AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1931, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

| 6VRRYBODYB PICTURES. : • / •'' . ' . fc * •• " . ’’ ' • “THE BIG TRAIL.” t\ .The, most pretentious under taking in. picture history, a re-enactment on movietone film of the historic pioneei } trek or .100 years' ago that resulted n. til© .winning of the West, has been completed -by the Fox Film Corporation under the direction v of llaoul Walsh. The picture, “The Big Trail,” will b. shown at the Princess Theatre tonight (Thursday). Walsh led a company of. 575 including? >■• players, tech- ./ nical men and miscellaneous general help, over a route of 4,300 miles, pass- . ing .through seven States and requiring % more than, four , months. Walsh’s purpose was to piettiri.se a mightlj' surging wave of humanity coming from the East into the West. The romance, sprrow, comedy,, hope, danger and incredible adventure which attended the westward ■ march have ail been given appropriate place in the story which was written by Hal G. Evarts, noted author and authority on the west. Interwoven with the drama is a compel- - • ling youthful romance with John Wayne . apd Marguerite Churchill as sweethearts. There are 93 speaking parts, filled by qn impressive list of players. Heading the cast besides Wayne and A Miss Churchill , are El Brendel, Tully Marshal, Tyrone Power, .David Rollins. Frederick Burton, Louise Carver, and Marcis Harris. There were 347. players ip the,group,that went over every foot of.. the Trail, difficulties and hardships mot’ far removed in some crises from conditions met by the pioneers. The aggregate number of persons appearing in the film is 20,000. Among them were 725 Indians, representing five tx-ibes, Araphoe, Crow, Slwshone, Cheyenne and Blackfoot. Episodes chosen for special climatic treatment are the bagging down ol : the wagon train, the fording of the treacherous Snake River, the ravages of , an Indian massacre, a buffalo hunt and tile lowering of the wagons, equipment and livestock over a rocky, cliff. Pioneer wagons used numbered 185. The "States traversed were Arizona/ California, Oregon, Idaho, A' Wyoming, Montana and Utah. Scenes (r were, -also made in YellowstoneNatioiih.l Park. 'U . /Cfopifig,; Friday and Saturday, “Bachelor Father.’*’ ’ ’