Sagebrush Trail (1933) User Reviews

Great Stuntwork!

[bsmith5552 · 6/10 · 12 November 2002]

"Sagebrush Trail" was the second in Wayne's Lone Star westerns made between 1933-35. It's one of the better entries in the series and is highlighted by the superior stuntwork of Yakima Canutt. He performs many of his signature stunts including a spectacular horse fall into a river, the mounting of a stagecoach from a prone position, a chariot like driving of a team of horses and several flying horse mounts.

The story involves Wayne on the run for a murder he didn't commit and searching for the real killer. He is befriended by an outlaw "Jones" (Lane Chandler) who brings him into the gang headed by Ed Walsh (Canutt). Wayne and Chandler become friends and compete for the affections of heroine Nancy Schubert. Meanwhile, the sheriff (Bob Burns) and his deputy (Wally Wales - aka Hal Taliaferro) are on their trail. Eventually Wayne discovers the real killer and proves his innocence.

This was one of the only pictures in the series that was not directed by Robert N. Bradbury. This one was directed by Armand Schaefer who does a pretty good job. There is plenty of action, imaginative settings and lots of hard ridin'.

Not a bad little "B" western on a modest budget.

Early John Wayne

[e_tippett · 6/10 · 18 January 2007]

I enjoyed seeing a very young John Wayne, before he had developed his signature speech, moves, etc. Sure, it was pure B Western schlock, but I had to check here before knowing for sure he was in this movie, it does not look like him at all. A must-see for all fans of John Wayne and westerns. The one thing I liked most about this movie is that even amongst the so-called "bad guys" in black hats, it half-heartedly explored the reasons why some guys joined these gangs-bad raps, wrongful imprisonment, bad choices that left them nowhere else to go and so on, so that even some of the villains elicited sympathy. The only jarring note was the blatant 30s flapper hairstyle and exaggerated eye makeup of the main female character, they didn't even make an attempt to make her look like a storekeepers daughter in the late 1800s.

"You know we ought to give up this racket though, gonna lead us both to a rope necktie one of these days."

[classicsoncall · 5/10 · 25 February 2006]

If my count is correct, this is the eleventh Lone Star Film starring John Wayne that I've seen, and it may be the best of the bunch. Not that it doesn't have it's share of gaffs, but it was entertaining and had some humor to lighten the load. Perhaps it was Armand Schaefer's directing hand that accounts for my preference over the ones done by Robert North Bradbury and Harry Fraser.

With no pun intended, this could have been an episode of "Alias Smith and Jones". Wayne's character is John Brant, escaped from prison for a murder he didn't commit; while making his getaway from the sheriff, he uses the old breathe through a reed trick to remain underwater. When he surfaces to find an outlaw waiting, he hesitates giving his name, whereby "Bob Jones" begins calling him "John Smith". Lane Chandler shares virtually equal screen time with Wayne in this oater, as the outlaw who committed the crime for which Wayne's character is being hunted.

Yakima Canutt is on hand as the outlaw gang leader, and his stunt work in the film is interesting to watch. The most daring one (as Brant) is when he's covered by a pile of brush and is positioned to grab the underside of a stagecoach to get on board, while the horses have to carefully straddle him in his prone position. For me, that was a sit up and take notice scene, one that cries out for a "how they made this movie" follow up.

Other scenes weren't half as daring, in fact there were two flying horse mounts that almost missed, but with a low budget production that didn't believe in do-overs, they stayed in the film. However there's a great sequence when (again as Brant) Yak jumps a hitching post and one horse to land on another horse. It's a good thing the horses cooperated.

Since I mentioned the use of humor earlier, I'll note a particular scene when Smith and Jones go shopping at the general store, where they both eye up the pretty Sally Blake (Nancy Shubert) for the first time. With a handful of packages each, they manage to break each other's sack of eggs creating a mess. I guess that's why they came up with egg cartons.

If you're paying attention, you'll note that when "Smith" gets dressed up to pay a visit to Sally, he removes his old shirt to put on a new one. In the story line, he was shot some two weeks earlier in the left shoulder, but that area shows no sign of damage at all. Could Wayne have been that quick a healer? In the same scene, and the only time I've ever seen it done, Wayne's character dabs his fingers into the grease of a frying pan to slick back his hair - where's the Vitalis when you need it!

