Wagon Wheels

A wagon train bound for Oregon, a couple of bad guys, a dash of romance, a charming hero with grizzled sidekicks, and some "Cowboys and Indians" shoot outs make for a classic old Western.

Wagon Wheels is a really enjoyable old western to watch. Set in the year 1844, any viewer will find humor, music, drama, suspense, romance, and excellent acting throughout the cast. It is also a superb depiction of some of the elements, and especially equipment that beset an 1840's wagon train heading west. The ensemble actors had a keen sense of playing their roles in a manner depicting the period. Randolph Scott leads the players, where he is heroic, valiant of character, and sagacious of spirit. . .while his easy natural ways are endearing. Beautiful Gail Patrick is perfect for her role as a widowed mother taking a 4 year old son west. Her little boy, played by Billy Lee, is one of the great child actors ever, and gives a wonderful performance here. The 3 men leading the wagon west (Randolph Scott & 2 grizzled characters) have a real challenge defeating the elements that fall upon them. I don't want to give the whole story away, only to say I've seen a whole lot of westerns, and this one is one of the most enjoyable to me.

In 1844 scout Clint Belmet and his two sidekicks guide a wagon train to the newly opened Oregon territory despite hardships and Indian attack in this Early Randolph Scott western that is pleasant viewing though it has tendency to meander.

Randolph Scott? You don't need much more.

But we get much more anyway.

In the late 1960s, Billy Lee was one of the celebrities who participated in a telethon sponsored by a local TV station in Knoxville, Tennessee. I'm embarrassed to admit that at the time I had no idea who he was. In fact, quite a few people attending didn't know his name. One of the girls from "Petticoat Junction" was apparently the big attraction -- and she was awfully cute.

But watching Billy Lee in "Wagon Wheels" and reading the reviews, one should realize that when Billy was a young boy, he was an excellent child actor and deserved to be remembered even into his adulthood. Any flaws in this movie are due to the writing and directing, not to his performance. And I'm glad to get a more accurate impression of his place in motion picture history.

Another actor in this excellent ensemble is Olin Howland. He has long been one of my favorites. He could portray a wide range of characters, from the hapless braggart in "Angel and the Bad Man" to the scout with strength and courage and leadership ability in "Wagon Wheels." I find it odd he's listed so far down in the cast since his role is more a leader than even Scott's.

Raymond Hatton is another great character actor. He got relegated to silly sidekick in too many films, but his star potential is evident as far back as the silent days.

Even if one wants to compare this film to more expensive ones, it rates very high. Great acting, generally good photography, including the stock footage, and an exciting if standard story. The print I saw was pretty bad, but I strongly recommend "Wagon Wheels."

In 1931 Paramount filmed Zane Grey's Fighting Caravans and turned it into an A picture western with Gary Cooper. It was the mentality of the studio bosses back then, why waste good stock footage. So a shorter version of this same story was done three years later with Randolph Scott playing the leading role of Clint Belmet.

Having both versions, I could compare them side by side. Same footage involving the wagon train going west and of the Indian attack climax. Just juxtapose close-ups of the current cast and you got yourself another movie on the cheap.

Since this version is only 56 minutes it was part of Paramount's B unit and played second on double bills.

Like in the first Fighting Caravans, Wagon Wheels has one young scout and two old ones leading the wagon train west. Gail Patrick gets one of her first and only leads. Usually Patrick is cast as the other woman. Maybe her best know role was as Carole Lombard's sister in My Man Godfrey.

Gary Cooper was an A list star, but Randolph Scott was on the way up and would get to not quite the top of the heap soon. He acquits himself well here.

Great stuff for the Saturday matinée crowd.