For the 1931 French Western film, see The Big Trail (1931 film).
The Big Trail
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Raoul Walsh
Screenplay by
Jack Peabody Marie Boyle Florence Postal Fred Serser
Story by
Hal G. Evarts
Based on
The California and Oregon Trail 1849 book by Francis Parkman, Jr.
Produced by
Raoul Walsh
Starring
John Wayne Marguerite Churchill El Brendel
Cinematography
Lucien Andriot Arthur Edeson
Edited by
Jack Dennis
Music by
(all uncredited) R. H. Bassett Peter Brunelli Alfred Dalby Arthur Kay Jack Virgil
Production company
Fox Film Corporation
Distributed by
Fox Film Corporation
Release date
November 1, 1930 (1930-11-01)
Running time
122 min. 70mm version 108 min. 35mm version
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$1,250,000[1]
The Big Trail is a 1930 American pre-Code Western early widescreen film shot on location across the American West starring 23-year-old John Wayne in his first leading role and directed by Raoul Walsh. It is the final completed film to feature Tyrone Power Sr. before his death in 1931, as well as his only sound role.
In 2006, the United States Library of Congress deemed this film "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant", and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry, saying "the plot of a trek along the Oregon Trail is aided immensely by the majestic sweep provided by the experimental 70mm Grandeur wide-screen process used in filming".[2][3][4]
^Motion Picture News, May 24, 1930
^Cite error: The named reference 2006NFR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Librarian of Congress Adds Home Movie, Silent Films and Hollywood Classics to Film Preservation List". Library of Congress. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
^"Complete National Film Registry Listing". Library of Congress. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
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