The Cariboo Trail (1950) User Reviews

Acceptable and decent western set in British Columbia with nice performances from some big names

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 18 November 2018]

It deals with two prospecting and cowmen, Randolph Scott, Bill Williams, head into Canadian mountains seeking their fortune in British Columbia, via the Cariboo trail, the golden west of Canada in the 1890s, as they intent to raise cattle and dig for gold . But the two Montanans find themselves opposed by claim-jumpers, ranchers and a ruthless land baron from a prosperous city , who is owner of the general store , trading post , Cariboo Hotel, and mining company called Walsh : Victor Jory, and his henchmen : Douglas Kennedy, Jim Davies . Meanwhile, Scott falls in love for the beautiful owner of the Gold Palace Saloon, Karin Booth.

Passable western with good cast in in which two gold diggers protagonists, Scott and Williams, fight in hopes a better life and stifle conflicts, but encounter problems instead. It is a medium budget movie with thrills, noisy action, shootouts, stampedes as well as fine players, nice production design and pleasing results. It is still a run-of-the-mill entry in Western genre, set when Gold Fever expanded in Canada in which Scott and his colleague Bill Williams go British Columbia leading their cattle hoping in achieving fortune. Actually shot in Colorado with adequate interpretations and solid sets . Made the same year that the Gaby Hayes show was aired. The picture is well starred by Randolph Scott . He was a prolific actor in Western, his career is divided in films directed by Budd Boetticher in Seven men from now, The tall T, Decision at sundown, Buchanan rides alone, Comanche station, Westbound. Henry Hathaway as : Heritage of the desert, Wild horse, Sunset Pass, Man of the Forest. Ray Enright directed him in : The spoilers, Trail street, Alburquerque, Coroner creek, Return of the bad men. Andre De Toth directed him in Men in the saddle, Carson city, The stranger wore a gun, Riding shotgun, The bounty hunter. Finally, his main testament, Ride the high country along with Joel MacCrea directed by Sam Peckinpah .Support cast is pretty good with notorious secondaries as the always sympathetic George Gaby Hayes, Victor Jory, Jim Davies, James Griffith, Douglas Jackson, Mary Stuart and Dale Robertson.

Atmospheric cinematography in a fading Cinecolor by Fred Jackson, though there are prints in black and white. Evocative and thrilling musical score by Paul Sawtell. Well produced by Nat Holt, the motion picture was professionally directed by Edwin L Marin. He directed in sure visual style and he made all kinds of genres, especially Westerns. As he shot various Westerns as Tall in the saddle with John Wayne and Ella Raines, Canadian Pacific, Fighting man of the Plains, Colt 45, Raton pass, The Younger Brothers . Randolph Scott starred his last Westerns until his early death at 53, such as The Cariboo trail, Sugarfoot, and Fort Worth.

The end of Gabby Hayes screen career

[malcolmgsw · 6/10 · 26 April 2016]

This film marked the end of George "Gabby" Hayes screen career.He is shown as having made 190 screen appearances in Westerns between 1929 and 1950.Although in the quotes section he is quoted as saying that he hated westerns.He has always been my favourite western sidekick.He was just so good at it.He looks quite old in this film though in actual fact he is only about 68.One supposes that with the advent of TV he foresaw the end of his type of Westerns.I have to say that I consider that he is the best sidekick of all.He has a very good role in this his final film.Otherwise it is just run of the mill.As has been mentioned elsewhere the cinecolor is truly awful and was clearly used for the sake of economy.

Better Than Average Western - Caribou Trail

[arthur_tafero · 6/10 · 12 September 2019]

There is no such thing as an average Randolph Scott Western; they are all better than average. Gabby Hayes adds the humor, and Victor JOry is the bad guy you love to hate. He must have been killed 100 times in Westerns as a bad guy. One of the greatest bad guys of all time. Bill Williams is very good in this film as well. He went on to be a hero in television roles. He was good enough to ride horses in this one with one arm tied behind his back; literally. Good fun.

A Randolph Scott Cattle Empire Building Western in Canada . . . !

