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"Winds of the Wasteland" was made following the 1935 merger of Lone Star/Monogram and Mascot Pictures into Republic Pictures. With the added resources of the old Mascot serial group, the production values of John Wayne's series improved greatly. The budgets were certainly bigger and that can be seen in this particular entry.

The story has two ex Pony Express riders, John Craig (Wayne) and Larry Adams (Lane Chander) starting up a stagecoach line. They are duped into signing an agreement with bad guy Drake (Douglas Cosgrove) to operate the line between two towns one of which is deserted except for the disgruntled doctor (Sam Flint) and jack of all trades Rocky (Lew Kelly).

Doc's daughter Barbara (Phyllis Fraser) arrives unannounced and tries to convince her father to return east with her. Craig convinces them to remain and await the results of the upcoming stagecoach race for a $25,000 mail contract. Drake, along with his henchmen Bob Kortman and Yakima Canutt, among others, try to thwart our hero at every turn.

The highlight of the film, and a sequence that sets it apart, is the climatic and very well staged race between Drake's coach and that of Craig. Veteran director Mack V. Wright gives us plenty of action and a realistic race to boot. Having Yakima Canutt around meant many visually exciting stunts. The outcome of the race of course is never in doubt nor is the fate of the villains.

Jon Hall (using the name Charles Lochner), appears briefly at the beginning of the movie as a Pony Express rider who is seen talking to Wayne and Chandler. Also in the same sequence is veteran "B" western performer Ed Cassidy.

This was one of the best of Wayne's early "B" westerns.

John Wayne B-movie path to stardom is clearly on the ascendant in this amiable, non-formulaic outing, thanks to fine support from Lane Chandler and the Republic Pictures team.

John Blair (Wayne) and fellow Pony Express veteran Larry Adams (Chandler) are sold a bum stage route to ghost town Crescent City by the conniving tycoon of neighboring Buchanan, Cal Drake (Douglas Cosgrove). Drake later admits the deal was "a lemon," yet Blair and Adams count on capitalist know-how and their handiness with fist and gun to turn the tables on the crooked Drake.

As reviewer John W Chance rightly notes, this is another of those B- movie Waynes where the title makes no sense. Later it was retitled "Stagecoach Run," which is more on the mark as well as suggestive of Wayne's big breakthrough in "Stagecoach" three years away. "Winds Of The Wasteland" is more concerned with the business of stage travel than that later western, and this focus provides "Winds" with much of its interest.

The light comedic tone of the film is established early on, when Blair and Adams ride into Crescent City for the first time, shooting their guns into the air and expecting a hearty welcome from the healthy population Drake informed them reside there.

"Thirty-five hundred people don't make much noise," Blair notes as the gunsmoke blows through an empty street.

"Maybe they're out on a picnic," Adams suggests.

"Or just out," Blair responds.

In fact, there are only two residents of Crescent City, a demoralized doctor (Sam Flint) and an eccentric coot (Lew Kelly) in the Gabby Hayes mold who styles himself mayor and pretty much everything else. In time, Blair and Adams set to making Crescent City a bustling hub of activity, which draws the deadly ire of Drake and his nefarious crew.

A dedication in the beginning of the film memorializes the telegraph-line builders "who gave their lives to bring the thin strands of communication across the trackless wastes of the great American Desert." In fact, a plot point involves Blair using his gun to help these telegraph men, though hardly in the way you might expect. Nothing plays out exactly how you expect it to. Gunplay is kept at a minimum as Blair outfoxes his adversaries more with banter and wit. Wayne is in terrific early form here, showcasing his amiable side but hard when he needs to be.

"I didn't know school let out so early," he jibes one of Drake's henchmen.

While entertaining, "Winds" has its share of story ellipses and contrivances. A medical crisis involving Adams is too speedily handled, as is a late-blooming romance between Blair and the doctor's daughter (Phyllis Fraser, Ginger Rogers' cousin). It definitely compresses a lot of story development to fit its hour- long frame.

But the film moves well, culminating in an exciting stagecoach race between Blair and Drake that emphasizes character over gunplay. Though only a step or two above the Poverty Row westerns Wayne did earlier in the 1930s in terms of production values, the acting and story are both markedly superior. So is the direction of Mack V. Wright, who worked with Wayne before and knew how to use his star's burgeoning reactive acting talents to fine effect. If not quite a sleeper, this is a solid charmer worth your time.