For anyone who's a fan and seen a handful of Wayne's Lone Star films, you'll know how this one ends. Not so much that Smith's name is cleared and the outlaws are brought to justice, but in the fact that John Wayne's character gets the girl. It happens virtually every time, and this one fades on Smith/Brant and Sally in a smooch behind his ten gallon hat.

Wayne to Sally, "May I have some of your rutabagas, please."

[dougdoepke · 10 December 2008]

Great stunt when Wayne, concealed in a camouflaged niche in the road, grabs onto the axle as the buckboard passes over him. Looks like a Canutt engineered trick and looks also like it's Wayne and not a double that executes it. Then too, the wheel spacing has to be perfect otherwise it's road-kill for a young superstar—he really earned his money in those early days.

The movie belongs to Lane Chandler almost as much as Wayne. Together, they're a youthfully exciting team, but my guess is that they were too much alike to stay partnered. So eventually, along comes old coot Gabby Hayes and the screen gets one of its really great all- time pairings.

Pretty good story from writer Lindsley Parsons, his first screen credit, who later became a prolific producer of B-films. Over time he scripted a number of Wayne oaters with plots generally more involved than most. This one involves Wayne infiltrating gang of robbers to clear himself of a murder charge. There're several nifty episodes-- Wayne hiding out underwater as a menacing boot almost steps on him, the script making him a cook (of all things) for the gang. Note too, the opening scene of Wayne dodging railway dicks after hobo-ing it into town—I expect that resonated with 1933 audiences when half the country was riding the rails.

Some good hard riding and a spectacular crash. Too bad, however, that producer Malvern couldn't get the boys up to Lone Pine for that marvelous Sierra scenery. Instead they get to race around the scrublands of greater LA, not nearly as much fun. Note the frequent use of the Bronson Canyon cave for entrance to the gang's hideout. Despite appearances, it's only a few miles from downtown LA and the studios, and was thus a favorite for tight-budget productions, especially sci-fi from the 50's. Also in passing—this is Nancy Shubert's only screen credit, unusual for a leading lady. I wonder what her story was.

Anyhow, it's a fun trip down memory lane for us geezers and for those younger folks who appreciate action done by real people instead of blue screens and digital computers.

By cheapie standards, not bad all!

[JohnHowardReid · 5/10 · 15 April 2018]

John Wayne (John Brant), Nancy Shubert (Sally Blake), Lane Chandler (Bob Jones), Yakima Canutt (Ed Walsh, and stunt double for John Wayne), Bob Burns (Robert E. Burns) (Sheriff Parker), Wally Wales (deputy sheriff), Art Mix (henchman), Hank Bell (outlaw with chair), Earl Dwire (Blind Pete), Henry Hall (Blake), Slim Whitaker, Robert Walker, Tex Phelps, Blackjack Ward (henchmen), Ted Adams (Taggart), Silver Tip Baker (townsman), Hal Price (train driver), William Dyer (Blind Pete), Julie Kingdon (town girl), Archie Ricks (stage driver).

Director: ARMAND SCHAEFER. Screenplay: Lindsley Parsons. Story: Lindsley Parsons and Will Beale. Photography: Archie Stout. Film editor: Carl Pierson. Art director: E.R. Hickson. Sound recording: John A. Stransky, Jr. Balsley & Phillips Sound System. Producer: Paul Malvern. Executive producer: Trem Carr. A Lone Star Western, copyright 1 December 1933 by Monogram Pictures Corp. No New York opening. U.S. release: 15 December 1933. U.K. release: 4 March 1935 (sic). 6 reels. 54 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: Unjustly convicted murderer escapes from prison to hunt down vital missing witness.

NOTES: The second of Wayne's 16 Lone Star Westerns. Negative cost: a measly $10,900, comprising only 3 days of location work and but a single day of studio interiors.

COMMENT: Although it doesn't hold a candle to Wayne's Republic westerns in any department, this is still a most entertaining Lone Star Western. Nice to see Lane Chandler in a featured role, for once, and acquitting himself with honor too. Wayne is great as always, even here showing the sort of charisma and star power that would later delight so many millions of fans.

The rest of the players are not much, though Yakima Canutt has a sizable on-camera role as leader of the outlaw band. Despite limited production values and obvious technical deficiencies, plus some clichéd and rather clumsily delivered dialogue, one can still enjoy the reasonably picturesque locations and the action spots, complete with stunt-work and fast panning, which are nothing if not most enthusiastically staged.

The Best "Lone Star" Western! A landmark!

