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Wagon Train
Wagon Train
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Edward Killy
Screenplay by	Morton Grant
Story by	Bernard McConville
Produced by	Bert Gilroy
Starring	Tim Holt
Cinematography	Harry J. Wild
Edited by	Frederic Knudtson; Harry Marker;
Music by	Paul Sawtell
Distributed by	RKO Pictures
Release date	October 4, 1940;
Running time	59 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Wagon Train is a 1940 American Western film directed by Edward Killy and starring Tim Holt.^[2] It was this film that really started Holt's series of B Westerns for RKO, replacing those made by George O'Brien.^[3]^[4]

Plot summary

Pecos businessman Matt Gardner is buying up freighters, or wagon trains of food supplies, at cheap prices through intimidation, and charging high prices by deliberately causing phony food shortages at his trading posts. The only one refusing to sell his supplies is Zack Sibley, who is dead set on maintaining his freighter business as well as tracking down his father's murderer, his ex-business partner. Gardner plans on eliminating any competition Sibley presents by sending his thugs to kill him and raid his wagon train.

Cast

Tim Holt as Zack Sibley
Ray Whitley as Ned
Emmett Lynn as Whopper
Martha O'Driscoll as Helen Lee
Malcolm 'Bud' McTaggart as Coe Gardner
Cliff Clark as Carl Anderson, alias Matt Gardner
Ellen Lowe as Amanthy (Whopper's Lady Friendl)
Wade Crosby as Wagonmaster O'Follard
Ethan Laidlaw as Henchman Pat Hays
Monte Montague as Henchman Kurt
Carl Stockdale as Mr. Wilkes (Gardner's Lawyer)
Bruce Dane as McKenzie
Glenn Strange as Stagecoach Driver

Production

The film was the first in a series of six Westerns RKO planned with Holt. Martha O'Driscoll was signed to appear in the first two.^[5]

The films proved so popular the series continued until the early 1950s.^[6]

O'Driscoll and Holt were meant to reteam in Sir Piegan Passes but it was not made.^[7]

It was filmed in Kanab, Utah and in Wildwood Regional Park in Thousand Oaks, California.^[8]^[9]

Soundtrack

Ray Whitley – "Wagon Train" (Written by Ray Whitley and Fred Rose)
Ray Whitley and Glenn Strange – "Why Shore" (Written by Ray Whitley and Fred Rose)
"A Girl Just Like You" (Written by Ray Whitley and Fred Rose)
"Farewell" (Written by Ray Whitley and Fred Rose)

References

^ "Wagon Train: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
^ "WAGGON TRAIN". The Sydney Morning Herald. March 31, 1941. p. 3. Retrieved June 7, 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
^ Richard Jewell & Vernon Harbin, The RKO Story. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House, 1982. p152
^ "53 FEATURE FILMS SCHEDULED BY RKO: 1940–41 Plans Announced at Sales Convention of Firm Now in Session Here 190 SHORTS ON PROGRAM Gallup Survey of the Audience Interest in Pictures Is Being Conducted for Company Plans Research Institute Film by Orson Welles". New York Times. May 28, 1940. p. 33.
^ Schallert, Edwin (July 3, 1940). "Rogers Wins Stellar Chance in 'Colorado'". Los Angeles Times. p. 11.
^ "CHIP OFF the OLD BLOCK". The Australian Women's Weekly. January 4, 1941. p. 20 Section: The Movie World. Retrieved June 6, 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: 'Kiss Me Again' Purchased by Ernst Lubitsch, Producer for United Artists 'GHOST BREAKERS' OPENING Paramount Attraction Starts Today--'Spies in the Air' Is Rialto Offering". New York Times. July 3, 1940. p. 15.
^ Stone, Robert (2011). Day Hikes Around Ventura County. Day Hike Books. Page 216. ISBN 9781573420624.
^ Maulhardt, Jeffrey Wayne (2010). Conejo Valley. Arcadia Publishing. Page 65. ISBN 9780738580395.