Trail of Kit Carson
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Lesley Selander
Allan Lane
Helen Talbot
Tom London
Twinkle Watts
Roy Barcroft
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
After Texan Bill Harmon receives a letter from his partner, Dave MacRoy, that he has found a rich vein of gold, he rides to California to help with the mine. Upon his arrival, however, Bill learns from neighboring miner John Benton that MacRoy died from a wound received while cleaning his gun, and that he sold their mine to Dr. Charles B. Ryan for one thousand dollars shortly before his death. Bill believes that the physical evidence points to murder rather than an accident, and is curious about why MacRoy would sell the mine after making a large strike. After Bill discovers a jar of gold ore nuggets hidden under the floorboards of MacRoy's cabin, Benton accompanies him to town, where he takes Bill's samples to an assayer. Sheriff Buffalo Bailey explains to Bill that he found Ryan's check to MacRoy for the mine, and that gunsmith Trigger Chandler verified that the bullet taken from MacRoy's body came from his own gun. Unknown to Bailey, Ryan's check to MacRoy was to cover a gambling debt, not the sale of the mine, but after MacRoy cashed the check, Ryan ordered his gunman, Red Snyder, to kill him to gain control of the mine. Trigger, Ryan's accomplice, faked the evidence to confirm a finding of accidental death. When Bill confronts Trigger and Ryan, the doctor shows Bill a receipt for the mine, supposedly signed by MacRoy. Bill then goes to the saloon where MacRoy cashed Ryan's check, and the bartender tells him about the gambling debt. His suspicions heightened, Bill searches Ryan's office that night and discovers more evidence indicating his guilt. Ryan sees Bill as he leaves, however, and pays Snyder to kill him. The next day, Snyder provokes a fight with Bill, but the sheriff breaks it up. Shortly after, the drunken Snyder accosts Bill in the street, and Trigger, hidden in the shadows, shoots and kills Snyder. Bill is arrested for the crime, and Trigger falsifies the ballistics evidence to implicate Bill. Benton brings the assayer's report to Bill in jail, and Bill's belief that MacRoy hit a rich vein is confirmed. Meanwhile, Trigger is worried that Benton, who saw the shooting of Snyder, will testify that Bill is innocent, so he frames Benton for cheating in a poker game, then shoots him. The injured Benton is taken to Ryan for surgery, and Bill, who has escaped from jail, holds a gun on the doctor to prevent him from killing Benton during the operation. After the successful surgery, Bill is forced to flee from Bailey's posse, and Trigger and Ryan attempt to destroy the evidence against them. Bill arrives at Trigger's shop in time to stop him, however, and proves to the sheriff that Trigger faked his ballistics evidence. Trigger agrees to testify against Ryan, but the doctor shoots him before fleeing. Bill catches Ryan though, and soon after, Ryan is sentenced to be hanged for orchestrating the murders of MacRoy and Snyder.
Director
Lesley Selander
Cast
Allan Lane
Helen Talbot
Tom London
Twinkle Watts
Roy Barcroft
Kenne Duncan
Jack Kirk
Bud Geary
Tom Dugan
George Chesebro
Bob Wilke
Freddie Chapman
Dickie Dillon
Henry Wills
Tex Terry
Josh Carpenter
Frank Ellis
Ken Terrell
Crew
Stephen Auer
Thomas A. Carman
Richard Cherwin
Earl Crain Jr.
Albert Demond
Ralph Dixon
Howard Lydecker
Theodore Lydecker
Bob Mark
Enzo Martinelli
George Milo
Jack Natteford
Jack Natteford
William J. O'sullivan
Fred A. Ritter
Gordon C. Schaefer
Bud Thackery
Roy Wade
Howard Wilson
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Kit Carson is not a character in this film, and there is no mention of a trail established by by the noted frontiersman. Modern sources add Herman Hack and Tom Steele to the cast.
