Edgar Allan Pooh . . . so Warner Bros. was in an even better position to Warn America about Looming Threats as it released THE TELEGRAPH TRAIL during the Depths of the Great Depression. As "John Trent, Army Scout" John Wayne yet again portrays a Robin Hood-like Socialist, fighting Corrupt Capitalism, as he did in countless flicks up until World War Two, when he used some Big Business Connections to Dodge the Draft, and afterwards Cozied up to the few Actual Capitalist War Heroes, such as Brig. Gen. Jimmy Stewart. (Trying to over-compensate for Turning Yellow, Wayne would go on to send hundreds of Valiant Veterans to the Poorhouse, Prison, or Early Graves while heading several Vigilante Groups during the 1950s.) But as an "innocent" 20-something, Wayne fights against Corrupt Businessman "Gus Lynch" and Lynch's band of Tea Party-style Terrorists. Like Today's Leading Capitalist, Trumplestiltskin, Lynch attacks the Media--in this case, the brand new "Singing Wire" or Intercontinental Telegraph. Instead of saying that his female critics are "bleeding from their Wherevers," as does Trumpenstein, Lynch simply crates them up in his version of Pandora's Box. But Lynch brazenly rides side-by-side with Terrorist Leader "High Wolf," just as the Teflon Don has been seen shamelessly climbing into bed with Vladimir "Mad Dog" Putin of Russia.

utgard14 Another B western from the early '30s with a young John Wayne and his horse Duke. A greedy white man is stirring up Indians to attack men installing telegraph lines. Army scout Wayne is sent to investigate. Frank McHugh plays Wayne's sidekick. He seems really out of place in a western. Get back to the city with Cagney, Frank. Marceline Day plays the inevitable love interest. Her character is responsible for some of the goofier parts of the plot. But she's likable and pleasant enough. It's a routine but enjoyable western with some comedy and romance. Nothing to write home about but Wayne fans will probably enjoy it for curiosity's sake.

MartinHafer This early John Wayne B-movie is apparently not in the public domain--unlike many of his early films. This Leon Schlessinger film has been released by Warner Brothers/Turner Classic Movies instead of the usual cheap public domain videos you see in bargain bins. Unfortunately, however, despite this higher pedigree (and a slightly better quality print), this isn't all it's cracked up to be--there are no DVD extras nor are there any captions. It's a rather unimpressive release for Warner/TCM.Instead of the usual sidekicks (such as the ubiquitous Gabby Hayes), this one features Frank McHugh. While he's a very common actor in Schlessinger (whose studio was soon bought by Warner) and Warner Brothers films of the era, I can only recall a few times where he appeared in westerns. He was more of the comic relief in contemporary period pieces--though he does a very nice job here and looked pretty comfortable on a horse.The film begins with a group of telegraph installers being attacked by American-Indians. These Indiand, however, were orchestrated by a jerk named Lynch--who wanted to keep the telegraph and civilization away in order to force the settlers to deal with only him and his over-priced supplies. Although one of the telegraph men is shot, he's still able to relay a message to the fort many miles away--and Wayne and McHugh come to investigate. The message told what was happening but the man couldn't finish his transmission--and Wayne is trying to discover who the white man is who is stirring up all the Indian trouble. This is a weak point of the film, as it's 100% obvious who is behind it--there's no suspense whatsoever! Later, a lady overhears Lynch's plans to attack another group of telegraph installers. I have no idea why she didn't just tell Wayne. Instead, she devised a ridiculously complicated and sure to fail method to alert Wayne without revealing her identity. Why....?! And, as she was a witness to the conspiracy between Lynch and the Indian (Yakima Canutt), why didn't she just tell everyone so that Lynch would be arrested and...um...lynched! Then, they all could have gone out for pizza and had a party. Instead, the film went on for another 30 minutes---climaxing with a clichéd Indian attack--which is headed off at the last minutes by (surprise of surprises) the US Cavalry! The are absolutely no major surprises in this film. As usual, Wayne is very good and McHugh was a much better than normal sidekick...but even these couldn't overcome bad writing--even by cheap B-movie standards! It is entertaining...but a bit brainless.

bsmith5552 "The Telegraph Trail" was one of six "B" westerns that John Wayne and his horse "Duke" made for Warner Bros. for the 1932-33 season. In this minor entry, Wayne helps bring the telegraph to the old west.After a pal is killed in an Indian raid on the telegraph, army scout John Trent (Wayne) volunteers to help get to the bottom of the raids. With his sidekick Cpl. Tippy (Frank McHugh) he rides in to organize the workers and ensure that the supplies get through. We learn early that Gus Lynch (Albert J. Smith) is inciting local renegade chief, High Wolf (Yakima Canutt) to raid the workers.Trent organizes the workers led by Lafe (Lafe McKee) and work on the final link of the telegraph begins. He also becomes romantically involved with Alice Keller (Marceline Day) after she tells her uncle Zeke (Otis Harlan) that she is engaged to Trent in order to fend off the aspirations of Lynch. When it seems that Trent might succeed in setting up the telegraph line, Lynch and High Wolf plan a mass attack on the worker's camp and..............Yakima Canutt was known primarily for his expert stunt work. It was around this time that he and Wayne became friends and Canutt would work with him throughout the 30s teaching him how to stage a screen fight, walk, as well as, double him in the more difficult stunts. Frank McHugh was poised to graduate to "A" features in support of his friend James Cagney and others. Marceline Day makes an appealing heroine and even gets to embrace the hero, unusual for "B" westerns where the hero generally saved his embraces for his horse.The climatic Indian Raid is mostly stock footage from the silent days inter cut with silly interludes of McHugh and Harlan shooting "multiple" Indians and Wayne going for help. There's one scene where Wayne is shot from a telegraph pole and rises up without a scratch (I know, I know, he was probably playing possum...NOT).Not the best of Wayne's Warner Bros. films but better than most of the Poverty Row Lone Star Westerns which followed this series.