[zardoz-13 · 6/10 · 14 February 2008]

Although "Tall in the Saddle" director Edwin L. Marin's "Caribou Trail" was filmed in color, the print that I saw on Turner Classic Movies is the black & white version. Western novelist Frank Gruber penned this oater from a story by John Rhodes Sturdy who had written the 1943 World War II naval epic "Corvette K-225." Altogether, "Caribou Trail" qualifies as a low-budget empire building western where the hero must triumph over a corrupt city slicker who owns an entire town, except for the saloon, before he can establish his ranch. By and large, this Scott western is fairly predictable stuff. The departure that sets "Caribou Trail" apart from most westerns is its treatment of a character that loses his arm during a cattle stampede.

Jim Redfern (Randolph Scott of "Jesse James"), Redfern's partner Mike Evans (Bill Williams of "Rio Lobo") and their cook Ling (Lee Tung Foo of "Mission to Moscow") are driving 36 head of cattle north from Montana into Canada to build a ranch. Mike doesn't want to raise cattle; he came to prospect for gold. Redfern believes that cattle will flourish long after the gold has been depleted. After they cross the national boundary, our heroes find themselves at a toll bridge owned by the chief villain, Frank Walsh (Victor Jory of "The Capture"), whose henchmen want more money for their passage than Redfern is willing to pay. Mind you, Frank Walsh isn't around in this early scene, but his second-in-command Bill Murphy (Douglas Kennedy of "Dark Passage") is there. Anyway, Redfern refuses to pay the toll so Mike and he stampede their cattle and wreck Walsh's bridge. Once they are across, they encounter an old, bearded prospector Oscar 'Grizzly' Winters (George 'Gabby' Hayes of "Colorado") on the trail who catches a ride on Ling's wagon and cooks up some tasty grub for their first night under Canadian stars. Not long after they eat, they hear gunshots and unidentified rustlers stampede Redfern's own cattle. During stampede, Mike is injured and the town doctor must amputate his left arm. Mike didn't want to go to Canada in the first place and he blames the loss of his arm on Redfern.

Meanwhile, after he exits the doctor's office, Redfern meets Walsh. Initially, he passed him on the way for a snort at the Gold Palace, the local bar run by a woman, Francis Harrison (Karin Booth of "Cripple Creek"), who has steadfastly refused to sell out to Walsh. Walsh, it seems, has his name on every business in Carson Creek. Eventually, Redfern and Grizzly have to sell their saddles for more grub and Redfern talks about getting a job. One of Walsh's former gunhands Bill Miller (Jim Davis of "Big Jake") shows up in town conveniently selling beef with Redfern's brand on it. They slug it out in Francis' bar and then Redfern guns down Miller outside in a fair fight. Redfern believes Walsh has been the source of his misfortunes since he refused to pay up at the toll bridge. Grizzly suggests that they prospect and Ling provides $300 of his hard-earned dollars. Our heroes head off to prospect in a mini-version of "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" with Gabby playing the Walter Huston role. By this time, Mike has recovered sufficiently to tangle with both Walsh and Murphy in Francis' bar, while Redfern discovers a cattlemen's paradise in the faraway mountains during his prospecting. A tribe of Blackfoot Indians appear and Redfern and company shoot it out with them, killing two of them before they capture them and take them back to their camp. During a pow-wow, Grizzly's mule Hannibal wanders into camp and Redfern uses Hannibal's kicking powers so our heroes can break out of the camp. Redfern snatches a rifle and a horse and then rides out. When he stops for water, he discovers gold in a stream. Redfern dishes out $900 worth of glitter, but there is only one person who can buy his gold. Walsh refuses to pay the full amount and charges Redfern $300 plus for cost of his damaged toll bridge. Murphy incites the citizens of Carson Creek against Redfern when he refuses to divulge the whereabouts of his strike. Redfern escapes just ahead of a mob and hits the frontier where he reunites with Grizzly. Grizzly has tied in with a group of Americans that are herding cattle. Redfern buys a 25 per cent interest in the herd. The cattle foreman is Will Gray (Dale Robertson of "The Silver Whip") Ling shows up at Francis' saloon and she hires him as a cook.