This is my favorite B-Rater from the 30's of John Wayne!!!!! Ilove this movie, and the COach race and all, action pack john wayne 54 Minute movie that will keep u interested all through the movie! I have the pleasure to Own the VHS Copy of this movie and all its B-Rating Oater Glory right now!!!!!! John Wayne is my favorite actor of the 30's always have been and always will be. And for who ever doesn't like this movie or John wayne, then you really don't know good from bad!!!!!

On a end note, who ever likes b-rated westerns from the 30's this is a great choice to pick.

I HOPE THIS Review Helps you!!!!!!!

Well ladies and gentleman the Pony Express rides again,, this time with John Wayne leading the charge. A man and his partner ride into town looking to make some money,, and there chance is right in front of them 25,000 prize for the quickest Pony Express run.. Crescent City is where it all starts at,, and for the life of me I can't remember the ending point, but that's really not important,, so the Duke and his partner get the line,, now only to find out that the town in which they start at has a grand total of get this,, 2 people.. well eventually 3 more people are on the way so we got 5 all together,, the man who put up the prize money though isn't playing on the up and up , as he tries to sabotage the Duke and his partner from finishing the run from the one city to the other for the Pony Express,, I found this movie to be very interesting as I really don't know much about the origins of the Pony Express.

Former Pony Express Riders John Wayne and Lane Chandler get some free horses when the Pony Express disbands and decide to start a stagecoach line. Easier said than done when a crooked stagecoach entrepreneur, Douglas Cosgrove, sells them a worthless route to a ghost town.

Well not quite a ghost town, there are two inhabitants there. But through good old American know how and some hard work, Wayne and Chandler make a go of it. The town springs back to life in the process.

Though this is a poverty row B film with production values of same, this is one of the Duke's better B films of his pre-Stagecoach period. I like the plot very much and there is an exciting climax with a stagecoach race to see who wins the government mail contract.

And why wouldn't it be exciting since the King of Stuntmen, Yakima Canutt who did the chariot race in Ben-Hur had a hand in this one.

Also look for a very nice performance from character actor Lew Kelly, the "Mayor" of the ghost town who keeps having a run in with a persistent skunk who has taken up residence in the old stagecoach Wayne and Chandler buy.

But that's no comment on the picture.

With the advent of the telegraph, Pony Express rider John Wayne and his friend find themselves out of work with a few horses as severance pay. The two purchase a stage line to Crecent City and find out they were swindled, as Crecent City turns out to be a ghost town! However, the two have a plan to make it work by winning a mail contract and bringing in the telegraph.

One of Wayne's best B-pictures, Winds Of The Wasteland is irresistible, breezy fun, full of humor and can-do spirit, with a winning performance by the Duke.

An exciting stagecoach race, full of villainous treachery and thunderous action makes for a good, satisfying climax.

If you haven't seen any of Wayne's early westerns, this is a good place to start.

I recently watched the John Wayne western Winds on the Wasteland (1936) on Prime. The plot depicts the end of the Pony Express and the shift to traditional government postal services. Recently laid-off men offer to assist a local stagecoach company in securing the government mail contract, but challenges lie ahead.

Directed by Mack V. Wright (The Man from Monterey), the film stars John Wayne (Stagecoach), Phyllis Fraser (Little Men), Lew Kelly (Paradise Express), Lane Chandler (Samson and Delilah), and Douglas Cosgrove (Lady Killer).

This is a dated western with varying degrees of success in its elements. The acting and dialogue feel somewhat stiff and inauthentic at times. However, the elite attire, settings, and props immerse the audience in the era. The storyline is compelling and holds attention, though the fake backgrounds and staged scenes haven't aged well.

In conclusion, Winds on the Wasteland is an average western with redeeming elements that make it a must-see for genre enthusiasts. I'd score this a 5.5-6/10 and recommend watching it once.

