star Marguerite Churchill's nickname for the Duke!

E.J.

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ethanedwards
post Dec 6 2005, 11:38 PM

Hi ejgreen77,
Quite correct, in fact the film was nicknamed THE BIG DRUNK
In fact Duke was so ill,(whether it was drink or not, was never said),
Raoul Walsh, considered taking Duke out of the film!!
Rumour had it, that Duke showed up for work, some mornings, in such bad shape,
that he had to be wired to his horse, to keep his body erect!!

Keith

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Hondo Duke Lane
post Dec 7 2005, 12:59 AM
Alright, alright!

I know for a fact that all of you were not around when this movie was made. How did you know about this little history of this movie? How can Duke do such a thing when this was his big chance to transform form "B" movies to the "A" list? Did he know that he was at risk of messing up his career?

I can say that wasn't really smart. <_<

Cheers B)

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ejgreen77*
post Dec 7 2005, 02:14 AM
Hondo,

I was just trying to remember what I read in the book "John Wayne: American." As I do not have the book here in front of me (I rented a copy from the local library several months ago), I may not be completely correct in every detail. However, I'm pretty sure that was what the book said. Maybe someone else who has the book can confirm this?

As to your second question, we know Duke lead quite a wild life while he was a student at USC (if the legends can be believed). So its definitely possible some of that carried over into his early work. His first big break came fairly quickly, maybe he didn't appreciate it enough then. After all, the Duke was certainly no alter boy!

E.J.

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Hondo Duke Lane
post Dec 7 2005, 03:05 AM
Good Point, E.J.

I do have that book and I read it January 1999. You can see that it's been almost 7 years. I guess I better get it out and read it again. I wrote in the book when I read it, so that's how I know when.

Cheers B)

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Chester
post Dec 7 2005, 06:48 AM
Well, this thread sent me scampering to my bookshelf for my copy of John Wayne, American.

On page 87, referring to Raoul Walsh, it says he commented that his New York talent "probably scattered more whiskey bottles across the Western plains than all of the pioneers." They drank late into the night, complained bitterly about, and occasionally missed, early calls; and appeared red-eyed and hung over on the set. They were unaccustomed to the heat of the West or the demands of the camera, ignorant about the need to flim in the early mornings before the sun rose so high that it washed out shots . . . .

Duke, on the other hand, followed every order suggestion Walsh made. Once again he was the star pupil and athlete - attentive, respectful, coachable. He did not drink, keep late hours, or make a pass at his leading lady. Marguerite Churchill, Walsh observed, "looked stunning in a sunbonnet, but young Wayne's full attention seemed to be concentrated on the part he ws to play. If Lady Godiva had ridden across [the set] with her hair cut off, it was a safe bet he would not even have glanced at her."

The above information was footnoted to be from Raoul Walsh's book, Each Man in His Time.

So it sounds to me like Duke was the consummate professional, something I have seen alluded to many times, while others on the crew behaved just as has been stated above.

Chester

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ethanedwards*
post Dec 7 2005, 10:46 AM
Hi,
In the book DUKE- The Life and Image of John Wayne
by Ronald L.Davies
He quotes Duke as being a culprit, but also adds
after Walsh had threatened to replace him, because
he was constantly ill, he later complimented
Duke and Ward,
"I guess, I should congratulate, you and your friend Bond,
if only for staying sober."
Dukes reply was,

"You hired me to act, Ward feels the same way"

Keith

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Senta*
post Dec 7 2005, 11:12 AM
Hi all,
The discussion of making The Big Trail sounds very interesting. For a pity I didn't read these books, but it is hard to belive that Duke was drank the most of time. It was not like him during the work. With what his illness was connected?
Regards,
Senta

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ethanedwards*
post Dec 7 2005, 11:48 AM
Hi Vera,
His illness, wa a poorly tummy, you know what I mean?
May have not been anything to do with drink,
may have been food poisoning anything!!

Keith

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The Ringo Kid*
post Dec 7 2005, 06:05 PM

QUOTE(ethanedwards @ Dec 7 2005, 07:48 AM)
Hi Vera,
His illness, wa a poorly tummy, you know what I mean?
May have not been anything to do with drink,
may have been food poisoning anything!!

Keith

I can attest to eating food whether or not it is healthy food, which always makes me feel ill to my stomach. It could also be that maybe the food that they were fed was slightly tainted or was the type of food that certain people were unacustomed to eating.

For instance, if a person who all their life rarely or never had any spicy food all of a sudden ate nothing but spicy food, then more than likely they would always feel ill.