Despite the loss of his left arm, Mike Evans has grown to be a threat to Walsh; he goads Walsh's henchman Murphy repeatedly to draw on him, and Murphy backs down. In one scene near the end of "The Caribou Trail," Evans shoots it out with two gunmen and sends the third running. Walsh forges a quick alliance with Blackfoot Chief White Buffalo (Fred Libby of "Three Godfathers") to stampede Winters' cattle, but Evans shows up like the cavalry to kill Murphy and Walsh before the mustached villain drills him.

Redfern's escape from the Blackfoot camp seems more hilarious than dramatic despite the number of shots of a mule kicking Indians. Presumably, Marin and Gruber must have felt it wouldn't be fair for the Indians to shoot the mule. Meanwhile, the evolution of Mike Evans from a one-armed man to a one-armed army with his handy six-gun predated the likes of Joe Don Baker's one-armed gunman in "Guns of the Magnificent Seven."

"Caribou Trail" is one of those oddball westerns set in Canada where—as one commentator—has observed doesn't have any Royal Mounted Policemen intervening between the hero and the villains. Although it isn't especially memorable as many of Scott's later westerns, "Caribou Trail" clocks in at a trim 81 minutes and Marin neither wears out his welcome nor does he let the narrative drag.

Interesting Failure, See the Cinecolor Flop & Gabby Hayes Final Film

[LeonLouisRicci · 7/10 · 7 July 2016]

Not without interest. You can see why "Cinecolor" was a Miserable Flop, You can see Gabby Hayes in His Last Movie (actually pretty good), and this Western does have some other Ingredients worth Noting.

It is Set in Canada (but does use some awful Studio Stuff for some outdoor Scenes), the Body Count is High, there's a Bitter One-Armed Gunslinger (Bill Williams), a Greasy, Slimy, Bespectacled Villain (Victory Jory), a couple of Tasty Women (Karen Booth, Mary Stuart), and a Mule Named Hannibal.

Not one of the Best Randolph Scott Westerns, but it Contains Enough Oddities to make it Worth a Watch for Western Fans. Sometimes Clunky and Awkward but Appealing in an Off-Handed kind of Way.

"Broken heart for every rock, dead man for every tree".

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 1 May 2016]

Turner Classics offered up this Randolph Scott Western a few nights ago and it opened with a fairly extensive explanation on how the picture was restored from it's original Cinecolor filming process. I'd never seen that before, as it looked almost like it was part of the picture appearing right after the opening title. I don't know if it had anything to do with the restoration, but a cattle stampede instigated by Walsh's (Victor Jory) henchmen a little into the movie appeared to take place during night and day both!

The story takes place in British Columbia, with displaced Montana cattle man Jim Redfern (Scott) heading out along the Cariboo Trail to find a nice place to settle down and take up ranching. His partner Mike Evans (Bill Williams) would rather prospect for gold, and when he loses an arm in the stampede ambush mentioned earlier, he has a falling out with Redfern. I think the picture could have explained Redfern's action in amputating Evans' arm, say along the lines of it being horribly mangled or prone to gangrene, but the story offered no explanation. Failing that, there was an opportunity for Dr. Rhodes (Charles Hughes) to offer a medical opinion along the same lines, but again, nothing to be said about it.

I didn't realize this was George 'Gabby' Hayes' last film role, but I did look it up to see how old he was when he made the movie knowing that most of his work took place in the Thirties and Forties. Turns out he was sixty five, but not looking much older than any of his earlier screen appearances. Still feisty as ever and pretty nimble, I had to wonder why his movie career just stopped right there, though he did host a mid-Fifties TV Western show bearing his name. Gabby had a pretty good line in the story when he described how hungry he was - "My stomach's crowdin' my backbone". I'll have to remember that one.

If you're watching this film with a critical eye, there's a good chance you'll be disappointed because some of the elements just don't come together too believably. Captured at one point by Blackfeet Indians, Redfern and his crew are saved by Grizzly's mule Hannibal! There's also the improbable rescue by the town folk of Carson Creek at the finale, engineered by Mike Evans when he has the sudden change of heart regarding his former partner. Still, it's not a terrible send off for one of movie Western's iconic character actors, and another nifty notch in Randolph Scott's belt in mid-career.

Thars Gold in Them Thar Hills!

