Runtime: 122 minutes
Directed by: Raoul Walsh
Starring: John Wayne, Marguerite Churchill, El Brendel, Tully Marshall, Tyrone Power, Sr.
From: Fox Film Corporation
Yes, there was a 70mm widescreen film released in 1930.
Briefly, Fox had their Fox Grandeur system done in 70mm at a 2:10.1 aspect ratio (I know that will appeal to the small segment that loves unusual aspect ratios, ratio changes, etc.) and by far this was the most famous effort that used it. The Great Depression happened and as it would have cost money to put in brand new projectors for auditoriums... it died after this film and presumably most saw it in a 1:19.1 aspect ratio this was also filmed at which sometimes was the same scene from different angles and sometimes was brand new footage. Recently I got the Blu for cheap as it has both versions... of course what I am reviewing here is the Fox Grandeur cut, at a little more than 2 hours long.
This was John Wayne's first big role in Hollywood, and he got the part basically because of desperation on director Raoul Walsh's part; he saw Wayne at the studio one day and his look was enough to get the director's attention. A youthful John plays a cowboy in presumed 1840's Missouri who doesn't lead a wagon train to Oregon-basically, The Oregon Trail, although no one dies of dysentery... but rides along as he is friendly with Native Americans and is a great shot. Naturally he has a potential love interest in the convoy who isn't keen on him at first and of course there are villains hiding in the midst of said convoy.
The most important aspect to note is that the scope of this was HUGE. There were like 150 wagons in the convoy, all of which are seen even if only several (colorful) characters are spotlighted, such as the Swedish guy who feuds with his mother-in-law or the bearded drunk that loves making animal noises. Speaking of that, dozens of animals are shown. The camera is typically medium shot or long shot to show off the scope of this production, all the people in front of the camera and the real life locations all across the West they filmed in. There's a river forded, an Indian attack, bad weather, and more. How grueling the trek was in real life was presented accurately here. That said, it's all a fun adventure that I know wouldn't have been the same if viewed in its 1:19.1 form.
What could have been had this caught on... then again it probably was too ahead of its time, considering sound in pictures just arrived a few years ago. At least the 1950's brought us Cinemascope and a lens being the only equipment change needed for widescreen images. The Big Trail was more than just a curio ahead of its time. The Duke had to star in dozens of low-budget Westerns and pay his dues before John Ford cast him in 1939's Stagecoach—the rest is history.
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