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IMDbPro

Trail of the Vigilantes

  • 19401940
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 15m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
103
YOUR RATING
Broderick Crawford, Andy Devine, Peggy Moran, and Franchot Tone in Trail of the Vigilantes (1940)
ComedyWestern
A reporter goes undercover to break up an outlaw gang.A reporter goes undercover to break up an outlaw gang.A reporter goes undercover to break up an outlaw gang.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
103
YOUR RATING
    • Allan Dwan
    • Harold Shumate(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Franchot Tone
    • Warren William
    • Broderick Crawford
    • Allan Dwan
    • Harold Shumate(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Franchot Tone
    • Warren William
    • Broderick Crawford
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 3User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos16

    Peggy Moran and Franchot Tone in Trail of the Vigilantes (1940)
    Broderick Crawford, Mischa Auer, Andy Devine, Porter Hall, Kermit Maynard, Charles Trowbridge, and Duke York in Trail of the Vigilantes (1940)
    Broderick Crawford, Mischa Auer, and Andy Devine in Trail of the Vigilantes (1940)
    Broderick Crawford, Andy Devine, and Franchot Tone in Trail of the Vigilantes (1940)
    Broderick Crawford, Franchot Tone, and Charles Trowbridge in Trail of the Vigilantes (1940)
    Broderick Crawford, Andy Devine, and Franchot Tone in Trail of the Vigilantes (1940)
    Peggy Moran and Franchot Tone in Trail of the Vigilantes (1940)
    Broderick Crawford, Andy Devine, and Franchot Tone in Trail of the Vigilantes (1940)
    Mischa Auer, Peggy Moran, and Franchot Tone in Trail of the Vigilantes (1940)
    Peggy Moran and Franchot Tone in Trail of the Vigilantes (1940)
    Broderick Crawford, Mischa Auer, Andy Devine, Peggy Moran, and Franchot Tone in Trail of the Vigilantes (1940)
    Broderick Crawford in Trail of the Vigilantes (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Franchot Tone
    Franchot Tone
    • Kansas (Tim Mason)
    Warren William
    Warren William
    • Dawson
    Broderick Crawford
    Broderick Crawford
    • Swanee
    Andy Devine
    Andy Devine
    • Meadows
    Mischa Auer
    Mischa Auer
    • Bolo
    Porter Hall
    Porter Hall
    • Sheriff Korley
    Peggy Moran
    Peggy Moran
    • Barbara Thornton
    Samuel S. Hinds
    Samuel S. Hinds
    • George Preston
    Charles Trowbridge
    Charles Trowbridge
    • John Thornton
    Paul Fix
    Paul Fix
    • Lefty
    Harry Cording
    Harry Cording
    • Phil
    Max Wagner
    Max Wagner
    • Joe
    Ted Adams
    Ted Adams
    • Vigilante
    • (uncredited)
    Hank Bell
    Hank Bell
    • Buckboard Driver
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Brownlee
    Frank Brownlee
    • Doctor
    • (uncredited)
    George Chandler
    George Chandler
    • Railroad Station Attendant
    • (uncredited)
    Edmund Cobb
    Edmund Cobb
    • Rider
    • (uncredited)
    Heinie Conklin
    Heinie Conklin
    • Bartender
    • (uncredited)
      • Allan Dwan
      • Harold Shumate(original screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In March 1941, Universal Pictures was distributing this film in some locations on a double bill with The Invisible Woman.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Title Card: Before the turn of the century, death and violence rode the western range. Law and order could not keep pace with men who turned the wilderness into profit.

    • Connections
      Edited into Road Agent (1941)

    User reviews3

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    The Actors Having a Good Time
    One of the mysteries of Allan Dwan's career as a director is that his lead actors frequently seemed to be having a good time. That pleasure of performance is fairly rare in the movies, even though it adds considerably to the pleasure of the audience. Georges Melies seemed to enjoy his movies; more recently, Annette Bening in THE American PRESIDENT is clearly enjoying herself as Sidney Wade. Yet in the fifty years of Dwan's career, again and again, performers clearly enjoy themselves: William Crane in David HARUM; Gloria Swanson in ZAZA; Bill Robinson in ONE MILE FROM HEAVEN; Dennis O'Keefe in BREWSTER'S MILLIONS; and, of course, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in their frequent collaborations.

    Outside of Dwan projects, only the Barrymores and occasionally Fredric March showed that spark. Apparently it is an artifact of stage performances. Possibly it is the unworried understanding that if this performance is not successful, there can be another take. Judging by conversations with cast and crew, everyone had great confidence in Dwan's abilities and they could relax and let that enjoyment come through.

    Franchot Tone is clearly enjoying himself here. He does things he never did elsewhere. He tries a couple of stunts. He is outright silly. As a result, he makes this very silly western a lot of fun. Broderick Crawford and Andy Devine as his sidekicks are enjoying themselves, too.

    Back to Dwan: he had begun as a director of Westerns thirty years before, but hadn't made one for at least twenty years at this point and he pulls out all the stops. Universal was trying for a follow-up to the previous year's DESTRY RIDES AGAIN and although this one is not as amazing a result as that, Dwan plays with all the B-western conventions of the era with a clearly A budget. I expect you'll enjoy it.
    helpful•2
    2
    • boblipton
    • Jun 21, 2013

    Details

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    • Release date
      • December 13, 1940 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 15 minutes
      • Black and White

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    Broderick Crawford, Andy Devine, Peggy Moran, and Franchot Tone in Trail of the Vigilantes (1940)
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    By what name was Trail of the Vigilantes (1940) officially released in Canada in English?
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