"Call of the Rockies" was originally filmed as a silent in 1928 but not released until 1931 with an added prologue, sound effects, narration and music. The prologue consists mainly of a song sung by a hillbilly group which morphs into the opening narration.
In spite of the crude sound effects and a running time of just over one hour, this is an exciting little wagon train film. A group of travelers are crossing the plains to reach their promised Home Land. A trio of unsavory characters plan to join the train and later plan to sell off the train's horses to the Indians. Jim Vance (Anders Randolf), his pal Tony (James Mason) and Vance's daughter Arleta (Marie Prevost) are the partners in crime.
Mathew (Ben Lyon) is the clean shaved clean cut hero who is betrothed to the blond and pure Sylvia (Gladys Johnson). Along for comedy relief is Russell Johnson as Gunner Bill.
We are treated to several panoramic shots of the moving wagon train along with the grizzled pioneers. There is also a realistic looking buffalo hunt and a later stampede. The wagons crossing the river sequence is also realistic and very well done. And oh yes, don't forget the Indian attack.
There are certainly a lot of spectacular sequences crammed into the film's short running time. Take out that ridiculous prologue and you have an excellent little epic. The wagon train sequences are as realistic and authentic looking as any I have seen. There are also a couple of added touches that the average viewer may miss. Gunner Bill can be seen adding "meadow muffins" to his campfire and there is scene where Mathew's dog apparently pees on Vance's pant leg. In a brief rather touching shot, we see a tear falling from the eye of a buffalo that has just been shot.
Ben Lyon and Marie Prevost are quite good as the good boy/bad girl lovers. Anders Randolf is excellent as the greedy villain and Russell Simpson stands out as the comic relief.
A vastly underrated film that deserves to be seen by a wider audience.
In spite of the crude sound effects and a running time of just over one hour, this is an exciting little wagon train film. A group of travelers are crossing the plains to reach their promised Home Land. A trio of unsavory characters plan to join the train and later plan to sell off the train's horses to the Indians. Jim Vance (Anders Randolf), his pal Tony (James Mason) and Vance's daughter Arleta (Marie Prevost) are the partners in crime.
Mathew (Ben Lyon) is the clean shaved clean cut hero who is betrothed to the blond and pure Sylvia (Gladys Johnson). Along for comedy relief is Russell Johnson as Gunner Bill.
We are treated to several panoramic shots of the moving wagon train along with the grizzled pioneers. There is also a realistic looking buffalo hunt and a later stampede. The wagons crossing the river sequence is also realistic and very well done. And oh yes, don't forget the Indian attack.
There are certainly a lot of spectacular sequences crammed into the film's short running time. Take out that ridiculous prologue and you have an excellent little epic. The wagon train sequences are as realistic and authentic looking as any I have seen. There are also a couple of added touches that the average viewer may miss. Gunner Bill can be seen adding "meadow muffins" to his campfire and there is scene where Mathew's dog apparently pees on Vance's pant leg. In a brief rather touching shot, we see a tear falling from the eye of a buffalo that has just been shot.
Ben Lyon and Marie Prevost are quite good as the good boy/bad girl lovers. Anders Randolf is excellent as the greedy villain and Russell Simpson stands out as the comic relief.
A vastly underrated film that deserves to be seen by a wider audience.