[bsmith5552 · 7/10 · 4 July 2017]

"The Cariboo Trail" is a trail through the "wilds" of British Columbia in Canada where cattleman Jim Redfern (Randolph Scott), Mike Evans (Bill Williams) and Ling (Lee Tung Foo) are driving a small herd of cattle from Montana with the hope of reaching a so-called promised land on which to establish a cattle ranch. Along the way, they meet up with grizzled old prospector Grizzly (Gabby Hayes - in his final film).

On the trail, they are confronted by a toll bridge manned by Murphy (Douglas Kennedy) and Miller (Jim Davis). Redfern and company refuse to pay the toll and stampede the cattle across. Town boss Frank Walsh (Victor Jory) owns the bridge. Walsh sends his men to rustle the cattle but during the stampede, Evans is injured and Redfern is forced to amputate his left arm. Evans becomes bitter to the point of hiring out his gun to Walsh.

Redfern meanwhile, is befriended by independent saloon owner Francie Harris (Karin Booth) who grub stakes him for a go in the gold fields. Refern, Grizzly and Ling venture onto Indian lands and are captured. With the help of Grizzly's mule, the trio escape in different directions.

Redfern discovers a hidden valley suitable for cattle while panning for gold. He discover gold and returns to town where Walsh cheats him and incites the towns people to drive him out of town. By chance Redfern meets up with Grizzly who has returned to Montana and hooked up with his brother's family. Headed by the feisty Martha Winters (Mary Kent), they are driving their herd north. Along with Martha's daughter Jane (Mary Stuart) and foreman Will Gray (Dale Robertson), Redfern is offered a partnership in the venture.

Back in town, Walsh plots to steal the cattle. Mike Evans has a change of heart as Redfern returns to town to confront the Walsh gang and.....................................................

Randolph Scott could sleep walk through most of his westerns playing variations of the same character. But he did so in a most entertaining way. Gabby Hayes, who was anything but the be-whiskered old side kick he portrayed, goes out on a high note. Bill Williams never got to the big time but had a successful marriage to Barbara Hale and became the parents of actor William Katt. Victor Jory, always at his best when playing the villain, turns in another great show as the sneaky be-speckled, oily Walsh. Dale Robertson was just starting out at this time. Douglas Kennedy, Jim Davis and James Griffith also stood out as members of Walsh's gang.

Just a note. Since the story takes place in a lawless part of British Columbia with crime abounding, one has to wonder "Where were the Mounties"?

Not a Caribou in Sight

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 26 June 2006]

Randolph Scott is leaving the USA for the greener pastures of Canada's British Columbia. He wants to start a cattle ranch there with partner Bill Williams and cook Lee Tung Foo. They stampede their small herd over a toll bridge erected by Victor Jory. Later Jory rustles their cattle and Williams loses his left arm during the fracas.

From 1945 until 1962 when he retired, Randolph Scott made a series of good adult themed westerns, some of them considered real classics. Unfortunately the Cariboo Trail will never be listed among his best westerns.

It's more like the material that Roy Rogers or Gene Autry might use. The story is downright silly at times. Williams who was along for the ride with Scott, he wanted to go prospect for gold as there was a big strike at the time. He doesn't blame the rustlers, he blames Scott for convincing him to make the trip for the loss of his arm.

Also there's a scene in the film when Scott, Lee Tung Foo, and Gabby Hayes are captured by Indians. They escape because Gabby's mule has been taught to kick on command and he kicks away at the Indians allowing our heroes to escape. I'm not sure that would have played in a Rogers film.

Furthermore the story actually wants you to believe that tyro prospector Randolph Scott accidentally stumbles on a gold strike after just a few lessons from prospector Gabby Hayes on how to find gold.

This was Gabby Hayes's farewell feature film part. It would have been better had he gone out in a good western and in fact he had done a couple of better ones with Randolph Scott before this.

I will say this, though no Caribou made any appearance in the film, this is one of the few Canadian locale films from the past that did NOT have any Mounties.

But if I were you unless you are a big fan of Randolph Scott or Gabby Hayes, take the next detour off The Cariboo Trail.

Unusual Randolph Scott western, with some problems.

