Slaughter Trail (1951)

Three outlaws rob the stage and then flee. When their horses give out they murder some Indians to get fresh ones. But this puts the Indians on the war path and they have to take refuge in ... See full summary »

Director:

Irving Allen

Writer:

Sid Kuller

Stars:

Brian Donlevy, Gig Young, Virginia Grey

Cast

Cast overview:
Brian Donlevy	...	Capt. Dempster
Gig Young	...	Ike Vaughn aka Murray
Virginia Grey	...	Lorabelle Larkin
Andy Devine	...	Sgt. Macintosh
Robert Hutton	...	Lt. Morgan
Terry Gilkyson	...	Singalong

Storyline

Three outlaws rob the stage and then flee. When their horses give out they murder some Indians to get fresh ones. But this puts the Indians on the war path and they have to take refuge in an Army fort to avoid them. The Indians then arrive offering peace if the three men are turned over to them. The fort's commanding Officer wants peace but the rules say the men must be tried in a white man's court leaving the Indians no choice but to attack.

---

Plot Keywords:

stagecoach | 1880s

---

Genres:

Western

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 October 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

El sendero de la muerte

Filming Locations:

Corriganville, Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Irving Allen Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Cinecolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

As reported by Robert Osborne during a TCM airing of the film, Howard Da Silva was originally cast in this film and performed the role in its entirety. However, just before it was distributed, he was denounced as a communist sympathizer in the McCarthy hearings. Producer Howard Hughes (a staunch anti-Communist) ordered all of Da Silva's scenes to be re-shot using Brian Donlevy. So the film was overhauled to incorporate Donlevy and he became the leading man.

---

Goofs

In the dance social scene, the guitar player is playing a 1940's model Gibson F-hole guitar.

---

Quotes

Woman Dancer: You know, I can look into your eyes and see you have led a gay, romantic life. If I'm not too personal, what do you do for a living?
Rufus Black: I sell coffins!

---

Soundtracks

"Ballad Bandelier"
Written by Lyn Murray and Sid Kuller

User Reviews

Annoying song brings down otherwise routine western

There are some good things to say about "Slaughter Trail." For instance, seeing Brian Donlevy and Gig Young in an oater IS different. But the annoying song that runs throughout, seems to have been written by a third-grader. There is much use of stock footage for the Indian wars, and the plot is predictable and pedestrian. This one is very easy to pass up.