Dawn on the Great Divide (1942)

Buck Roberts is leading a wagon train of railroad supplies and Jim Corkle and his henchman Loder are out to stop them by using white men dressed as Indians for the attacks.

Director:

Howard Bretherton

Writers:

Adele S. Buffington (screenplay), James Oliver Curwood (story)

Stars:

Buck Jones, Mona Barrie, Raymond Hatton

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Buck Jones	...	Buck Roberts
Mona Barrie	...	Sadie Rand
Raymond Hatton	...	Sandy Hopkins
Robert Lowery	...	Terry Wallace
Rex Bell	...	Jack Carson
Maude Eburne	...	Sarah Harkins
Christine McIntyre	...	Mary Harkins, Sarah's Daughter
Betty Blythe	...	Mrs. Elmira Corkle
Robert Frazer	...	Judge John Corkle
Harry Woods	...	Jim Corkle the Judge's Brother
Tristram Coffin	...	Matt Rand (as Tris Coffin)
Lee Shumway	...	Joe Wallace, Rail Road Official
Roy Barcroft	...	Chuck Loder
Steve Clark	...	Alex Kirby, Carson's Messinger
Warren Jackson	...	Fred Cooke, Bartender

Storyline

Buck Roberts is leading a wagon train of railroad supplies and Jim Corkle and his henchman Loder are out to stop them by using white men dressed as Indians for the attacks.

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Plot Keywords:

rough riders series | singer

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Taglines:

UNKNOWN DANGERS HELD NO TERROR...for the covered wagon scouts..the Commandos of fierce frontier days!

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 December 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amanhecer na Fronteira

Filming Locations:

Walker Ranch - 19152 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Monogram Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

63 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The last film of cowboy star Buck Jones.

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Soundtracks

"Beautiful Dreamer"
(uncredited)
Written by Stephen Foster
Sung by Christine McIntyre and Robert Lowery

User Reviews

Buck Jones Rides Into the Sunset

"Dawn On the Great Divide" was to be another entry in Monogram's popular Rough Rider series which had starred Buck Jones, Tim McCoy and Raymond Hatton. At that time McCoy was called into active service in WWII and he was replaced by Rex Bell who had starred in a couple of poverty row series in the early 30s. Jones and Hatton continued to play the same characters namely Buck Roberts and Sandy Hopkins respectively. Bell, who was no McCoy, played Jack Carson the third member of the trio.

The story (which appears to have a larger budget than usual) has Jones and Hatton guiding a wagon train of settlers and railroad supplies across the plains. Meanwhile Jim Corkle (Harry Woods) and his gang have been raiding the wagon trains disguised as Indians, to protect their interest in the town of Beaver Lake. Bell is working under cover within Wood's organization. Naturally, good triumphs over evil in the finale.

Unfortunately, this would be the last of the Rough Rider series as Buck Jones would die tragically in a fire in Boston in November, 1942 before this film was released. It was however, a better than average film for him to end his illustrious career, that had dated back to the early days of silent films.

The picture is also blessed with a great cast of familiar supporting players. Mona Barrie plays Sadie, the gambling lady, and Christine McIntyre plays Mary the good heroine who gets to sing a couple of songs. Roy Barcroft who was just coming into his own, has the honor of being the last villain that Jones ever gunned down. Others in Woods' gang include Robert Frazer, Bud Osborne, I. Stanford Jolley and Dennis Moore. Robert Lowery and Tris Coffin appear in other roles.

Rex Bell was more famous for being married to silent film "It" girl Clara Bow. Except for a couple of insignificant minor parts, this would also be his final film. Bell would go on to become the Lieutenant-Governor of Nevada in the late 50s.

I have to admit that I had a lump in my throat as I watched old favorite Buck Jones ride off into the sunset for the last time.