[weezeralfalfa · 6/10 · 26 March 2018]

A reasonably exciting Randolph Scott western, supposedly taking place in the interior plateau country of British Columbia, where caribou used to graze the abundant grass. Scott and his partners hope to establish a cattle ranch in this virgin grazing region, along with some gold prospecting to help establish their ranch, as they have little money. They are joined by Grizzly(Gabby Hayes): an old prospector, down on his luck, who will soon help them get started in panning for gold, after they lose their herd, as well as gear, to a nocturnal stampede engineered by a gang of larcenous cutthroats, headed by Frank Walsh, headquartered in the little town of Carson Creek, up ahead. A later run-in with the Blackfoot Indians, while prospecting for gold, nearly ends their lives, except for a lucky turn of events. Walsh would later engineer yet another nocturnal cattle stampede, this time via the Blackfoot, who became allies of the Walsh gang. Fortunately, most of their gear was undamaged this time. Scott had thrown in with Grizzly and his kin, who had brought this cattle herd up the Cariboo Trail. Presumably, after rounding up most of their cattle, they continued on to their promised land. The film is actually considerably more exciting than what my summary suggests. ....There are some questionable events in the screenplay. Perhaps most glaring is the manner in which the 3 prospectors escape from the Blackfoot. Supposedly, their pack mule started kicking up a storm, thus freaking out the Indians, who were mostly gathered in a bunch. Scott, and presumably the others, got away by stealing an Indian pony, along with a rifle(Yea, right!). They didn't consider that they might have similar runins with the Indians when they brought in their cattle. After escaping the Indians, Grizzly made it to Montana and brought back that new cattle heard, with his relatives mighty quickly. Simultaneously, Scott was panning for gold, presumably without proper equipment or survival equipment and supplies! Presumably, he spent the better part of the snowless season collecting his gold, so that he would meet up with Grizzly and kin. The final stampede involved the Blackfoot, Scott and bunch, Walsh and gang, and a citizen group headed by Mike Evans, who had recently defected from the larcenous Walsh. Along with the cattle, in semi- darkness, this made for a very confusing several minutes, as shadowy forms raced back and forth on the screen. Nothing is said about the task of rounding up most of their cattle, which they had failed to do with their first herd. ...This was Gabby Hayes' last role in a feature film, having been a beloved sidekick for many a western hero over the past 15 years....Unlike some reviewers, I didn't notice a problem with the Cinecolor cinematography. The copy I saw said it was an upgraded video and audio version. Taking a brief look at a non-upgraded version, it's very obvious why all the complaints. See it at YouTube.

Despite the wonderful Randolph Scott, this is just a very ordinary Western

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 3 January 2009]

Randolph Scott had been an actor for quite some time before he finally hit his stride in Westerns in the 1950s. Up until then, he'd been in a wide variety of films and had a successful but especially distinguished career. But, in the 50s, he went on to make some classic Westerns that today are seen as some of the finest examples of the genre. Well, at least SOME of the films he made in the 50s became classics--CARIBOO TRAIL has very little to recommend it, though it is a watchable time-passer.

When the film was shown last night on Turner Classic Movies, Robert Osborne proudly announced that TCM had finally been able to locate the original color copy of this film. For years, they had thought that the black & white copy was all that remained. Well, I wasn't that impressed even with the color because the film was badly faded and had a gray appearance. All of the vibrance of the original print was gone and the film just looked rather muddy.

As for the script, aside from being set in Canada, it's virtually indistinguishable from dozens and dozens of other Westerns. As usual, Scott and his friends blow into town and find that there's a "boss" (Victor Jory) who cheats and steals with the help of his gang--though it's all cloaked in an aura of respectability. And, in another rather familiar cliché, Scott and his partner have a falling out and only at the end do they come back together to defeat the forces of badness. It's all very, very by the books and even the addition of Gabby Hayes and Lee Tung Foo for support didn't do enough to elevate this film beyond the ordinary.

Pedestrian direction, script and too many predictable story elements sink this film and make it a big disappointment for Randolph Scott fans.