[Chance2000esl · 7/10 · 14 January 2007]

Many of these 30s low budget westerns start with the "hero wrongly accused of a crime" premise, finally discovering, catching up with and gunning down the real killer; but this one is clearly not only the best 'Lone Star' western, but is, in fact, an enjoyable, well made film, with themes, photography, locations, and stunt work you won't find in hundreds of other 'oaters.'

You'll find at least four different versions out, from the discount b/w (the VINA and who knows how many other $2.00 single film DVD copies; the Platinum "Great American Western" Volume 35 version -- which at least has three other westerns on one DVD) to the new colorized versions, including the excellent digitally restored 23-minute Sterling version with a new, modernized soundtrack -- which just zooms by). There's a reason for all this -- it's a landmark film!

Basically, the theme is not far from the mythic: the good guy (John Wayne) befriends the man who put him in prison (Lane Chandler with equal screen time), and helps him redeem himself. You get underwater photography of John Wayne escaping the sheriff; the zoom in shot of the Sheriff beside the wanted posters of Conlon and Brant, fading into a shot of them facing each other; the extensive location shots of Bronson Canyon and the Bronson 'Cave,' which has been seen in dozens of serial, western, horror and SF films (including the 1956 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers') that show all three entrances, as well as how to get up to the Canyon; the unbelievable stunt work by Yakima Canutt, including leaping up on a hitching post and over a horse to land on another horse, flying and running horse mounts; and the great acting of John Wayne -- I'm not kidding! Kudos to the director and screen writer!

A great introduction to, and high watermark of, 1930s westerns!

Just another 1930s B-film for the Duke.

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 18 September 2009]

In the 1930s, before he was a Hollywood star, John Wayne made a long string of rather ordinary B-westerns. Now these were not necessarily bad movies (well, aside from his stint as "Singing Sandy"), but they certainly were not great works of art. Like other B-westerns, they filled a niche--a cheap second film for a double feature--the sort of film that kids loved. In many ways, these films are a lot like Gene Autry films with a little bit more realism.

This film finds Wayne playing John Brant--a guy who has escaped from prison and is trying to prove his innocence. With practically no evidence to support this, his instincts tell him to make for a group of crooks out West--even though the murder occurred in Baltimore. And, in a case of coincidence only possible in movies, he just happens to find the guy who really committed the crime!! While silly, I did like that at least there was the twist that Brant found he liked the guy!

Overall, about what you'd expect from such a film. The acting, at times, was suspect but the film went by at such a fast clip that it was basically harmless entertainment.

By the way, I saw this film again on the Encore Channel and noticed right away that someone 'clever' at Fox Lorber Pictures added an annoying modern electronic musical track to this film. Avoid this version at all costs and just download the public domain version from IMDb--you'll be doing yourself a favor.

One of John Wayne's Better B Westerns

[utgard14 · 6/10 · 23 April 2014]

In the 1930s before he made it big with Stagecoach, John Wayne made a lot of low-budget B westerns. Most are entirely forgettable and some are even terrible. But the one constant in all of them was Duke's wonderful screen presence. This is one of those westerns. The plot's about an escaped convict (Wayne) who heads out west to prove his innocence by finding the man who really committed the crime he was convicted of. There's some surprisingly good stunt work in this, some of it by Duke himself. I also liked some of the twists the plot takes that keeps it from being a standard black hat vs white hat horse opera. Very good of its type.

Good for the Genre

[arfdawg-1 · 5/10 · 2 May 2014]

Imprisoned for a murder he did not commit, John Brant escapes and ends up out west.

After giving the local lawmen the slip, he joins up with an outlaw gang.

Brant finds out that 'Jones', one of the outlaws he has become friends with, committed the murder that Brant was sent up for, but has no knowledge that anyone was ever put in jail for his crime.

Willing to forgive and forget, Brant doesn't realize that 'Jones' has not only fallen for the same pretty shop girl Brant has, but begins to suspect that Brant is not truly an outlaw.

Some decent fight scenes.

But let's be honest, this is a B picture. Better than a lot of westerns made for no money and not just because Wayne is in it.

Charmer On The Cheap

[slokes · 6/10 · 21 December 2015]

Wading through the chum bucket that is John Wayne's Lone Star legacy is no easy task. That makes "Sagebrush Trail" all the more pleasant to discover, a roughhewn gem with plenty of flaws but a good deal of sparkle, too.

