The title of the film "The Lonely Trail" is vaguely fitting, for it really seems that this "junior epic" deserved a more memorable or apt title to really get the thing going at full tilt. It is easy to see that with a little more intrigue, a little more romance, and a little more star-power this production could have been expanded into a much bigger deal in the late 1930s. But as it is, the film is on fairly solid footing, from being under the direction of the experienced western director Joseph Kane all the way down to the most minor of bit parts being held by competent players, including uncredited appearances by the prolific Lafe McKee and the famous supporting player Charles King.
There are several components in this film that required more than merely standard attention, including musical notifications being passed through the night by some of the characters and an array of period costuming considerations. A-list actress Ann Rutherford and her eyes added some high-end legitimacy to the movie, and the very ample cast of supporting players is a "who's who" of B-westerns. For sure, John Wayne has a nice, stalwart presence here, but his normal magnetism really isn't on display, nor is it needed... the picture is just too grand in scope for the short running time it has to permit Wayne to be set apart; but Wayne's white horse is a beauty. Cy Kendall, as the General, is the presence that keeps the film's energy going in a strong, power-wielding role that he handles very nicely and convincingly... Kendall occasionally had some memorable roles in his career and this one is a good one. This picture even has some punctuating musical score offerings at just the right times. Drama is the deal here, comedy relief nearly non-existent, and action pops up only when needed... it isn't manufactured. The indoor sets are varied, while the outdoor sets are visually quite interesting, with jagged mountains and expansive valleys in evidence on the macro, and oaks, chaparral, and even eucalyptus trees abounding in the micro. It is interesting, too, to note that viewing the film in 2019 is more distant from when the picture was made in 1936 (83 years) than the picture being made was from the era that it depicts in 1865-66 (70 years). So in summary, for this viewer, this is a B-western that thought at one time about being a fairly grand film, but which decided to adhere to the 60-minute B-western standard and therefore never quite found its way to becoming really special. But it's still a pretty good film.
