Wagon Trail (1935) User Reviews

Pretty good--and very simple.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 13 August 2011]

This B-western stars Harry Carey--a man who was generally a supporting actor and who played in quite a few of John Wayne's films (as did his son, Harry Carey, Jr.). Apart from "Trader Horn" and a few westerns, you can't find too many films that starred him on DVD. It's a shame, as he was a darn fine actor.

"Wagon Trail" finds Carey as the Sheriff. A gang is robbing stage coaches and the only lead, surprisingly, is when the Sheriff's own son is caught for his involvement in one of the robberies! This puts Carey in an awful position--does he serve the law or take it into his own hands to save his son? I liked this B-film because it was simple, direct and lacking any sort of adornment. In other words, Carey and the rest made a film that was exciting and free of clichés. Not great but a very good film---especially in light of a tiny budget.

Marshal's Kid

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 24 June 2010]

Some of the plot elements of Wagon Trail are to be found almost 40 years later in a John Wayne western called Cahill, US Marshal. Like Harry Carey who was the Duke's original model for a screen persona, Wayne had to deal with some juvenile delinquent offspring of his who have strayed on the outlaw path.

Carey is the town marshal whose kid Edward Norris has accumulated some gambling debts over at Roger Williams's saloon. Williams is holding his IOUs and with that hanging over Norris persuades him to join his outlaw gang, a side interest Williams has. When a robbery is committed and a law officer killed, Norris is left holding the bag and he won't squeal. Partly he's afraid, but also he's got a thing for Williams's stepdaughter Gertrude Messinger.

How it all gets resolved is the plot of Wagon Trail. Of course the parameters of B westerns for the Saturday matinée crowd are observed in this film. Shortly Carey would be leaving B western starring roles behind and transition nicely in his career to some great character roles, some of those parts without a hint of sagebrush.

Wagon Trail is not too bad for a B western and holds up well even though the production values for this independent oater are none too good.