John Brant (Wayne) is a man on the run for a murder he did not commit. Wandering out west one step ahead of the law, he narrowly escapes a couple of trigger-happy lawmen and winds up rescued by a fellow who calls himself "Jones," and dubs Brant "Smith," making the pair quick pals on the lam.

"Strikes me the boss can use somebody like you," says Jones (Lane Chandler), who as it turns out knows something that might interest Brant, provided that nasty Boss (Yakima Canutt) doesn't figure him out first.

"Sagebrush Trail" does have flaws. Canutt was not a very good actor, nor was Nancy Shubert, who plays a storekeeper Brant and Jones both fall for. Both are asked to handle too much dialogue. The storyline does creak a good deal, as Brant has a habit of slipping off to undo the gang's machinations while somehow not being caught. Too much business revolves around the store where the girl works. But this is one time what's good outweighs what's bad, not by a lot, but by enough.

Director Armand Schaefer worked cheap but with considerable smarts, here as in the earlier serial featuring Wayne, "The Hurricane Express." The twist involving Brant and Jones's secret identities isn't hard to spot, but it's still effectively delivered. I like a scene where the sheriff ponders what might happen if the two happened to meet. "I'll bet he would have made it plenty hot for him," the sheriff says, staring at wanted posters of the two outlaws.

Cut to a two-shot of the outlaws, facing just like in the posters, with Brant pouring Jones a cup of joe. ""Sure made that plenty hot for me," Jones says cheerfully.

It's a cheap laugh, but a very good one. There are more here, and some other nice surprises. The lawmen are treated in an interesting way, not exactly seedy (some lawmen come off worse in other Lone Star pics) but lazy and prone to shooting first, which makes it easier rooting for the nominal bad guys this time out. There's also some nice camera-work. Wayne hides from pursuers in a pond by using a hollow reed to breathe from, and we see him underwater while a lawman's boots appear in the foreground for added suspense.

The resolution of the Brant-Jones situation is a trifle too neat, but give Wayne and Chandler both credit for playing the emotions so well. Wayne wasn't as subtle as he'd become, but he's good at developing our empathy. Chandler, even less subtle, does fine work as the foil of the piece.

Even the bad guys' lair, which would become a stock set in later Lone Star works, has the right air of menace and mystery here, with a tunnel that becomes a centerpiece for some 180-degree camera shots.

The biggest problem with "Sagebrush Trail" is its one time where there's more story than the producers could handle. Yet the film manages to score points most of the way through, making this one time Wayne got to star in a movie worth remembering during his Poverty Row days. "Sagebrush Trail" is one Lone Star I don't mind watching again.

An Innocent Outlaw Seeking Justice

[Uriah43 · 4/10 · 13 March 2019]

Tried and convicted for a murder he did not commit "John Brent" (John Wayne) escapes from prison and barely manages to elude law enforcement officers by hiding under water in a pond until they eventually give up and return to town. However, upon swimming to the nearest shore he is met by an outlaw known simply as "Bob Jones" (Lane Chandler) who has seen everything and offers to take him to his gang which has been hiding out nearby. Since he doesn't have many other options available to him during this particular time he accepts the offer and is cautiously accepted by the other members as a they are in dire need of a cook for the group. Yet despite everything that has happened to him, he remains determined to prove his innocence and rather than jeapordizing any chance for an acquittal decides to try to prevent certain crimes from being committed by discreetly tipping off the law prior to the event being performed. Needless to say, this is a risky strategy as fully realizes that these outlaws will surely kill him if he is caught. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a rather short grade-B Western (only 54 minutes) which was clearly dated and suffered as a result. That said, while it wasn't too bad as far as it goes, it still left something to be desired and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Slightly below average.

A classic of its kind, great stunts, riding; great scenery, sets

[morrisonhimself · 10/10 · 6 November 2008]

Some reviewer earlier made disparaging comments about the fighting.

Obviously this 1933 movie came along before Yakima Canutt and John Wayne created the style of cinema fighting that is now standard.

Yak was the ultimate stunt man. His "gags" (as they called them) are still the measure. He is the stunt double in much of "Sagebrush Trail," a fact unfortunately obvious if you watch as I did, on a computer monitor.

He is also the head of the gang of bad guys.

John Wayne started as a prop man, according to legend, and did some stunt work to please John Ford. "Duke, show 'em up," is the line credited to Ford during a naval film in which cast members feared the choppy seas they were supposed to be immersed in.

