Oregon Trail
Cast & Crew
Thomas Carr
Sunset Carson
Peggy Stewart
Frank Jacquet
John Merton
Mary Carr
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
After the Harvey Dawson gang robs a Union Pacific train of fifty thousand dollars in gold bullion, railroad detective Sunset Carson goes undercover to infiltrate the gang. To help establish Sunset's cover as outlaw Jim Parker, Union Pacific's Captain Street, chases him off a train and through a western town. Sunset's escape is abetted by Jill Layton, who was amused by Sunset during the train ride. Jill then boards a stagecoach bound for a small town named Gunsight, which is owned by her wealthy cattleman father, George Layton. Layton, who has been away for several months, is also on the coach and happy to see his daughter. Sunset soon boards the coach, saying that his horse gave out, then protects the Laytons from a group of masked bandits. Sunset, who tells the passengers that his name is Elmer Smith, impresses Layton with his fast action, especially when he outdraws one of the bandits. In town, Layton and Jill are dismayed to learn that during their absence, Gunsight has been taken over by saloon owner Dalt Higgins and his unruly band of henchmen. Higgins, who fronts for Dawson, wants to buy Gunsight from Layton, who is unaware that the railroad is planning to end a spur line in the town, thereby greatly increasing land values. One of Higgins' men, Johnny Slade, vows vengeance against Sunset for killing the stagecoach robber, who was Slade's brother. In Higgins' saloon, Sunset and Slade quarrel, and when Sheriff Planner attempts to stop the altercation, he is shot by Slade and Fletch Hobbs, another of Higgins' cohorts. Layton, who is unaware of Sunset's undercover mission, immediately hires him as the new sheriff, and Sunset arrests Slade and Hobbs. Soon after, however, drunken Judge J. Frothingham Smythe, who is Higgins' stooge, releases the two men with a minor fine. Sunset angrily tells Layton that he will not be the sheriff in a town that has no real justice, and Layton promises to appeal to the territorial governor for a new judge. Later that night, Sunset prepares to attend a dance with Jill but is called away when he is told that Slade is gunning for him. Sunset is shot in the back by Slade, and while recuperating, learns that both Layton and Smythe were killed during a stagecoach holdup. Despite Jill's pleas that he not go to Gunsight, Sunset leaves the hospital and returns to town for a showdown with Slade. During the gun battle, a stray bullet nicks the printing press of newspaper publisher Dick Pendleton, who, unknown to Sunset, is actually gangleader Harvey Dawson. Seeing that the press is solid gold underneath a layer of paint, Sunset's suspicions about Pendleton are aroused, and later, when Sunset is "arrested" by Captain Street, he relates his theory that Pendleton, and not Higgins, is the head outlaw. Meanwhile, a dispirited Jill has decided to sell Gunsight to Higgins, and he goes to her ranch with the papers. Jill's lively grandmother argues against her decision, and just as the papers are being signed, Pendleton enters, announces that he will be running the gang from now on and shoots Higgins to death. Sunset arrives before Pendleton kills the women, although the outlaw escapes back to town. Sunset races to Gunsight, followed by Jill and Granny Layton, and while Granny helps Street round up the gang, Sunset captures Pendleton. Sunset then shows Street the solid gold printing press, which was created from the stolen bullion, and Granny advises Jill to hogtie and brand Sunset before he can leave.
Director
Thomas Carr
Cast
Sunset Carson
Peggy Stewart
Frank Jacquet
John Merton
Mary Carr
Si "rawhide" Jenks
Bud Geary
Kenne Duncan
Steve Winston
Lee Shumway
Earle Hodgins
Tom London
Tex Terry
Sheila Stuart
Bud Osborne
Horace Carpenter
Rex Lease
Monte Hale
George Magrill
Crew
Betty Burbridge
Thomas A. Carman
Richard Cherwin
Gano Chittenden
Bennett Cohen
Howard Lydecker
Theodore Lydecker
Bob Mark
Enzo Martinelli
Gordon C. Schaefer
Fred Stahl
Bud Thackery
Richard L. Van Enger
Donald Verk
Howard Wilson
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this film was Union Pacific Scouts. Director Thomas Carr was the son of actress Mary Carr. Modern sources add Henry Wills, Cactus Mack and Tommy Coats to the cast.
