| The Big Trail | |
|---|---|
.jpg) 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 |
|
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 epic 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
2006NFRwas 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.