This is a semi-historical western adventure film, featuring the historic Kit Carson(Jon Hall) and J.C. Fremont(Dana Andrews) as the leaders of the American expedition to establish a wagon trail from Ft. Bridger, in SW Wyoming, to central California, across much barren land and the Sierras. Carson refused Fremont's request that he serve as his scout. However, he was convinced to act as wagon master for the wagon train that became attached to Fremont's cavalry unit. This split command offered more opportunities for disagreements on routes, policies, and romance.
They are pursued relentlessly by Shoshone all along their route, until they have crossed the Sierras.(Historically, the Shoshone were probably more important in attacking wagons and settlements along the Oregon Trail, although they did range from western Wyoming through Utah and Nevada, as indicated in this film.
Once over the Sierras, their enemy became General Castro's Mexican forces. He had supplied the Shoshone with rifles, in their attacks on the Americans.(General Castro is an appropriate historical name). Castro doesn't cause trouble on the trip to Monterrey, on the coast. A celebration is held at the Murphy hacienda. Murphy is a rich man by California standards. His daughter, Dolores(Lynn Bari) was a member of the wagon train(why?). She developed some romantic attachment to both Carson and Fremont during their long trip. She prefers Carson at this point, but he mysteriously leaves for the plains and some beaver traps. Dolores assumes she will never see him again. However, Kit's plans change when he learns of Castro's plan to destroy the Murphy Hacienda. Kit returns to the hacienda to lead it's defense, and take an important part in the movement by the small American community to wrest California from the Mexicans.
Throughout, until near the end, Kit has 2 partners in Ape(Ward Bond) and Lopez(Harold Huber). The 3 were the only survivors of a sizable party of trappers who were attacked by Shoshone in the Ft. Bridger area, losing all their beaver pelts....Raymond Hatton plays Bridger, whom we meet at his fort, where the principle characters first meet....It's nice to see Lynn Bari in a leading role. Usually, she was relegated to a supporting role, often 'the other woman'.
Much of this was shot in Monument Valley, as was often clear in the background. This was just a year after John Ford discovered this spectacular area for "Stagecoach" and several subsequent films. Unfortunately, neither film was shot in color.
As a rather muddled historical adventure, the film isn't bad. Lots of action, and cursory romance between. See it in B&W at YouTube.
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