Fighting Caravans
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| Fighting Caravans | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Otto Brower David Burton |
| Written by | Agnes Brand Leahy Edward E. Paramore, Jr. Keene Thompson |
| Starring | Gary Cooper Lili Damita Ernest Torrence Tully Marshall |
| Music by | Max Bergunker |
| Cinematography | Lee Garmes |
| Editing by | William Shea |
| Release date(s) | February 1, 1931 |
| Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Fighting Caravans is a lavish 1931 western film starring Gary Cooper and Lili Damita). The movie was directed by Otto Brower and David Burton. Although the film is billed as being based on the novel of the same name by Zane Grey, the stories have little in common. The film was actually written by Agnes Brand Leahy, Edward E. Paramore, Jr. and Keene Thompson.
It was remade three years later as Wagon Wheels, a low-budget production featuring Randolph Scott and Gail Patrick.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
Clint Belmet (Gary Cooper) is a bit of a firebrand and is sentenced to at least 30 days in jail, but his partners, Bill Jackson (Ernest Torrence) and Jim Bridger (Tully Marshall) talk a sympathetic Frenchwoman named Felice (Lili Damita) into telling the bumbling, drunken marshal that Clint had married her the previous night. Clint is released so he can accompany Felice on the wagon train heading west to California.
A short time later, Felice finds out that Bill and Jim had lied to her; she did not need a man in order to join the wagon train. In a short stopover in a town, they learn that the Indians are causing trouble, so Clint offers to guide the wagon train through the dangerous trails ahead. On the journey, Felice's wagon runs out of control downhill and Clint rescues her. Felice starts talking about marriage. Clint has always been free and wants to stay that way, so he leaves.
He later finds out that Indians (Kiowas and Cheyenne who have been talked into the warpath by crooked traders), are planning to attack the wagon train. He, Bill and Jim rush back to save the day. The Indians attack at a river crossing. Clint helps save the day with some barrels of gunpowder but his friends are killed. The survivors continue on to California.
[edit] Cast
- Gary Cooper as Clint Belmet
- Lili Damita as Felice
- Ernest Torrence as Bill Jackson
- Tully Marshall as Jim Bridger
- Fred Kohler as Lee Murdock
- Eugene Pallette as Seth Higgins
- Roy Stewart as Couch
- May Boley as Jane
- Jim Farley as Amos (as James Farley)
- James A. Marcus as The Blacksmith (as James Marcus)
- Eve Southern as Faith
- Donald MacKenzie as Gus
- Syd Saylor as Charlie
- E. Alyn Warren as Barlow
- Frank Campeau as Jeff Moffitt
- Charles Winninger as Marshal Marsh
- Frank Hagney as The Renegade
[edit] Production
The movie was filmed entirely in Sonora, California and is available on DVD.
