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The Desert Trail

Play trailer Poster for The Desert Trail 1935 54m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 1 Reviews 21% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
John Scott (John Wayne) is a rodeo rider, assisted by his buddy Kansas Charlie (Eddy Chandler). But while the duo is settling a debt with their promoter, Farnsworth (Henry Hall), thieves Pete (Al Ferguson) and Jim (Paul Fix) murder and rob Farnsworth and manage to pin the crimes on John and Charlie. The accused then flee, assume two new identities, take up with a shopkeeper named Anne (Mary Kornman) and set out to clear their names and bring the real killers to justice.

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The Desert Trail

Critics Reviews

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Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 07/11/2005
B-
Cheeky, easy-going routine B Western. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Blake- N @PBSAniDom 6d After reviewing Treehouse of Horror XXXI from Season 32, I decided to check out The Desert Trail on Tubi. As a fan of classic westerns and John Wayne's filmography, I was curious to see one of his earlier movies from the 1930s. Unfortunately, this is not one of Wayne's stronger efforts. The story feels thin and predictable, and the pacing drags in several places. While the runtime is short, it still struggles to stay engaging from beginning to end. John Wayne does his best with the material, but the script doesn't give him much to work with. The supporting characters are forgettable, and the overall production lacks the excitement found in many better westerns from the era. There are a few enjoyable moments and some historical value for fans interested in Wayne's early career, but that's about it. The Desert Trail is a mediocre western that never rises above average entertainment. 4/10. See more Dallas H @RT53171010 04/23/2025 It seems like a typical Western genre B-feature that was probably filmed in 16mm to save on budget costs. Seeing a baby face John Wayne always throws me off. I don't know why. See more 06/18/2023 The acting in this one was not that great but it was still a really good movie. Yes I recommend it James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas, June 18, 2023. See more william d @acsdoug 02/06/2021 Well, first there is a lot of stock footage of rodeos, then everyone gets on their horses and rides around, and then there is a shootout. There, now you don't need to watch this. See more 08/18/2018 I love the desert trail. John Wayne is one of my favorite actors. He's done a lot of great hit movies that everybody loves and knows about. All of his films represent what the old days look like. Next to rainbow valley the desert trail is my favorite 30s movie by him. Such great timeless classic movies that I really enjoy. See more 04/08/2014 good B movie western See more Read all reviews
The Desert Trail

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Cast & Crew

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Lewis D. Collins

Director

John Wayne

John Scott

Mary Kornman

Anne

Eddy Chandler

Kansas Charlie

Paul Fix

Jim

Carmen Laroux

Juanita LaRoux
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The Desert Trail

The Desert Trail (1935) The Desert Trail (1935) The Desert Trail (1935) The Desert Trail (1935) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis John Scott (John Wayne) is a rodeo rider, assisted by his buddy Kansas Charlie (Eddy Chandler). But while the duo is settling a debt with their promoter, Farnsworth (Henry Hall), thieves Pete (Al Ferguson) and Jim (Paul Fix) murder and rob Farnsworth and manage to pin the crimes on John and Charlie. The accused then flee, assume two new identities, take up with a shopkeeper named Anne (Mary Kornman) and set out to clear their names and bring the real killers to justice.
Director
Lewis D. Collins
Producer
Paul Malvern
Screenwriter
Lindsley Parsons
Distributor
Monogram Pictures Corporation
Production Co
Lone Star
Genre
Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 22, 1935, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 11, 2016
Runtime
54m