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IMDbPro

The Oregon Trail

  • 19591959
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 26m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
405
YOUR RATING
Fred MacMurray and Nina Shipman in The Oregon Trail (1959)
In 1846, a newspaperman joins an Oregon Trail wagon train to verify rumors about the U.S. government sending troops disguised as settlers there in order to claim Oregon.
Play trailer3:37
1 Video
7 Photos
  • Western
In 1846, a newspaperman joins an Oregon Trail wagon train to verify rumors about the U.S. government sending troops disguised as settlers there in order to claim Oregon.In 1846, a newspaperman joins an Oregon Trail wagon train to verify rumors about the U.S. government sending troops disguised as settlers there in order to claim Oregon.In 1846, a newspaperman joins an Oregon Trail wagon train to verify rumors about the U.S. government sending troops disguised as settlers there in order to claim Oregon.
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
405
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Gene Fowler Jr.
  • Writers
    • Louis Vittes(story)
    • Gene Fowler Jr.(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Fred MacMurray
    • William Bishop
    • Nina Shipman
Top credits
  • Director
    • Gene Fowler Jr.
  • Writers
    • Louis Vittes(story)
    • Gene Fowler Jr.(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Fred MacMurray
    • William Bishop
    • Nina Shipman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 15User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 3:37
    Theatrical Trailer

    Photos7

    The Oregon Trail (1959)
    The Oregon Trail (1959)
    Fred MacMurray and Gloria Talbott in The Oregon Trail (1959)
    The Oregon Trail (1959)
    The Oregon Trail (1959)
    The Oregon Trail (1959)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Fred MacMurray
    Fred MacMurray
    • Neal Harrisas Neal Harris
    William Bishop
    William Bishop
    • Capt. George Wayneas Capt. George Wayne
    Nina Shipman
    Nina Shipman
    • Prudence Cooperas Prudence Cooper
    Gloria Talbott
    Gloria Talbott
    • Shona Hastingsas Shona Hastings
    Henry Hull
    Henry Hull
    • George Setonas George Seton
    John Carradine
    John Carradine
    • Zachariah Garrisonas Zachariah Garrison
    John Dierkes
    John Dierkes
    • Gabe Hastingsas Gabe Hastings
    Roxene Wells
    • Flossie Shoemakeras Flossie Shoemaker
    Elizabeth Patterson
    Elizabeth Patterson
    • Maria Cooperas Maria Cooper
    Gene N. Fowler
    • Richard Cooperas Richard Cooper
    James Bell
    James Bell
    • Jeremiah Cooperas Jeremiah Cooper
    John Slosser
    • Johnnyas Johnny
    Ralph Sanford
    Ralph Sanford
    • John Deckeras John Decker
    Sherry Spalding
    • Lucyas Lucy
    Tex Terry
    • Brizzardas Brizzard
    Ollie O'Toole
    Ollie O'Toole
    • James Gordon Bennettas James Gordon Bennett
    Arvo Ojala
    Arvo Ojala
    • Ellisas Ellis
    Ed Wright
    • Jesseas Jesse
    • Director
      • Gene Fowler Jr.
    • Writers
      • Louis Vittes(story) (screenplay)
      • Gene Fowler Jr.(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was William Bishop's last role and last movie.
    • Goofs
      In scenes at the White House, President James K. Polk stands in front of a US map, but the map shows the US following the Compromise of 1850. The film is set in 1846, before the Texas border was changed, before the Mexican Cession resulted in the admission of California and the organization of the Territories of Utah and New Mexico, all of which are clearly seen on that map.
    • Quotes

      Neal Harris: Questions seem to bother you a lot, Mr. Wayne.

      Capt. George Wayne: Only the man who asks them.

      Neal Harris: Well, that's too bad because my livelihood happens to depend on questions.

      Capt. George Wayne: Then I suggest you go back East and ask them. Out here, questions can get you killed.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Les sièges de l'Alcazar (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Ballad of the Oregon Trail
      Lyrics by Charles Devlan

      Music by Paul Dunlap

    User reviews15

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Mediocre, with many flaws
    The best thing about "The Oregon Trail" was that it prompted me to research the tensions between Britain and the States over Oregon in the early 1840s. Apart from that, the film was mediocre. Some of its deficiencies have already been mentioned in other reviews, not least the terrible backdrops early on and the anachronistic rifles (to which might be added the anachronistic army uniforms, notably hats).

    Its initial premise was suspect: sending a reporter on a five-month journey to check out rumours that soldiers in civilian clothing were accompanying wagon-trains. Neal Harris had no reliable means of getting his dispatches back to his editor, and if they had been printed they would have been dated; as it happened, his objectives were overtaken by events.

    I can't see McMurray as a great ladies' man, even when he displays a sweaty chest. His flirting with President Polk's secretary (did he have a female secretary, I wonder), didn't convince, nor did his instant rapport with Shona.

    After days of water shortage and dust, Prudence Cooper's hair looked remarkably well-groomed and there was a terrible lack of continuity when a settler took an arrow in his chest, only for it to appear in his back a couple of seconds later.

    Plus points for John Carradine as the eccentric settler with his apple trees and for John Dierkes as mountain man Gabe Hastings.
    helpful•0
    0
    • Marlburian
    • May 10, 2022

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 1959 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mit Büchse und Colt
    • Filming locations
      • Hollywood, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Associated Producers (API)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 26 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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