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The Big Trail

Play trailer Poster for The Big Trail Released Oct 24, 1930 2h 6m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Upstart fur trapper Breck Coleman (John Wayne) agrees to lead and protect a group of pioneers trying to make their way on the treacherous Oregon Trail. Amid a harrowing series of trials, including an Indian raid, a blizzard, scorching desert sands and nearly unnavigable woods, Breck attempts to begin a romance with frontier woman Ruth Cameron (Marguerite Churchill). Meanwhile, he searches for the men who killed his mentor -- and who may be members of another wagon train traveling westward.
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The Big Trail

Critics Reviews

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Fred Camper Chicago Reader The oddly meditative quality of Walsh’s long takes, the curious lack of a dominant narrative tension controlling the film’s space, and the oddly disjunct tableau-to-tableau editing combine to make a statement quite different... Rated: 3/4 May 11, 2022 Full Review Richard Brody New Yorker Integrating the settlers' passionate mortal conflicts into the landscape, Walsh turns the theatrical limitations of early sound technique to an advantage, composing vast, static tableaux with the mighty breadth and noble pace of epic stanzas. Jul 15, 2013 Full Review Steve Crum Kansas City Kansan More historical than anything, but a must for Wayne fans. Rated: 3/5 Feb 17, 2008 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Raoul Walsh believed that John Wayne would become a big star after his epic Western but he did not. A combo of factors account for this failure, not just Wayne's stiff acting but also the cool reception of the horseopera itself. Rated: B+ Dec 21, 2005 Full Review Andy Klein Los Angeles CityBeat Rated: 3/5 Jul 31, 2005 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews John Ford recommended to his friend Walsh bit-part actor Marion Morrison for the lead, and for his first starring role he took the name John Wayne... Rated: B- Jul 5, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Helen A This is a fabulous movie. The fact it was filmed in the wild outdoors and not on a film stage is an incredible achievement. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/11/24 Full Review Greg H John Wayne in his first Epic Western and if watched in the grand widescreen format it's truly Epic. It's the Lawrence of Arabia of westerns because of its unmatched ambition, cinematography and life risking journey. With the end of silent movies you had the beginning of sound and this film forges the path. At times you feel as if your watching a documentary or maybe seeing a snapshot of life in the American Frontier as it happened at that time. You witness the birth of John Wayne along with the "nothing can stop us" American spirit that many believed guided their destiny. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Highly recommend this one James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas, June 16, 2023 Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/18/23 Full Review Deke P CLASSIC cuz John WAYNE's FIRST starring movie & in 1930!! wow. Was on tv Grit tv May 2023. Note to sef, watch it again. Pay close attention to most all. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/22/23 Full Review Liam D One of John Wayne (In Harm's Way, McQ) earliest movies and an fairly unknown movie in the western genre Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/12/22 Full Review brad h The Big Trail is one of the best westerns ever. It has been a major influence on many westerns. Director Raoul Walsh did an amazing job. Arthur Edeson's widescreen cinematography is stunning, he also shot "All Quiet On The Western Front" the same year. Two of the finest films that year or any year. Actress Marguerite Churchill is very good in her role and you fall for her character. Actor El Brendel is very funny in his role. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Big Trail

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Movie Info

Synopsis Upstart fur trapper Breck Coleman (John Wayne) agrees to lead and protect a group of pioneers trying to make their way on the treacherous Oregon Trail. Amid a harrowing series of trials, including an Indian raid, a blizzard, scorching desert sands and nearly unnavigable woods, Breck attempts to begin a romance with frontier woman Ruth Cameron (Marguerite Churchill). Meanwhile, he searches for the men who killed his mentor -- and who may be members of another wagon train traveling westward.
Director
Raoul Walsh
Genre
Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 24, 1930, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2013
Runtime
2h 6m
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