Slaughter Trail

No need to recap the cavalry vs. indians plot. The 70-minutes may be okay for kids, but otherwise the movie's a hash. I'm not sure what the producers were aiming for, but the results are to a conventional Western what goulash is to steak and potatoes. The battle scenes, which should be the high point, appear staged for cartoonish effect. Every shot brings down an "Injun", while the blue coats crack jokes. But never mind since the Navajo chief forgives all by film's merciful end. Then there's the incessant top-of-the-lungs music that blends with events about as well as gravy on nuts. The movie's most interesting part is guessing where the next stock footage will come from as the Indians attack over what appears three southwestern states. I'm just sorry such capable performers as Donlevy, Grey, and Young got caught up in the nonsense. Then too the script does the cavalry few favors, the poker game portraying the rank and file as near idiots. Still, it's good to know that even a 300-pound specimen like Andy Devine has a place as a first-sergeant. Anyhow, kids might enjoy the silly humor and cartoonish violence, but first, parents have to get past that dubious title.

After robing a stage coach. Three bandits shoot some Indians for their horses and from their actions. The Indians of that area break a peace treaty and go on a war path, until they get there hands on those three men. Capt. Dempster learns of the breakdown in relationship with the Indians and tries to convince the Indian Chief that those men would be brought to white-man's justice, but they want to hand out their own justice.

What makes this one stick out from the textbook examples of cheaply done Hollywood westerns is the filming device of using a rumbling ballad to link the film's generically straight-forward narrative together. It's an unique novelty and was worked in accordingly, but I did find it to get rather distractingly tiring. In all "Slaughter Trail" is an earnestly tempestuous and rugged western outing. The story's outline might have been done to death, but its still in certain patches it manages to provide a breath of fresh air to the project. A causal flowing script kicks up snappy dialogues and hammers in some amusing comical elements too. Irving Allen's zippy direction never lets the pacing get bogged down and provides some scope on its location photography. Cinecolor gives the film a suitably penetrating colour scheme and the musical score stays lively throughout. While, the final battle sequence is an excitingly well done display. The performances are pretty solid and reasonably likable from the main players. Brian Donlevy is unshakably stout as the part of Capt. Dempster. Virginia Grey is delightfully strong in her role as Lorabelle Larkin. Andy Devine is having a good time. While Gig Young and Terry Gilkyson churn out good performances too.

I thought it was a curiously decent b-grade effort, but couldn't help but get that feeling. I probably would've got something more out of it when I was that kid who loved to watch cowboys and Indians. Not easy to come by, but worth a look for fans of the genre.

This film is an exciting ballad. Yes, that's right: it is a story plot with the song-track of a ballad. Quite unusual, and having its faults, the defects of one of the unique -- but still interesting -- proprietory colour film processes which came to life briefly in that decade.

Besides the really super ballad-style, the direction of the plot-line and dialogue has a refreshing 'devil may care' attitude, quite contrary to the stultified over-worked techniques not uncommon with high budget studio Westerns.

This Western is one for the genre collector; its pleasing uniqueness makes it so.

I was very excited to see this movie come up on the database. I remember seeing this movie in the theaters when I was young, and the song keeps going through my head, even now.

I have not seen it on TV at all, and would really LOVE to add this movie to my library. I know that what I remember as a child and what it would be like now are two completely different things, but since it took me at least 30 years to find anyone who even knew about this movie I think is an incredible thing.

It must have been pretty good, or I wouldn't have remembered the title, the song, or the movie all of these 50 odd years!!!!

I have always loved this movie from my childhood watching it on Saturday morning. Have not seen it in years and now must make sure i catch AMC when it airs. To me the coolest thing about this movie was the catchy song. I can still remember it to this day "All that you can hear are the hoof beats on the ground as the Redskins ride along Slaughter Trail." not PC for sure but this was 1951 and the star was booted because he was "tabbed" a commie lover. Wow how non-PC can you get. would love to see it again and again again. I was hoping this was not one of those lost films destroyed by time and am glad to see TNT still willing to show it.