The Big Trail

Audience Reviews

View More

Dallas H @FozzieMcFly Dec 19 I loved the use of the 70mm film for the movie. They were able to fit in a lot of information into the frame and really make use of its visual real estate. However, the placement and movement of the actors, in relation to fixed, locked-down camera shots, made the production feel more like a stage play set in the open frontier. See more Jeff G @RT53725738 Oct 11 Never saw this before. I was blown away by the restored version. It was originally filmed in 70mm "Grandeur" wide screen process which Fox tried over 20 years before Cinerama. The movie couldn't be shown without special screens and equipment so it didn't get that much play in 1930. Then the depression came and they ditched the process for cost. Since most old westerns were shown on original 3/4 TV, I'm sure there were versions cut down to that size. But watching it in the original is just a spectacular treat. It was also John Wayne's first movie (he was Marion Morrison before). The film has lots of archetypal characters, you'll see again for the next 100 years of film. But you'll also see a lot of down and dirty realism. Watch the background women in the movie doing all the hard work. Probably the best film depicting a wagon train. It may not be a "film school" movie, but if you're a student of film, make sure to watch the restored widescreen version or you'll be missing out. See more David K @RT61474040 05/20/2025 I'm putting this out there as a four star because of its historical significance and the cinematography. A very rare 1930 widescreen film (70mm) Grandeur process - very short lived. Two things about the production quality: 1) visual; and 2) aural. The high quality print I saw on TCM was beautiful. Oddly, the film relies on mid-range shots over close ups because of the limitations of the process. It takes a little getting used to. But, Walsh sets up each shot that is textbook. In fact, it reminds me so much of stills we studied in film classes with each character and object arrayed around the frame perfectly. 2) On the sound topic, it's a semi-mess. Because of the more rudimentary technology of the time, and the fact the film was shot outdoors (the first sound film to be done "on location"), the main dialogue is sometimes overwhelmed by the massive amount of chatter going on elsewhere. Finally, the acting. John Wayne is rough. Really rough. Although some might say he wasn't a great actor (I'm not one of those), here you can see where he was starting from before other films like Stagecoach and Red River. See more Helen A @RT80918236 05/10/2024 This is a fabulous movie. The fact it was filmed in the wild outdoors and not on a film stage is an incredible achievement. See more Greg H @RT45653048 09/07/2023 John Wayne in his first Epic Western and if watched in the grand widescreen format it's truly Epic. It's the Lawrence of Arabia of westerns because of its unmatched ambition, cinematography and life risking journey. With the end of silent movies you had the beginning of sound and this film forges the path. At times you feel as if your watching a documentary or maybe seeing a snapshot of life in the American Frontier as it happened at that time. You witness the birth of John Wayne along with the "nothing can stop us" American spirit that many believed guided their destiny. See more 06/18/2023 Highly recommend this one James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas, June 16, 2023 See more Read all reviews

The Big Trail

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING