Rating: 
Summary: What a dissapointment.
Review: Contrary to other reviews, the widescreen version of this film is the one to have and I am stunned that 20th Century Fox didn't release it on DVD. The original 70mm Fox Grandeur Version of this film was restored by UCLA and aired on AMC, letterboxed, at an aspect ratio of approximately 2:1. This was the original aperture/original image size - the widescreen version of the film was not a matted version of the full screen as stated on this review page. In fact, simultaneous versions of the film were shot in both aspect ratios. While I appreciate the release of this timeless classic, I am very disappointed at the presentation. As the first American sound epic shot widescreen, it deserved better treatment. Very sad.
Rating:
Summary: Wrong Aspect Ratio
Review: Contrary to other reviews, the widescreen version of this film is the one to have and I am stunned that 20th Century Fox didn't release it on DVD. The original 70mm Fox Grandeur Version of this film was restored by UCLA and aired on AMC, letterboxed, at an aspect ratio of approximately 2:1. This was the original aperture/original image size - the widescreen version of the film was not a matted version of the full screen as stated on this review page. In fact, simultaneous versions of the film were shot in both aspect ratios. While I appreciate the release of this timeless classic, I am very disappointed at the presentation. As the first American sound epic shot widescreen, it deserved better treatment. Very sad.
Rating: 
Summary: How the West was Won
Review: Critics generally pan this flick, probably because of its crudeness, clichés and characatures. The critics are wrong. What we are watching in "The Big Trail" is the closest to the history of the American west that we will ever see, outside the silent classics of William S. Hart. Early movies could use or consult people WHO HAD BEEN THERE. Of course, not USC quarterback John Wayne, or even Irish thespian Tyrone Power (who tried farming and hated it) are exceptions, but there is a ring of authenticity with "The Big Trail" you can't get second hand. And if those aren't real plains Indians I'll eat my breech clout! And the scenery! Unfortunately, cinematographers hadn't mastered filters, so the sky is always washed out and dust and haze obscure the deep focus. But even these limitations paradoxically serve to provide a feel of endless horizons. And the locations are spectacular, especially the Indian village, which is so enormous that at first I thought half of it was backdrop. Then, there is the spectacular rope drop of animals and equipment down an escarpment that could have inspired Werner Herzog's "Fizcarraldo". Of course, the acting is hammy and dialogue corny, but also remember that early sound still had vestiges of silent film technique, which called for pantomime and exaggerated facial expression and movement. Robert Flaherty in his landmark documentary "Nanuk of the North" actually set up the scenes dramatically. He was by no means a fly on the wall. If Flaherty could have made a documentary about the epic journey of a pioneer wagon train through the great Western prairies, I doubt if he could have achieved a greater impact than "The Big Trail".
Rating:
Summary: The Big Trail : The edited version
Review: I don't know why Fox Video cut close to twenty minutes off this film for DVD. Most VCR prints of this movie run a 125min long. Plus it's only shown in full screen format. This was one of the first widescreen movies ever filmed. I'm surprised they didn't release it in it's widescreen format. Although with all this missing from the dvd the Big Trail is still a great movie to watch. This was John Wayne's first starring role as the lead character and he gives it his best. Wayne plays a scout leading settlers to there new homeland. On his Journey Wayne tries to win the heart of a young woman who wants nothing to do with him at first. But that changes when he goes on the search for the men that killed a friend of his. A great movie that deserved a better DVD. In the furture I would like to see The Big Trail in it's original widescreen format with restored footage. I heard that the film was up to 154min long. It would be great to get to see that cut of the movie if it still exsits.
Rating:
Summary: KING OF CORN
Review: I feel compelled to mention my very beautiful copy of this video contains no missing segment and no subtitles,as one reviewer states and I'm wondering if they're are two Tyrone Powers. I was surprised by the contrasting sophistication and corniness of this great old film, and dazzled by The Duke's natural, like he was born on a horse acting style. The ghosts of theatres past are ablaze in this movie as one can imagine the satisfaction beaming from the happy audiences of 1930.
Rating:
Summary: Very authentic looking !