Phenomenal cast and story

[hines-2000 · 10/10 · 25 October 2021]

Randolph Scott heads up a wonderful cast of well know western actors. Gabby Hayes ended his movie career on a high note with a most appropriate moniker of Grizzly. Dale Robertson and soap opera star Mary Stuart have a nice romantic sub plot and Bill Williams plays a powerful role as the partner gone bad. Leading lady Karin Booth was superb as the woman caught in a love triangle with Scott and the villain we love to hate Victor Jory. As for the great action, no one plays better henchmen than Douglas Kennedy and Jim Davis. I loved the cinecolor production but I would love to see the original release version which was black and white. Other noteworthy performances were by Mary Kent, Lee Tong Foo and James Griffith. An exciting story line of cattle driving and gold prospecting combined with a great cast of stars makes The Cariboo Trail an excellent film.

Another good one

[pmtelefon · 7/10 · 8 August 2021]

Randolph Scott delivers the goods once again in "The Cariboo Trail". It's another well made western by Scott and company. The story is well told. The supporting cast is good. "The Cariboo Trail" is a satisfying watch. Honorable mention: Lee Tong Foo.

Randolph Scott in one of his lesser western roles...

[Doylenf · 5/10 · 8 September 2007]

RANDOLPH SCOTT and BILL WILLIAMS share the co-starring credits in this rather weak western, nicely photographed in Cinecolor against some gorgeous western backgrounds in Canada. Unfortunately, the story of ranchers vs. gold prospectors has been done before with better results and it's not one of Scott's more memorable western roles.

Among the bad guys, it's interesting to note a young JIM DAVIS who would later make it big on "Dallas" TV. GEORGE 'GABBY' HAYES plays his usual rustic character, usually a sidekick for Gene Autrey or Roy Rogers. He has the sort of role as a grizzly old-timer usually played by Walter Brennan, calling all the other men "young fellas".

All of the ingredients usually found in a western of this kind--including shootouts and cattle stampedes--are here, but the results are pretty ordinary.

Summing up: Not recommended unless you're a die-hard western fan with time on your hands.

The Cariboo Trail

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 27 December 2022]

'Gabby" Hayes can always be relied upon to liven things up, and here he comes very much to the rescue of this otherwise rather hum-drum pioneer western adventure. Top billing goes to the rather sterile Randolph Scott ("Redfern") who, with his pals "Evans" (Bill Williams) & "Ling" (Lee Tung Foo) encounter old-timer "Grizzly" as they head into British Colombia with some farming and gold-panning on their minds. They are not there for long, though, before local cattle baron "Walsh" (Victor Jory) and his men stampede their cattle causing "Evans" an injury that costs him his arm - and costs the operating "Redfern" their friendship. Now facing hostility from just about every side, his only hope is to find some gold in them thar hills. Karin Booth provides the occasional, and lively, love interest - a shrinking violet she isn't, and the rest of the narrative follows a well trammelled storyline peppered with the odd gunfight, before quite an exciting head-to-head. Aside from the rather wooden Scott, this features quite a characterful cast with enough action and a minimum of romance and wordy dialogue to pass eighty minutes amongst some fine cinematography (Colorado not BC) enjoyably enough.

Americana Canadian Style truly Western style

[texasjetman · 7/10 · 6 May 2023]

Truly a classic shot in dynamic color showing the unspoiled great outdoors. Don't pay any mind to the few power lines in the background of a few scenes or the few Indians that without a shirt maybe had been hitting the American Hostess Twinkee a little hard. Enjoy the scenery. The beautiful First Ladies and amazing colors shot on location. The Canadian mountains/ north of Montana is the feeling I get when watching this Randolph Scott classic. I can't help from getting the feeling the writers and producers where thinking this could spin off and be the next prime time Bonanza continuing saga for generations to come.

Cattle and Gold Don't Mix

[richardchatten · 6/10 · 29 January 2020]

An accomplished assembly-line Randolph Scott western shot in feverish Cinecolor hues and enhanced by second unit work by Arthur Rosson and a large and interesting supporting cast including a youthful Dale Robertson and Mary Stuart (both of whom went on to long careers on TV).

The Caribou Trail

[coltras35 · 7/10 · 30 April 2023]

Randolph Scott and Bill Williams star as cowboys leading a small herd of cattle from Montana to the Northwest Territories, one looking for rangeland the other for gold. While driving their cattle along The Caribou Trail, the two men encounter a toll bridge run by the local cattle king (Victor Jory) and his henchmen. But when the men refuse to pay the toll, their cattle is stampeded and all hell breaks loose!

