Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily Entertainment GuideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsPride MonthAmerican Black Film FestivalSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The California Trail

  • 1933
  • Passed
  • 1h 7m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
42
YOUR RATING
Buck Jones in The California Trail (1933)
DramaWestern

Santa Fe Stuart, leading a relief train bringing food to the peasants, gets caught up in the Commandante and his brother the Mayor's effort to starve out the peasants. Thrown in jail and abo... Read allSanta Fe Stuart, leading a relief train bringing food to the peasants, gets caught up in the Commandante and his brother the Mayor's effort to starve out the peasants. Thrown in jail and about to be hanged, he escapes and joins the peasants in their fight against the brothers and... Read allSanta Fe Stuart, leading a relief train bringing food to the peasants, gets caught up in the Commandante and his brother the Mayor's effort to starve out the peasants. Thrown in jail and about to be hanged, he escapes and joins the peasants in their fight against the brothers and their troops.

  • Director
    • Lambert Hillyer
  • Writers
    • Jack Natteford
    • Lambert Hillyer
  • Stars
    • Buck Jones
    • Helen Mack
    • Luis Alberni
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    42
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lambert Hillyer
    • Writers
      • Jack Natteford
      • Lambert Hillyer
    • Stars
      • Buck Jones
      • Helen Mack
      • Luis Alberni
    • 2User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos2

    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast20

    Edit
    Buck Jones
    Buck Jones
    • Santa Fe Stewart
    • (as Charles 'Buck' Jones)
    Helen Mack
    Helen Mack
    • Dolores Ramirez
    Luis Alberni
    Luis Alberni
    • Commandant Emilio Quierra
    George Humbert
    • Mayor Alberto Piedra
    • (as George Humbart)
    Charles Stevens
    Charles Stevens
    • Juan
    Carlos Villarías
    Carlos Villarías
    • Gov. Carlos Moreno
    • (as Carlos Villar)
    Chris-Pin Martin
    Chris-Pin Martin
    • Pancho
    • (as Chrispin Martin)
    Carmen Laroux
    • Juan's Wife
    • (as Carmen La Roux)
    William Steele
    William Steele
    • Pedro
    • (as Robert Steele)
    Al Ernest Garcia
    Al Ernest Garcia
    • Sgt. Florez
    • (as Allan Garcia)
    Emile Chautard
    Emile Chautard
    • Don Marco Ramirez
    Alfredo Berumen
    • Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    Joe Dominguez
    Joe Dominguez
    • Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    Juan Duval
    • Jose
    • (uncredited)
    John Eberts
    • Servant
    • (uncredited)
    Augie Gomez
    • Governor's Driver
    • (uncredited)
    Al Haskell
    Al Haskell
    • Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    John Paul Jones
    • Lopez - Jail Guard
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Lambert Hillyer
    • Writers
      • Jack Natteford
      • Lambert Hillyer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews2

    6.542
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    7glennstenb

    Jones Fans Should Take "The California Trail"

    "The California Trail" carries a story that somewhat strays off the standard B-western fare, set as it is in 1838 pre-statehood California. Additionally, the film provides a variety of sets and costuming to warrant an eager viewing by fans of the genre' and, of course, fans of the great Buck Jones.

    As we have come to expect of Jones' films the story is a serious tale with a number of grim decorations. There are a few humorous moments but they are fleeting and do not interfere with the program. Jones has several costume changes and looks stunning in all of them, while Helen Mack is gorgeous as the seniorita who has her expressive eyes opened to the truth along the way.

    Director Lambert Hillyer, a veteran of many a B-western tale, employs a fluid camera style that helps keep the dramatics flowing and often has backdrop action that helps to explain and interpret the foreground interaction between the players. Many of the sets, such as the jail and the hacienda's dining room, are expertly appointed and lighted. And, as a bonus, Columbia must have upped the budget just a little for this one from the average for their westerns because the cast of townspeople and soldiers are really numerous.

    In sum, the story is different, compelling, and well-told and the cast are fascinating in their looks and actions. I don't know of anything that is not to like and enjoy in "The California Trail."

    More like this

    Unknown Valley
    6.7
    Unknown Valley
    The Avenger
    5.9
    The Avenger
    The Thrill Hunter
    6.1
    The Thrill Hunter

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      One of over 100 Columbia features, mostly Westerns, sold to Hygo Television Films in the 1950s, which marketed them under the name of Gail Pictures; opening credits were redesigned, with some titles misspelled, the credit order of the players rearranged, some names misspelled, and new end titles attached, thus eliminating any evidence of their Columbia roots. Apparently, the original material was not retained in most of the cases, and the films have survived, even in the Sony library, only with these haphazardly created replacement opening and end credits.

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 24, 1933 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A Caminho da Califórnia
    • Filming locations
      • Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 7 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Buck Jones in The California Trail (1933)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The California Trail (1933) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.