I was surprised during the opening credits to see that this picture was based on the Zane Grey Western story 'Fighting Caravans'. A film with that title appeared in 1931 starring a young Gary Cooper with much of the same story line. This time the destination is Oregon, while in the earlier movie, the wagon train was heading to Sacramento. The principal character, wagon-master Clint Belmet is portrayed by Randolph Scott, and he has a couple of sidekicks, Bill O'Leary (Olin Howland) and Jim Burch (Ray Hatton) who help out with the wagon teams. Belmet has this thing against 'lily white women going across the Rockies', but after a while, he begins to take a liking to Nan Wellington (Gail Patrick), and the feeling appears mutual. Nan's four year old boy Sonny (Billy Lee) provides some of the picture's comic relief in his relationship with Belmet, and manages to fire off a few well placed slingshot rounds during the Indian attack that closes out the story.
I have to say, the wagon train itself was quite an impressive affair, and a lot more rustic looking than you got with your classic TV Westerns. Watching them make their way across deep rivers and through rugged mountain passes covered with snow made you wonder how rugged those folks had to be to even contemplate such a journey.
Surprisingly to me, the film offered more than a handful of songs provided by various characters, including the title tune done a couple of times by cowboys round the campfire and again by rugged gal Hetty Masters (Leila Bennett). The action in the story was provided by a couple of Indian attacks against the pioneers, instigated by villain Murdock (Monte Blue) who was hired by fur traders to prevent them from reaching their destination. With Randolph Scott on hand however, the settlers prevail to continue on their journey to a better life than the one they left.
I have to say, the wagon train itself was quite an impressive affair, and a lot more rustic looking than you got with your classic TV Westerns. Watching them make their way across deep rivers and through rugged mountain passes covered with snow made you wonder how rugged those folks had to be to even contemplate such a journey.
Surprisingly to me, the film offered more than a handful of songs provided by various characters, including the title tune done a couple of times by cowboys round the campfire and again by rugged gal Hetty Masters (Leila Bennett). The action in the story was provided by a couple of Indian attacks against the pioneers, instigated by villain Murdock (Monte Blue) who was hired by fur traders to prevent them from reaching their destination. With Randolph Scott on hand however, the settlers prevail to continue on their journey to a better life than the one they left.