I agree with one reviewer here, Randolph Scott never made an average western - they are always above that and spell quality. There are one or two I don't like, but most of them are great or good. The Caribou Trail, featuring Gabby Hayes in his last film, is the latter. It has plenty of things going on to keep you watching. Actually filmed in Colorado with excellent cinematography and good performances, especially from Bill Williams as Randolph Scott's brother and Victor Jory who plays, you guessed it, a manipulative and scheming villain.

It has some some fine drama, conflict, especially between a crippled Bill Williams and Randolph Scott, adventure and action, all these things join up to make a fairly enjoyable western fare. It does drag on a little towards the end, though.

Movie is fair to middlin', photography is bad to awful

[frankfob · 3/10 · 20 August 2013]

I won't bother to summarize the plot, as all of the previous reviewers have done so and there's nothing new I can add. As others have noted, this is not one of Scott's best films, or even one of his better ones. Director Edwin L. Marin has done some good westerns in the past--John Wayne's "Tall in the Saddle" comes to mind--but he doesn't seem to have had his heart in this one. Direction is perfunctory, performances are nothing special--although Bill Wiliams as a bitter one-armed cowboy has some good moments--and the action scenes are routine and not particularly well done. The worst thing about the film, however, is the photography. For some reason producer Nat Holt, who had done many of Scott's previous westerns, saw fit to use the cheap, crappy Cinecolor process for this film instead of the much superior Technicolor or Deluxe or even the chintzy Eastman Color, which would still have come out better than Cinecolor. The colors are muddy, everything is way too dark--even the day shots--actors' faces seem to fade into the background, and the major action setpiece takes place at night and the colors are so dark and muddy that, while the battle is certainly noisy, you can barely see anything.

All in all this is a decidedly below-average Scott western. The lousy photography definitely detracts from the film, but it didn't really have anything going for it in the first place.

Randolph Finds Adventure on "The Cariboo Trail"

[glennstenb · 7/10 · 19 July 2023]

I am certain that if I had seen "The Cariboo Trail" in the black and white version I would not have enjoyed it as much as I did. Luckily, I saw the restored color version and it is grand and beautiful to be sure. Some prints of the Cinecolor original are out there, too, and I took a look to compare and, well, with the color dull and and the image a little fuzzy, there isn't really any comparison! Unless one sees the restored version you may be shortchanging yourself with a considerably less pleasing viewing event.

Beyond that, although the picture is no epic, even though the incessant overwrought music seems to signal that it wants to be, it has plenty of action, beautiful scenic locales, distinctive Canadian town sets, and the always in-control personage of Randolph Scott. The supporting cast is fine, especially Victor Jory who nicely underplays his irritating and dastardly villainous character. George Hayes aka Gabby does his usual thing for the last time in a feature film. The makeup team should be given a nod because throughout the film those characters facing the hardships of outdoor work and travel look appropriate grimy and sunbaked.

Some of the roles may be a little predictably too by-the-book, but at least the romance doesn't get in the way of the story, including no ubiquitous vying for the lady's fair hand. And that may be why the picture comes in at an economical running time of around 80 minutes, not bad for a front-line western picture.

Recommended for Randolph Scott followers, Gabby Hayes completists, and for armchair enjoyers of scenic movies, but the latter only if you have the restored and enhanced color print.

Miserable

[damianphelps · 3/10 · 27 September 2020]

Scott can be described, if nothing else, as reliable. However in this movie he fails to reach that mark, with a character that's not really someone you want to root for.

There is one point in the movie where he destroys a bar in a fight, after which he is speaking to the owner (his girlfriend) and not only does he not offer to pay for (or apologise) for the damages he then charges her for some goods. What an arsehole.

The real problem with the movie is Scott is one of the more likeable characters, most of them are despicable. Now I understand that you have characters in a movie you aren't supposed to like but not ALL of them. They all come across as so entitled.

Its an average story with no redeeming elements.

Don't bother.