I had food poisoning once when I was in college. From the sounds of what is posted about The Duke always beiong ill, does not sound like he had a case of food poisoning.

Just my opinion though.

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arthurarnell*
post Dec 9 2005, 07:14 AM
Hi

In my opening thread I deliberately said that Duke was ill during the making of the picture. All agree that the other actors drank to excess.

In Duke the life and times of John Wayne page 99 the following states:-
QUOTE

" The cameras had hardly begun to roll when Duke came down with a case of Dysentry so bebilitating that he was bedridden and unable to work. Walsh shot the film around him, hoping day by day that he'd soon recover, but by the second week he was behind schedule and told Duke that if he could,t get back to work he'd have to be replaced in the film. Duke climbed out of his sick bed twenty pounds lighter and shaky and went before the cameras."

Incidentally in the same chapter the authors quote the equipment that was taken on the locations the logistics are awsome.

Regards

Arthur

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arthurarnell*
post Dec 10 2005, 10:48 AM
Hi

In reviwing the Big Trail, no review would be complete without the reminder that it was this film that saw the birth of John Wayne.

Walsh had picked the young Marion Morrison but thought the name didn't match the image of a western star.

Paul Shenhan the producer at Fox was a student of the American wars of the Revolution and suggested Anthony Wayne after the American general Mad Anthony Wayne.

Walsh liked the surname but considered the forname as being too Italian. He then came up with John.

Hence John Wayne.

Regards

Arthur

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kilo 6*
post Dec 27 2005, 05:32 AM
Hello All
We went out of town for Christmas and I am behind on my reading , so forgive me for a late entry on The Big Trail. ( We don't do electric anything, much when on vacation ) I read that John Wayne impressed Raoul Walsh by working on a set all day and then helping his buddies break down and pack up then unload equipment. Duke was working on the production side most of the time and on this occasion after a long hot day of desert shooting ( working on the cast side of things) Duke watched several fellow production side, workers, who had been ( like him ) assigned as background performers/ extras, for the day, go home leaving the crew they regularly worked along side, shorthanded for cleanup. Duke stayed on, unpaid, to help his chums get the job done and worked hard. Walsh saw that the man had grit and loyalty and perhaps began to consider him in a new light, or from a different ( camera?) angle. Well it may be just a nice storey but I want to think it,s true and I wont buy a pickled egg for anyone in a tavern who says different. Murray ( thanks for the new thread EE it's good to return to the board and have this as a sort of Christmas gift waiting. As I said b 4 there must be something in the Torquay water, are you sure you are not part Scottish or Irish?
Murray

Hi RoughRider,

The VHS version I have, which is a genuine
CBS/ FOX release, has a run-time of 116 minutes.
The are a few trailers at the beggining,
but they are not included in this time.

It's interesting to note

The Complete Films of John Wayne

states a run time of 125 minutes!!

Hi RoughRider,

I've checked the film.

It is not Widescreen,and the actual film,
indeed has a run-time of 116 minutes
from start/end credits.

Hi Rough Rider,

My version, exits very quickly at 'The End'
with the minimum of music,
non of these days, endless credits for another
half an hour!!!

Hi RoughRider,

OK, well, it does seem totally confusing,
and If I hadn't carried out a physical check,
it would be even more so.

It looks like all the packaging has changed,
and bear in mind, I bought my copy,
when it was first re-released, a few years back!!

Here is the only thumbnail I could find,
but this is the same cover.

[ATTACH]951]

The Front cover shows, a portrait type picture,
headed by THE BIG TRAIL.
under the picture is CBS FOX logo,
and 'ALL TIME GREATS'
(they also issued, Rio Lobo, Big Jake, The Undefeated,
The Comancheros, North to Alaska, The Barbarian and the Geisha,
at the same time)
_______________________________________________________
The spine shows, the same logo,
followed by' JOHN WAYNE COLLECTION'

THE BIG TRAIL

HI-FI VHS
CBS FOX VIDEO

1362.
_______________________________________________________________
The back cover has the usual blurb, and 3 stills.
with these references.

Black and White
Running time:- approx 116 minutes.

Copyright. 1930
Renewed:- 1957.
______________________________________________________________________
On the VHS label is printed,
Copyright 1990,( When I bought it)
_______________________________________________________________________
I believe that the

The Big Trail- The John Wayne Film Society


still has this in stock, click on the link above,
although the cover is different.
It might be a good idea to EMail,
Patrick and David.