THE OMAHA TRAIL
US, 1942, 62 minutes, Black and white.
James Craig, Pamela Blake, Dean Jagger, Chill Wills, Howard Da Silva, Donald Meek, Harry Morgan, Morris Ankrum.
Directed by Edward Buzzell.
The Omaha Trail is a routine western. The difference is that there is a threat to the cattle industry, the transport across the United States by bullock and wagon. In this film, an entrepreneur wants to move a steam engine out west.
James Craig is the amiable guide for the group, Pamela Blake is a feisty heroine with Howard Da Silva playing her brother, the leader of the wagons. Dean Jagger is the villain, Harry Morgan his henchman. Chill Wills provides some comic touches. There are also a few songs included, a comic song sung by Chill Wills as well as a comic song sung in the saloon.
Indians are also present, attacking the wagons but frightened off when the engineer lights up the coal and the engine makes its sounds and puffs smoke.
1. The popularity of this kind of supporting feature? Elements of the western? Brief running time?
2. The B-budget cast, the locations, the re-creation of the west? Indians and their attack? The issue of the train?
3. The background, the opening up of the west, the railroad, the stopping of the bullock trains and the wagons? The entrepreneurs and their clashes? Violence?
4. The portrait of the Indians, the attack, their being frightened away?
5. Pat, genial, meeting Julie, the romance, his laidback approach to life, the clashes with Ross? Friendship with Henry Hawkins? With the wagons, in the towns, the Indian attack, the firing up of the engine? The happy ending?
6. Ben Santley, the leader, the pressures from Ross? His attempted honesty, non-violence, his death?
7. Ross, wealthy, his company, wanting to stop the railroad? His henchmen, serious, villains? The confrontations with Pat? The engagement with Julie, her rejection of him? The final confrontation, Pat giving him the gun, the shootout?
8. Henry Hawkins, the comedy, his song? The engineer, his self-deprecation, his advice, setting the engine up?
