CS #405. The Big Trail (1930) John Wayne

CS #405. The Big Trail (1930)
is a landmark American Western epic that serves as a pivotal moment in cinema history for its technical innovation and for launching the career of its star.
Production & Cast
Director: Directed by Raoul Walsh, who "discovered" the 23-year-old lead actor while he was working as a prop man on the studio lot.
Lead Actor: This film marked the first leading role for John Wayne, whose name was changed from Marion "Duke" Morrison specifically for this production by Walsh and studio executives.
Supporting Cast: The film also stars Marguerite Churchill as the love interest Ruth Cameron and features Tyrone Power Sr. (in his only sound film role) as the villainous Red Flack.
Plot Summary
Set in the mid-19th century, the story follows Breck Coleman (Wayne), a young fur trapper who agrees to lead a massive wagon train of hundreds of settlers from the Mississippi River to the Oregon Territory. While navigating treacherous terrain, blizzards, and Indian raids, Coleman also seeks to avenge the murder of his mentor at the hands of the ruthless wagon boss Red Flack.