John Wayne did "show 'em up" and jumped in.

He gets to swim in this one too, in a scene that was praised by Jon Tuska in his PBS series, "They Went Thataway." "Sagebrush Trail" has all the elements expected and more, such as the scene mentioned above.

Hank Bell has another uncredited role, and his presence always adds authenticity to any Western.

Lane Chandler has a good role, and he co-stars with John Wayne in another stagecoach-related film, "Winds of the Wasteland."

I have only two complaints: The sound is not very good; much of the gunfire sounds as if it came from a mine shaft. The final scene was completely inappropriate, considering what came before.

Otherwise, this is great. My copy is another in the Great American Western Series by Echo Bridge Entertainment. It comes in a two-disk set.

Added 11 September 2019: "Sagebrush Trail" has been colorized and a new set of opening music added with the result being a new title, "An Innocent Man." Be careful if you see that title as a John Wayne film. Some unethical DVD distributor might try to cheat. But it's still a pretty good movie, so maybe having a second copy is OK.

One of the better early John Wayne films

[MattyGibbs · 6/10 · 1 March 2015]

Sagebrush Trail is an early John Wayne B Movie. Unlike many of the other early films this is actually not a bad film.

Wayne plays a man wrongly convicted of murder and who chances upon the actual killer. The Duke doesn't have much to do but it's obvious even in this early entry that he has star quality. Lane Chandler provides good support.

It's a fast moving tale and there are a number of exciting set pieces and as others have mentioned the stunt work is great.

This is strictly for fans of Wayne and is fascinating more for it's historic value than the actual film itself. Nonetheless I enjoyed it.

An early John Wayne movie before he was polished

[cashbacher · 5/10 · 12 July 2019]

Released in 1933, this movie stars John Wayne as a very young and unpolished actor. His character is John Brant, a man wrongly convicted and imprisoned for murder. He decides that his only hope is to escape and find the real killer, which may have been an original plot device in 1933 but is now well worn. After he escapes, he eludes two law officers and meets outlaw Bob Jones, who introduces him to an outlaw gang living in an abandoned mine. Determined not to make his situation worse, Brant warns of upcoming robberies to be carried out by the gang and predictably starts a romance with a local store clerk. The plot unfolds in a manner that can be foreseen, the romance continues, Brant commits no other crimes and at the end, his newfound friend confesses to the murder that Brant is accused of. It of course ends with a kiss between Brant and his newfound love interest. There is one very amusing aspect of this movie and that is the number of rounds that the men sometimes fire without reloading. Their guns are closer to sixteen shooters rather than the standard six. This is a movie that you watch because it is a John Wayne western and no other reason.

Not Bad At All For a B-Western

[Snow Leopard · 2 December 2002]

While it is rather slow at times, and not always plausible, in general this is not bad at all for a B-Western. It's interesting to see John Wayne in one of his earlier roles, and while he's hardly yet become "The Duke" in this one, he's likable and worth seeing. The setup is interesting, and while the movie does not get everything it could have out of the possibilities, it still has enough going on to hold your attention.

Wayne plays a character who was unjustly convicted of murder, and who has broken out of prison in order to look for the real killer. He runs across a gang of outlaws, and when he begins to realize that things are different than he thought they were, he is faced with some real dilemmas. Later on in his career, Wayne could have done much more with this kind of role, but here he is at least always sympathetic. Although it misses some opportunities to make things more interesting, there should be enough story and action to make this one worthwhile if you enjoy older Westerns.

Making some strange friends

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 29 April 2006]

It was in films like Sagebrush Trail that John Wayne learned his craft, but thank the Deity he got out of doing stuff like Sagebrush Trail.

The Duke has busted loose from jail, he was in the calaboose for a murder he didn't commit. He eludes a posse chasing him, but gets into the clutches of an outlaw gang headed by Yakima Canutt. It's as good a place as any to look for the man who can clear him. He doesn't realize though how lucky he got.

Now granted this was a Lone Star production, not even a B film. But I would have liked to have seen just how Wayne got into the jackpot that landed him jail for murdering the lover of a married woman if he wasn't involved with her. When we do find who the murderer is that's never explained to us.

Since this was for the afternoon kiddie matinée crowd maybe such things weren't delved into even before the Code came in place. Maybe it was a question of sloppy editing also.

I think John Wayne's most devoted fans might like this one, I really wouldn't recommend to others, even other western fans.