Strong story line that benefits from Lone Star's alliance with Republic Pictures. Poverty row Lone Star usually emphasized action at the expense of story-line. This resulted in lots of exciting chases, but often with little understanding of why. Here, however, the plot is very well developed with believable characters and good action. It's an excellent sketch of how guts, risk, and ingenuity helped transform an abandoned ghost town into a vibrant new community. The screenplay also does a nice job of showing the challenges of rebuilding a frontier town without losing the conventions that entertained kids of the time. Wayne delivers a nicely appropriate turn as the driving force behind the redevelopment, along with Lane Chandler as his buddy. This film especially shows Wayne's charm before the big-money responsibility of super-stardom made him more serious. Final stage race is well conceived along with how reviving the town also restores self-confidence of its inhabitants. Very positive story-line unusual for a B-Western of the time.

The arrival of the telegraph put Pony Express riders like John Blair (the Duke)and his pal Smoky out of work. A race will decide whether they or stageline owner Drake get the government mail contract.

Funniest part of this John Wayne b-western is when Wayne and his partner buy the stage line in a town and it turns out they were given a dud - a ghost town. But soon the population spikes and Wayne is racing a stagecoach in competition with the others, and that's the most exciting part of the film. Apart from that, it has a bit of humour and romance. It's entertaining at least. Wayne is charismatic like always.

Not bad, just incredibly dull. Wayne and partner Lane Chandler try to start a stagecoach route through a ghost town. A rival stagecoach company tries to stop them. Some of the stuff near the beginning of the film is okay, and the lead actress is cute and looks a bit like Ginger Rogers. The final action sequence put me to sleep. 5/10.

Winds of The Wasteland is a vastly underappreciated film. Having seen most of John Wayne's pre 1939 westerns (including some of his more highly regarded ones such as Randy Rides Alone, Hell Town aka Born To The West, Blue Steel, West Of The Divide, Sagebrush Trail and Riders of Destiny) this is the most entertaining. It has a great story that is well played by the primary actors, though the doctor is a little wooden. Of all Wayne's shorts, I would first recommend this one. Get the colourized version if possible. It may be heretical to say, but the colourized shorts are more enjoyable and most are available.

Just what the lawless West needed - a US Government race, with $25,000 to the winner, for the company that can deliver the mail the quickest. That's just the tonic John Wayne and Larry Adams need as the business they recent paid "Cal Drake" through the nose for is already suffering from the decline of their local mining town (It has one resident for each side of the street!) and of the encroaching telegraph. Now we've got all sorts of devious goings-on as teams scheme for this lucrative contract and the portrayals - with Phyllis Fraser adding some love interest - are all quite good fun. There is loads of action, a stagecoach race, and the sometimes quite witty dialogue helps keep this from dragging. It smacks of a little better production values - it is still cheap and cheerful, but the lighting and audio are distinctly better than in some of Wayne's earlier work. Nothing much original here, though - but worth a gander on a wet afternoon.

An American Western; A story about two Pony Express riders made obselete by the arrival of the telegraph line, though a race from Buchanan to Sacramento will decide whether they or another stageline owner get a $25,000 mail subsidy. This chase drama has a very predictable story with not much to tell. So, the technical flaws become more noticeable, like poor storyboarding and editing and some occasional shaky back projection. Mercifully, it has a short running time, and in the final third, it is stuffed full of chase action and impressive stunts from Yakima Canutt. John Wayne and Lane Chandler are lively and engaging as a duo.

Being a low budget film from the 30's, I find this movie very enjoyable and have watched it many times. I would definitely recommend it, as it is only 54 minutes long.

Republic pictures offers better production quality and John Wayne delivers the goods. A young Duke is a former Pony Express rider whilst none of the traits of his later career are present he does have the charm, warmth, and heroism of a man on a mission. He partners nicely with Lane Chandler in competition for a lucrative government postal contract. Boss Douglas Cosgrove and his henchman Bob Kortman figuratively and literally provide stiff competition in a race to the finish and yes Yak (Yakima Canutt) is on the attack. Phyllis Fraser does well as Wayne's bewildered love interest and dad (Sam Flint) as the doctor has his hands full with guns a blazin. Lew Kelly provided great comic relief as the jack of all trades in Crescent City. Also great to see Jack Rockwell, 'the man who represented the law in the West'. Winds of the Wastland has it all and a bonus Yak Ben Hur style stagecoach race at the end.