Review: I had the chance to see this yesterday and it left quite the impression. This was definatley NOT a B movie. I can imagine what a large scale production this must have been. It concerns the plights and perils of a wagon train on their way from Missouri to the west. It appeared to be about 50+ wagons. I noticed immediatley that these were real wagons, not the scaled reproductions were used to seeing from Hollywood. They must battle raging rivers, fierce indian attacks, and manuever a treacharous cliff in a sequence like I have never seen in any western. This is definatley a must see for western/Wayne fans and is truly an early epic. Too bad this is not available in the widescreen format it was filmed in. The outdoor settings and scenery were magnificient with a finale in what appeared to be Sequoia or Redwood Nat'l Park. There is a small section of the film where the dialouge from certain characters was lost or damaged and has been subtitled. Very odd in that it is every OTHER line of spoken dialouge that is missing. Overall, a great early western with beautiful outdoor settings, a touch of comedy relief, and a very authentic look and feel. This is the movie that should have made John Wayne a star 9 years before Stagecoach. I can't believe he went back to those mediocre B westerns for almost a decade after this film. Looking forward to a widescreen release on DVD!
Rating: 
Summary: A giant of a movie
Review: Put simply if you want a real idea of the old west and how people thought and acted on their way there in the early part of the 19th century this film is it. Every part of it reeks of the real dirty grimy and difficult life pioneering was. The acting is great and young John Wayne fill the role well. (How this film didn't launch him big is beyond me. I think it is better than Stagecoach and thats saying a lot.) If there was ever a big return for a small investment this movie is it.
Rating:
Summary: You keep fighting - that's life!
Review: The Big trail tells the epic story of a wagon train of pioneers and pilgrims going into the west to find a fertile valley in Oregon, and their trials and tribulations getting there. The party encounter Indians, bad weather and hunger, while a couple of treacherous renegades are being hunted by a trapper (John Wayne) for murdering his friend in cold blood. This seminal western proves two things: Director Raoul Walsh knew exactly where to put his camera, and - John Wayne was a STAR from the word GO. Incredibly, this film flopped and Wayne was relegated to run-of-the-mill cowboy movies for 9 years, until re-discovered by John Ford. Wayne's delivery and acting is flawless in the Big trail, he nearly puts the other actors to shame with his easy swagger and grace. He was also incredibly handsome, looking like a Californian surfer crossed with a Versace model in this. The hard-bitten look of his later westerns is not visible (well, he was 23!)
As for the rest: If you consider the mileage on the Big trail, it stands up very well. It's entertaining for a movie this old, and the easy humor is very attractive. There is a plot; you've seen it before, but probably in films made much later. In some ways, it follows in the steps of the Covered wagon, (1923). The scenes where the pioneers cross the river and the mountain plateau are excitingly edited; it looks like Walsh put his extras in real physical danger! There are also beautiful natural wonders and vistas in this movie, originally filmed in a 70mm process called Grandeur. (my disc was full-screen, I guess the widescreen version is lost). The dialogue is sometimes memorable: A great line delivered by Wayne to rouse the spirits of the party stuck in my memory: "YOU KEEP FIGHTING -THAT'S LIFE! YOU STOP FIGHTING - THAT'S DEATH!" Old Abe Lincoln couldn't have said it better... On the down side: The love story is not well developed, (Wayne's character would never have settled down with this girl!) and Tyrone Power sr. as Flack overacts to the nth degree. Ian Keith (mr. Thorpe) is a cardboard villain. The ending is a bit wet, but on the whole not too bad. You can safely buy if you find the Fox budget DVD of the Big trail. The mono sound is good, the picture-quality reasonable. No extras here, but I didn't miss them. I've got my American history books.
Rating: 
Summary: The Big Rip Off!
Review: The release of this film does not rate even a one. I cannot believe after waiting all these years for this film to be released in widescreen and on DVD. The studio releases a cut version that's been formated. WHAT THE HELL!! The only people who would really be interested in seeing this film are film buffs who only want to see there films unformated. Have the home video people not learned there lessons yet with the Willy Wonka incident. WE WANT WIDESCREEN NOW!! The public demands it. Stop wasting our time and yours.
Rating:
Summary: The Big Rip Off!
Review: The release of this film does not rate even a one. I cannot believe after waiting all these years for this film to be released in widescreen and on DVD. The studio releases a cut version that's been formated. WHAT THE HELL!! The only people who would really be interested in seeing this film are film buffs who only want to see there films unformated. Have the home video people not learned there lessons yet with the Willy Wonka incident. WE WANT WIDESCREEN NOW!! The public demands it. Stop wasting our time and yours.
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