Old Overland Trail
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
William Witney
Rex Allen
Koko
Slim Pickens
Roy Barcroft
Virginia Hall
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Rex Allen, who is working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and his partner, Slim Pickens, are sent west to investigate some Apache uprisings near the construction site of a new railroad spur line. Near the town of Red Creek, Rex and Slim encounter a couple of drunken Indians and subdue them. Moments later, Chief Black Hawk rides up, and Rex warns him to stay on the reservation. After Rex and Slim leave, however, Black Hawk meets with some white men, who give him rifles. In town, Rex and Slim arrive at the headquarters of Anchor Construction, where Rex's older brother Jim is working. Co-owner John Anchor tells Rex that Jim is leading a wagon train of settlers from the drought-stricken Midwest and expresses his fears that the Indian troubles will interfere with the company's work on the spur line. Rex and Slim decide to meet the wagon train, and while camped, hear gunfire and discover that the wagon train is under attack. To Rex's surprise, however, the Indians ride off after destroying the contents of a few wagons. Afterward, Rex rides to the reservation, and Jim reports to Anchor. Jim accuses Anchor of fomenting the attack, charges that, though true, Anchor denies. Anchor then tells Jim that he will employ the settlers for low wages, which will increase the company's profits. At the reservation, Rex accuses Black Hawk of leading the attack, and the angry chief challenges him to a fight. Rex wins the fight, but stops short of killing the Indian. Meanwhile, the settlers begin work on the railroad, but do not receive even their meager wages when the stagecoach carrying the funds is reported robbed. Unknown to the settlers, the stagecoach drivers are in league with Anchor. When the settlers complain that they must buy supplies, Anchor offers to pay them with scrip, which he promises will be redeemable in the town store. Later, when the storekeeper redeems the scrip for only twenty-five cents on the dollar, Rex accuses Jim of participating in a swindle. The two brothers fight fiercely. When the fight is over, Rex and Slim hold up the stage before the stagecoach driver hands the money to Anchor. Jim, meanwhile, tells Anchor that he wants to end their partnership, so Anchor kills him, then blames his death on Rex. When Rex returns with the payroll money, Mary Peterson, one of the settlers, warns Rex that he is wanted for Jim's murder, and he and Slim hide out in the hills. Anchor secretly offers Black Hawk enough guns for the entire tribe if he will capture Rex and Slim. When Black Hawk finds them, he admits that Anchor is behind all the trouble. Unknown to Anchor, Rex has managed to send a telegram to Washington, D.C., apprising his superiors of the situation, and when Anchor learns that there will be an investigation, he decides to steal the final payroll and leave town. However, because the payroll is being sent by train, Anchor needs Black Hawk's help. When Anchor arrives at the reservation without the promised guns, Black Hawk angrily refuses to help him, and Anchor shoots him. Anchor then convinces the other Indians to help him destroy the railroad. After they leave, the wounded Black Hawk cuts Rex free in return for Rex sparing his life earlier. Rex and Slim hurriedly rouse the settlers, and they head for the spur line. During the ensuing fight, Anchor escapes, followed by Rex. Anchor tries to ambush Rex, but Black Hawk kills him, and then dies himself. With the troublemakers all dead, the settlers and Indians work together to develop the area.
Director
William Witney
Cast
Rex Allen
Koko
Slim Pickens
Roy Barcroft
Virginia Hall
Gil Herman
Wade Crosby
Leonard Nimoy
Zon Murray
Harry Harvey
The Republic Rhythm Riders
Billy Dix
Lee Shumway
Joe Yrigoyen
Marshall Reed
Crew
Frank Arrigo
R. Dale Butts
T. A. Carman
Annie L. Coghill
Jack Elliott
Howard Lydecker
Theodore Lydecker
John Macburnie
Bob Mark
Lowell Mason
John Mccarthy Jr.
Marie Messinger
George Milo
Harold Minter
Milton Raison
Darol Rice
Robert Shannon
Edward J. White
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The film's working titles were Overland Trail Riders and Song of the Overland Trail. According to a September 1952 Hollywood Reporter news item, portions of the film were shot on location at Burro Flats in San Fernando Valley, CA.