Lackluster early Wayne oater

[jamesrupert2014 · 6/10 · 11 January 2019]

In this typical low-budget early 1930's western (predating the Duke's star-making role in 1939's 'Stagecoach'), a youthful John Wayne plays John Brant (aka 'Smith'), who is on the lam after being falsely arrested for murder. He ends up riding with a group of desperados led by Ed Walsh (the immortal Yakima Canutt) hoping to find the real killer while the local 'starpacker' closes in. Of course the Duke plays a straight-shooting white-hat, so Brant has to pretend to participate in the gang's nefarious deeds while actually foiling them (plus taking some time to spark Sally (Nancy Shubert), the pretty shopkeeper). Standard bargain-basement horse opera with lots of coincidences, unrealistic brawls, and unsubtle acting. On the plus side, there are plenty of great horse-riding stunts (Canutt was also the Duke's stunt double) and, as the film was shot in Bronson Canyon, you get to watch a stagecoach being driven into the Batcave (!). Oddly, the film opens with a city scene that includes cars, so despite looking like a standard oater, the story must have taken place only a few years before the film was made in 1933 (this may explain 'goofs' comments that you can see powerlines etc. in the background). The film is OK but is likely only really appealing to fans of Wayne or of Yakima Canutt.

Undistinguished story with brilliant stuntwork

[shakercoola · 5/10 · 28 July 2019]

An American Western; A young man was sentenced for a murder he did not commit, but he escapes from prison determined to find the real killer. Joining an outlaw gang hiding out in an abandoned mine, he attempts to disrupt the outlaw gang's robberies and comes closer to finding his man. This feature, with a shorter running time, establishes character and plot effectively. But, the actors gave uninterested performances, and it has a thin storyline. The action sequences are impressive and the stunts are first rate. The sound design is impactful with scenes of thundering hooves and realistic gunfire report.

Plot tunnels you can drive six-horse team stagecoaches through . . .

[oscaralbert · 6/10 · 15 July 2016]

. . . riddle SAGEBRUSH TRAIL. First off, this flick is set in the 1900s. Its precipitating incident is a "murder" at a "love nest" in which a cuckolded husband guns down his wife's paramour. No American jury convicted guys for such "justifiable homicides" in the previous century, as the O.J. verdict proved. But somehow this Baltimore murder rap is hung on a random by-stander bozo, played by John Wayne, for reasons never even hinted at. So Wayne breaks prison and hops on a West-bound train "to look for the Real Killer." Unlike O.J.'s fruitless search of America's golf courses, Wayne is spooked off the train at a random hamlet and steals a horse, galloping off in a random direction closely pursued by a couple lawmen. As these "star packers" close in, Wayne dives into a pond and eventually is pulled out of the water by the Real Killer! Since both of these Baltimore strangers are somehow expert rodeo stunt riders, they're hired by the local outlaw gang, where Wayne dons an apron to fry breakfast eggs. At this point, a few minutes into SAGEBRUSH TRAIL, the movie starts to get implausible. Proceed at your own risk.

great stunts

[kairingler · 5/10 · 16 January 2014]

John Wayne plays a man on the run from the law for committing a murder which of course he didn't do. He meets up with the outlaw gang and him and the guy hit it off and become friends,, after that he is taken to meet the leader of the group played by Yakima Canutt . Eventually the Duke figures out that his "friend" might just possibly be the real killer because it is made known in the film that the killer was never caught,. but worse for Wayne is that his "friend" kind of figures that wayne isn't a real bad guy , and then the fireworks hit ,as the Duke and the Gang prepare to duel it out,, not a bad "b" western from Lone Star Productins,, Wayne and Cannutt do some great stunts in this movie.

Not so good western

[LeRoyMarko · 6/10 · 29 May 2001]

I must admit that this was the first John Wayne movie I ever saw. I was a bit disappointed. The acting is good, John Wayne especially. But the plot is not inspiring at all. It's not a «true» story. And further more, it's not a «true» western.

Out of 100, I gave it 71. That's ** out of ****.

Western Shlock, alright

[aa56 · 5/10 · 19 November 2012]

I reckon audiences in the early 1930s were expected to suspend belief completely when they watched these pictures.

