Westward Ho (1935)

Director:

Robert N. Bradbury

Writers:

Harry Friedman (writer)
Lindsley Parsons (screenplay)

Release Date:

19 August 1935 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Western

Plot:

Ballard's trail jumpers attack the Wyatt Company wagon train, killing young John's parents and kidnaping his brother...

Plot Keywords:

Saloon | Cattle | Desert | Gold | Historical

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 27

4:15 AM

AMC

Cast

John Wayne	...	John Wyatt
Sheila Bromley	...	Mary Gordon (as Sheila Mannors)
Frank McGlynn Jr.	...	Jim Wyatt
Jim Farley	...	Lafe Gordon (herd owner) (as James Farley)
Jack Curtis	...	Whit Ballard
Bradley Metcalfe	...	John Wyatt as a child
Dickie Jones	...	Jim Wyatt as a child
Mary MacLaren	...	Ma Wyatt
Yakima Canutt	...	Red (Ballard henchman)
Hank Bell	...	Mark Wyatt
Glenn Strange	...	Carter (singing rider)

Runtime:

61 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures (I)

Trivia:

This was Republic Pictures' first production.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Westward Ho-Hum (1941)

Soundtrack:

The Girl I Loved Long Ago

Some great equestrian action sequences, but at what cost.

This wonderful example of the early B western is tarnished by some pitiable horse falls that would not be tolerated in today's films. Two scenes in particular show the poor animals somersaulting and going down in a horrendous heap, sometimes on top of one another. Even knowing that the movie is over 70 years old; the sight of the poor animals in such distress still made me heart sick. The Running W appears to have been used liberally in this picture, which is otherwise well acted and produced. John Wayne gives an excellent performance along with a strong supporting cast, while the Owens Valley and Alabama Hills outside Lone Pine provide a realistic backdrop to the story.