A good Western

[shakspryn · 8/10 · 11 June 2023]

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I liked this Western and thought it quite good. I watched it tonight, in a blu-ray print from Kino Lorber, in which that fine company did an excellent job of restoring the Cinecolor process in which the film was made back in 1950. Cinecolor has its own distinctive look. It is not nearly as lush as Technicolor, but in some ways that is a plus, because with Technicolor, the colors are often so vibrant that its's something of a distraction. Cinecolor is more subtle. The Kino Lorber restored version dates from 2016, so some reviewers may have seen the earlier, unrestored version.

As to the story: I found it well paced, with a good balance between action and character development. Randolph Scott's kindliness and humanity show here, as he stays patient with his bitter partner, Bill Williams. As is always the case, the biggest asset any Randolph Scott movie has, is that he is the star! Scott is a tremendously appealing person, and, in my opinion, he makes any movie he is starring in worth one's time.

It is true, that this movie does not have a larger-than-life, dynamic villain type; Victor Jory as the head villain is shown to be rather cowardly and sneaky, and I have a feeling that Jory had a lot of fun playing him that way.

The scenery is often breathtaking, and a real pleasure to see (the movie was filmed in Colorado). The mountain vistas are truly impressive, with a sense of the big outdoors. That is an aspect one is always glad to see in a Western. I would say, the visuals alone lift this movie well above the average. It is much better than just "a routine Western." Routine Westerns do not have the striking cinematography of the outdoors that we see here.

The supporting cast are all good. Karin Booth is beautiful. She paid her dues with a lot of very small parts in earlier years, and I enjoyed seeing her in a starring role here.

The screenwriter, Frank Gruber, was the author of many short stories and novels about the Old West, and he knew his stuff.

When other reviewers talk about a Western being "routine," I'm not sure what they mean. What is a "non-routine" Western of this period, the 1950's? The Searchers? Rio Bravo? A movie can be a very good Western without having John Wayne starring, or John Ford directing. Randolph Scott is as good a Western hero as John Wayne, any day.

The same as the other

[mmcgee282 · 10/10 · 23 November 2016]

Like Canadian pacific,this film had a segment too near the end, that also only lasted a couple of seconds ,in which only one component survived.Because of that it was printed in black and white.The.German preservationist are too perfectionist.The color component of that segment survived in the Eastman color print ,which had no shrinkage ,compare too Canadian pacific. as far as the print as concern.The whole print was used for VHS version released by fries video in 1991.I got that.Why did the German preservationist use the color record of that segment from that print? The same with other? cause they were too perfectionist.The quality did not match the rest of the digitally restored color frames of the rest of the film.So what ? the fact that the color was available from other print it was important to keep the whole print in color constancy.U.c.l.a ,if they restored, it would of felt that way.It was only a few seconds,The quality of material available for the Restoration of Paramount on parade ,was also below quality of the t.v reedited version,but they used it.So was the material use in the finale of the talking version of Broadway ,1930.In spite of this the whole print is still very pleasing.When I saw Gabby Hayes reacting to Bill Williams arms being amputated by Randolph Scot ,after the cattle stampede ,cause by the bad guy,played by Victor Jory, It seemed that this character actor gave everything in his talent that would of deserve an Oscar nomination, but Cinercolor feature were viewed as low brow and the academy did not considered them.Like the other feature this also take place in Canada.I'm wondering if this was a part of promoting the Canadian film industry? Any how this was quite entertaining.This also include bonuses ,like the 8mm 8 minute edited version that was put out in the early 60's,in b and w.For a few cents more that company could of printed it in color, castle films. 11/24/16

One more typical Warner Bros western

[searchanddestroy-1 · 19 November 2023]

Nothing surprising here, in this predictable but efficient little western which uses the perfect recipe for success. The scheme is as old as the movie film industry. And in Warner Bros productions, the villain is always, Raymond Massey, Victor Jory, Zachary Scott, David Brian and the leads Randolph Scott, Dennis Morgan or Madonald Carey. The "recipe" works very well here, it is fast paced, powerful of simplicity in terms of story telling. And the sub characters such as George Gabby Hayes are delightful because of the touch they all bring to this charming western. Edwin Marin the director provided many good of this kind during his last years of career. Most of them starring Randolph Scott.