Wayne pulls a reed out of the mud as if were a prop. The Law shoots into the water, and because the reed floats away, they assume they gottem, but don't care that no body floats to the surface, and skeedaddle as fast as they can. From the animal's rump, Wayne jumps on horses that should have been tied to the hitchin' post and gallops away without untying it. The Law waits in ambush for Jones and Wayne to enter the store, but fires before Wayne fully opens the door, wounding him in the shoulder, which miraculously heals in a coupla' days. They dutifully wait in the store until the two can escape before they give chase, and, of course, Jones and the wounded Wayne are much faster than the lawmen. Wayne camouflages himself and waits for a stagecoach to run over him, not caring at all if the horses step on him or a wheel squashes him. When Jones and Wayne are behind the wagon being hosed by the continuous fire of the robbers, no bullets at all hit the wagon, allowing the two to have a quiet chat.

I could go on, but that should prove my point.

Excellent film.

[luapworrag · 8/10 · 28 October 2014]

This film has not aged like some films of this genre from the 1930s. The plot to this films would give many modern western plot developers a run for their money. Would advise that this film should be watched when you have the odd hour to spare and are interested in watching a john Wayne classic. The plot is based around John Brant who has been sentenced for a murder he did not commit. After a wonderful chase scene introduction John Brant meets up with "Jones".

Looking at this film I have now observed two versions. Once version contains a rather overdubbed and irritating slapstick music during the egg scene. Luckily the version that I have rated 8/10 contains no slapstick music and can be found on the internet.

Badly acted and raw but its interesting and some scenes are actually well made

[mahojakotic · 6/10 · 5 March 2024]

I cant believe people are saying "its good for the genre" Oh no this movie is not very good even for 1933 from A technical standpoint But Thats Why it gets a 6 because its is interesting because how raw it is and i must admit i even laughed at it because they had literally NO SOUND EDITING so its so Stupid sometimes especially a fishfight at the end where i literally said "This movie sucks so much i like it lol" and also the acting is so bad like the worst ever even for a 1933 Low budget film the acting is bad i mean its my first (and probably last) John wayne b western of the 1930s but man it was interesting. Well everything is quite bad (on a technical point) sorta but few things are good the underwater sequence while completely weird it was cool that they actually filmed underwater quite impressive actually and the Location work is good but the cinematography amateurish so the Locales dont get to shine as much but still beautiful most definetly. The choreography is pretty good. However Honestly it blows my mind that someone said that this has and i quote "good acting" NO IT DOESNT but if you think its good then good for you i guess. Welp this film was something i reccomend it however in a way if you want to see some beautiful Locations and decent action and early John wayne and beautiful locales and also this move HAS NO MUSIC except lone star logo and credits so it feels like a silent film at times lol. FINAL VERDICT:6/10 because its interestingly Raw however on a technical level even for its time its a 4.5 because of the Low budget and acting but Thats from a technical standpoint.

No Character Or Plot Development, But Half Decent

[sddavis63 · 5/10 · 5 September 2018]

They certainly didn't waste any time with character development! "Sagebrush Trail" opens with John Brant (John Wayne) already in the process of escaping from prison on a train. He's been convicted of a murder and once discovered on the train he manages to pull off another escape - by jumping on a horse and riding west. That all happens in the first five minutes or so. It might have been helpful to get a feel for who Brant was - but nope. We'll just get right into things. And there's not much plot development either. It speeds along with a running time of 54 minutes - a lot of which seems taken up with scenes of people riding horses. Very fast. And the basic story is established by about the 20 minute mark. Heading west, Brant evades the law, hooks up with an outlaw gang (but, of course, doesn't actually become an outlaw) and by a happy coincidence unknowingly becomes buddies with the guy who actually committed the murder that Brant was framed for who's riding with the same gang. He's played by Lane Chandler, who had been a successful silent movie actor and went on to a modestly successful career in talkies (mostly in supporting roles) and then in guest roles on TV westerns like Gunsmoke. Once these two connect, you just have to wait for it to play out.

Now, to be fair, lack of plot and character development aside - this really wasn't a bad movie. It manages to incorporate a little bit of humour every now and then to provide a break from fist fights, gun fights and horse chases, and it certainly wasn't the worst of John Wayne's early career in these short, low budget westerns put out by Lone Star Productions/Monogram Pictures. But it also wasn't a particularly good movie. Wayne was all right in it, and the supporting cast weren't awful - although there's a reason that Nancy Shubert (who played Sally) was never given a serious acting role again - not even by Lone Star. I watched a colorized version, which was done pretty well. And whoever John Wayne's stunt double was did a few neat tricks. (5/10)