Valley of the Giants
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
William Keighley
Wayne Morris
Claire Trevor
Frank Mchugh
Alan Hale
Donald Crisp
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Howard Fallon and his partner Hendricks, who intend to exploit the redwood forests of Northern California, head west from Milwaukee accompanied by saloon owner Lee Roberts, her partner, Ed Morell, and gambler Fingers McCarthy. En route, Lee's covered wagon is stopped by a tree felled by Bill Cardigan, the territory's biggest landowner. Charmed by Lee's sophistication, Bill confesses his love for the redwoods and discloses his large debt to banker Andy Stone. Lee uses this knowledge to help Fallon claim homesteaders' property, corner the state land, and buy Bill's note from Stone. Beaten down, Bill's hopes are lifted when Ox Smith accidentally burns down the land office, destroying Fallon's claims. Fallon retaliates by calling Bill's note. Now, Bill's only chance is to cut his timber and get it down river and sold within six weeks. The entire community helps, but Fallon's henchmen sabotage their efforts by destroying the railroad trestle and damming the river. Lee, who has since fallen in love with Bill, warns him and along with Fingers, almost loses her life when they are locked in a caboose which is speeding towards the collapsed trestle. In a daring chase, Bill stops the runaway caboose and realizes Lee's loyalty. Bill's men dynamite the dam and capture Fallon, who surrenders and renews Bill's note, leaving Lee and Bill together surrounded by the redwoods.
Director
William Keighley
Cast
Wayne Morris
Claire Trevor
Frank Mchugh
Alan Hale
Donald Crisp
Charles Bickford
Jack La Rue
John Litel
Dick Purcell
El Brendel
Russell Simpson
Cy Kendall
Harry Cording
Wade Boteler
Helen Mackeller
Addison Richards
Jerry Colonna
Fred Burton
Pierre Watkin
Cliff Saum
Don Barclay
Jack Mower
Paul Panzer
Tom Wilson
Saul Gorss
Ben Hendricks
Herbert Rawlinson
Stuart Holmes
Sonny Bupp
Al Herman
Clem Bevans
Frank Darien
Spencer Charters
George Chandler
Nat Carr
Trevor Bardette
Henry Otho
Bob Perry
William Pawley
Sidney Bracy
Lee Shumway
Bob Stevenson
Eddy Chandler
Don Turner
Lew Harvey
Crew
Milo Anderson
Joe Barry
Allen M. Davey
Adolph Deutsch
Lou Edelman
Michael Fessier
Leo F. Forbstein
Hugh Friedhofer
Oliver S. Garretson
Fred Graham
Jo Graham
Chuck Hansen
Wesley Hopper
Natalie Kalmus
Bill Kiehl
Jack Killifer
Lawrence Kimble
Cliff Lyons
Dan Mainwaring
Seton I. Miller
Scotty Moore
Morgan Padelford
Sol Polito
Ted Smith
Max Steiner
Robert S. Taplinger
Perc Westmore
Buster Wiles
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Peter B. Kyne's novel originally appeared in Red Book in August 1918. According to Warner Bros. press material, San Hedrin, the setting of the novel, was patterned after Eureka, CA., where the film was actually shot. Additional scenes were shot in Orick, north of Eureka and in the redwood groves. Press material credits Max Steiner with the music although Adolph Deutsch is credited onscreen. The thirty-foot dam destroyed in the film was built on the Van Duzen river at Bridgeville, CA. Footage from Warner Bros.' 1937 film God's Country and the Woman was also used. Warner records reveal that Henry O'Neill was tested for the part of McKenzie, Dick Foran and Allen Jenkins for Ox, John Litel for Sheriff, Russell Simpson for Hendricks and Gloria Dickson for Lee. The project was originally assigned to Ray Enright, who was replaced by William Keighley. The film was re-issued in 1948. Valley of the Giants was one of four 1938 films which Warner Bros. shot in Technicolor, all of which lost money except for The Adventures of Robin Hood, the success of which encouraged the studio to use color again. Other versions of Kyne's novel include a 1919 film The Valley of the Giants produced by Paramount starring Wallace Reid (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1911-20; F1.4707) and the 1927 First National film of the same title directed by Charles J. Brabin and starring Milton Sills (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films 1921-30; F2.6016).
