Sadly Over-hyped

Good concept, poorly executed.

Blistering performances.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

. . . 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.

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.

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.

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!