Customer Ratings & Reviews

John Wayne has his first leading role in this B&W 1930 western shot in early 70mm wide screen. Both John Ford and Gary Cooper had to pass on this film, but Ford told the director Raoul Walsh about a young prop man that he liked the looks of, and after a screen test, Raoul put the Duke into the films lead role, as a trapper who is seeking to find the killers of his fellow trapper, who had his furs stolen. During his quest is takes a job as a scout for a large wagon train of settles headed across the Oregon Trail in 1843, because he has a notion that the villains, he is after, are among the people on the wagon train. There is a love interest and attempts on Coleman's (Wayne) life when the bad guys want to take him out as a witness to their crimes. This DVD has the 35mm version, which is short about 14 mins that the 70mm version has.

I’m not a Western’s fan but seeing young John Wayne on the cover made me buy it.

My husband is a movie fanatic. He watches them often and so far, no problems.

another good classic john wayne movie ta add to my classic movie collection

And it shows. Worth watching for fans, but not one of my favs for the Duke.

All fans of John Wayne MUST own this magnificent cenimatic achievement from 1930! The young Duke displays all of the characteristics that made him famous in later years and you won't be disappointed!

This is a older movie that we have not seen and was delighted when I was able to purchase it from BestBuy at a good price so my wife and I can watch it anytime we want.

1930 and John Wayne's first BIG ROLE in this ancient Black & White "talkie" ... a tribute to its time, if not the best Wayne flick you'll ever see.

Got this for my dad who likes westerns and loves John Wayne. He loves this one and watches it over and over.

The Duke's first movie... Not too shabby.... And he surely got better and better!!

The Dukes first western. What else do you need to know.

This movie was for a friend who lost his John Wayne DVD collection in a fire.

This is another classic John Wayne western and great pricing at Best Buy.

Good early John Wayne movie. You get to see a younger, skinnier John which I enjoyed.

...so take some other reviews into consideration as well!

This early John Wayne as he was learning to be the "Duke".

This is a must have for any John Wayne fans. Recommend.

The Big Trail was one of the Duke's early films, and it shows, as much of the acting leaves something to be desired. Still the story as a whole is decent, and worth watching to get an inkling of what the pioneer life was like.

Good if not great. Most such choices depend on your personal taste ... and how far back in the history of American cinema you want to go.