by Ted Davis

Directed by: Raoul Walsh

Synopsis: Youthful frontiersman Breck Coleman (John Wayne, long-haired and slender at this early stage of his career) agrees to scout for a wagon train heading out west to the Oregon Trail, the better to mete out justice to manifestly gross Red Flack (Tyrone Power Sr.), the persistently bellowing trail boss, and his sneaky compadre Lopez (Charles Stevens), both of whom conspired to murder Breck’s best friend, and to protect virginal yet contrary Ruth Cameron (Marguerite Churchill) from the honed knavery of rapacious back-shooting cardsharp Bill Thorpe (Ian Keith).

Kitty Cameos: While the wagon train with all its human and animal cargo stops for rest and replenishment at the last outpost before crossing 500 miles of desert, Nature takes a hand at replenishment too as mothers of different species — human, horse, dog and pig — are shown tenderly nursing their young. Among the group is an alert mother tabby who nourishes two of her litter, a white kitten and a tabby kitten, as her third kitten, also a tabby, is almost hidden behind her, and her fourth kitten, another white, is intent on exploration.

Final Mewsings: The mother cat was easily the prettiest of the group.

Relevant Links:

To discuss this film and other cats in movies and on television, join us on Facebook and Twitter.