Nice print, but truncated (rats!)
I've seen RIDERS OF DESTINY about seven times over a 30-year period. I enjoy it even though the plot, dialog, acting, fistfights, etc. are very crude. This was the first of John Wayne's Lone Star Westerns, a series of films made for about $10,000 apiece. But it has a certain charm I can't explain. Yakima Canutt does a couple of nice stunts as well; Cecilia Parker is as pretty as Toby Wing, in my opinion (Toby was the "Young and Healthy" girl in 42ND STREET).
This DVD, released by Columbia Tri-Star, has the clearest print of RIDERS OF DESTINY that I recall seeing - a very sharp image in many places. Unfortunately, it omits at least 5 1/2 minutes of the film, including a critical plot point. The ranchers say they'll sign a new water rights contract with the evil land baron, only if he'll agree to one additional clause. This version then skips the scene where they say what the clause is, and so the villain's extreme dismay near the end of the film isn't adequately...
The Search for Lost Treasure
The Trail Beyond, 1934 film
The story begins with a lone rider in the country. He is asked to find a missing brother, John and his daughter. Rod Drew takes a train to the Canadian Northwest, and meets a friend from college. There is a fight over gambling and a shot. Rod and Robby jump from the moving train. They change out of suits into Western clothes and ride away fast. There is a chase, the pair jump for it into a lake. A Mountie is sent to get them. They find a deserted cabin with two skeletons! There is a map to a gold mine. They tell people they are hunting wolves. Benoit looks at the map; does he plan to betray his trust? The villains capture Felice. Can Rod and Robby rescue her? Jules LaRocque is behind this. The rescue works. There is another chase. A swift canoe gets them away.
LaRocque sends Marie to get the gold map. She can keep books for Newsome. `What do you care?" A Mountie shows up to arrest the pair. It's a trick! Rod breaks a bottle and cuts...
Great John Wayne Movie!
Enjoy watching Westerns with a cup of coffee on Saturday mornings. This is vintage John Wayne. An American hero. A must see.
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