The Omaha Trail (1942)

Vane hires Candel to haul his locomotive by freight wagon to Omaha. Ross knows that the railroad will mean the end of his freighting business and plans to make sure the locomotive does not ... See full summary »

Director:

Edward Buzzell

Writers:

Jesse Lasky Jr. (story), Jesse Lasky Jr. (screenplay),

Stars:

James Craig, Pamela Blake, Dean Jagger

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Craig	...	Pat Candel
Pamela Blake	...	Julie Santley
Dean Jagger	...	'Pipestone' Ross
Edward Ellis	...	Mr. Vane
Chill Wills	...	Henry Hawkins
Donald Meek	...	Engineer Jonah McCleod
Howard Da Silva	...	Ben Santley
Harry Morgan	...	Henchman Nat (as Henry Morgan)
Morris Ankrum	...	Henchman Job

Storyline

Vane hires Candel to haul his locomotive by freight wagon to Omaha. Ross knows that the railroad will mean the end of his freighting business and plans to make sure the locomotive does not get through. When his attempts are foiled, he and his men take all the guns and leave. With the Indians about to attack, Candel and his crew find themselves defenseless.

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Plot Keywords:

locomotive | attack | missouri | business competition | brother sister relationship | 

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1942 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

62 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Both Hooper Atchley (Judge) and Edward Hearn are in studio records/casting call lists as actors in this movie, but they did not appear.

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Soundtracks

"'Taters and Corn"
(1942)
Written by Earl K. Brent (as Earl Brent)
Played on a guitar and sung by Chill Wills (uncredited)
Played on an organ and sung by James Craig and others (uncredited)

User Reviews

Routine Oater Boosted By Superior Cast

This is routine stuff for the most part. A knowledgeable, amiable, faithful scout (Craig) leads a wagon train with a steam locomotive thru rugged hostile Indian territory. Of course we also have the wagonmaster (Jagger) who wants to prevent the building of the railway, hence he goes all out to sabotage the trip. There seems to be a lot of stock footage here, and a lot of shooting with backscreens on soundstages which only hampers the story. Craig and Jagger also appeared in the superior VALLEY OF THE SUN this same year. The cast is rounded out by Harry (M*A*S*H) Morgan, Chill Wills, Morris Ankrum, and a bevy of notables from Hollywood's Poverty Row. Worth a watch, but you won't miss anything if you cook up a pizza with one eye and view the flick with the other.