La ruta del caribú

An accomplished assembly-line Randolph Scott western shot in feverish Cinecolor hues and enhanced by second unit work by Arthur Rosson and a large and interesting supporting cast including a youthful Dale Robertson and Mary Stuart (both of whom went on to long careers on TV).

Randolph Scott is leaving the USA for the greener pastures of Canada's British Columbia. He wants to start a cattle ranch there with partner Bill Williams and cook Lee Tung Foo. They stampede their small herd over a toll bridge erected by Victor Jory. Later Jory rustles their cattle and Williams loses his left arm during the fracas.

From 1945 until 1962 when he retired, Randolph Scott made a series of good adult themed westerns, some of them considered real classics. Unfortunately the Cariboo Trail will never be listed among his best westerns.

It's more like the material that Roy Rogers or Gene Autry might use. The story is downright silly at times. Williams who was along for the ride with Scott, he wanted to go prospect for gold as there was a big strike at the time. He doesn't blame the rustlers, he blames Scott for convincing him to make the trip for the loss of his arm.

Also there's a scene in the film when Scott, Lee Tung Foo, and Gabby Hayes are captured by Indians. They escape because Gabby's mule has been taught to kick on command and he kicks away at the Indians allowing our heroes to escape. I'm not sure that would have played in a Rogers film.

Furthermore the story actually wants you to believe that tyro prospector Randolph Scott accidentally stumbles on a gold strike after just a few lessons from prospector Gabby Hayes on how to find gold.

This was Gabby Hayes's farewell feature film part. It would have been better had he gone out in a good western and in fact he had done a couple of better ones with Randolph Scott before this.

I will say this, though no Caribou made any appearance in the film, this is one of the few Canadian locale films from the past that did NOT have any Mounties.

But if I were you unless you are a big fan of Randolph Scott or Gabby Hayes, take the next detour off The Cariboo Trail.

This film marked the end of George "Gabby" Hayes screen career.He is shown as having made 190 screen appearances in Westerns between 1929 and 1950.Although in the quotes section he is quoted as saying that he hated westerns.He has always been my favourite western sidekick.He was just so good at it.He looks quite old in this film though in actual fact he is only about 68.One supposes that with the advent of TV he foresaw the end of his type of Westerns.I have to say that I consider that he is the best sidekick of all.He has a very good role in this his final film.Otherwise it is just run of the mill.As has been mentioned elsewhere the cinecolor is truly awful and was clearly used for the sake of economy.

I am certain that if I had seen "The Cariboo Trail" in the black and white version I would not have enjoyed it as much as I did. Luckily, I saw the restored color version and it is grand and beautiful to be sure. Some prints of the Cinecolor original are out there, too, and I took a look to compare and, well, with the color dull and and the image a little fuzzy, there isn't really any comparison! Unless one sees the restored version you may be shortchanging yourself with a considerably less pleasing viewing event.

Beyond that, although the picture is no epic, even though the incessant overwrought music seems to signal that it wants to be, it has plenty of action, beautiful scenic locales, distinctive Canadian town sets, and the always in-control personage of Randolph Scott. The supporting cast is fine, especially Victor Jory who nicely underplays his irritating and dastardly villainous character. George Hayes aka Gabby does his usual thing for the last time in a feature film. The makeup team should be given a nod because throughout the film those characters facing the hardships of outdoor work and travel look appropriate grimy and sunbaked.

Some of the roles may be a little predictably too by-the-book, but at least the romance doesn't get in the way of the story, including no ubiquitous vying for the lady's fair hand. And that may be why the picture comes in at an economical running time of around 80 minutes, not bad for a front-line western picture.

Recommended for Randolph Scott followers, Gabby Hayes completists, and for armchair enjoyers of scenic movies, but the latter only if you have the restored and enhanced color print.

RANDOLPH SCOTT and BILL WILLIAMS share the co-starring credits in this rather weak western, nicely photographed in Cinecolor against some gorgeous western backgrounds in Canada. Unfortunately, the story of ranchers vs. gold prospectors has been done before with better results and it's not one of Scott's more memorable western roles.

Among the bad guys, it's interesting to note a young JIM DAVIS who would later make it big on "Dallas" TV. GEORGE 'GABBY' HAYES plays his usual rustic character, usually a sidekick for Gene Autrey or Roy Rogers. He has the sort of role as a grizzly old-timer usually played by Walter Brennan, calling all the other men "young fellas".

All of the ingredients usually found in a western of this kind--including shootouts and cattle stampedes--are here, but the results are pretty ordinary.

Summing up: Not recommended unless you're a die-hard western fan with time on your hands.