Figure 1.--Here is Billy Lee un the 1934 film 'Wagon Wheels'. He is traveling west along the Oragan trail with his mum in a wagon train.

'Waggon Wheels' is based on a Zane Grey story. One of several Grey stories come to the big screen. It has all the standard features of a stock Hollywood western, including a good guy in white hats abd bad guys in black hats. This is one of the waggon train genre. The main character is suitably white-htted Clint Belmet, a no-nonsence scout (Randolph Scott) supported by two sidekicks rather the ordinaey one lead a wagon train of greenhorns west into Indian country. The film is a remake of the 1931 Gary Cooper 'Fighting Caravans'. Usually Hollywood let a remake go more than 3 years. We are not sure why the studio decided to make the film over after such a short period of time. The plot is fairly standard, follows the wagon train journey from its beginning in Missouri west to the Oregon Territory over the famed Oregon Trail. The Oregon Trail is one of the primary routes west. It is too bad there is not a serious film about it. Before reaching Oregon the viewer is presented the standard quotion of dastardly Indian attacks and villinous outlaws. Murdock (Monte Blue) is the principal bad guy and for western newcomers he wears a black hat to leave no doubt about his role. He is paid off by fur trapers to create trouble beteen the Indians and the settlers. And to make the plotting trappesr even more villinous, they are depicted as scheming foreigners. The heronine (Gail Patrick) is an innocent who clashes with valiant hero. To cut profuction costs, stock footage from 'Fighting Caravans' were used in the film. Child star Billie Lee plays one of the waggon train kids. Billy was signed by Paramount. He continued to work with Ethel Meglan's instruction in singing, dancing and acting. 'Wagon Train' was his first full length feature for Paramount Pictures. He was cast in a lead role, being listed third in the credits. This was Billy's first real acting role, which also marked his singing debut in a feature film. Part way through the movie, as the caravan of wagons head west, the cast takes turns singing lead vocal on the song, "Wagon Wheels". The music is really the best part of the film. Billy is seated on a stage coach next to his screen mom, Gail Patrick, as he's singing his lines, when up rides Belmet, who after jumping from his horse and onto the moving stage coach to take a seat next to his new pal, Sonny Wellington (Billy Lee), whose mother has yet to take a liking to hero, he joins Sonny in song at his request, and Clint and Sonny sing a part together. The following close-up of Billy Lee as he enthusiastically sings the rest of his part, gives one the impression that Ethel Meglin is just outside of camera shot cheering Billy on, and of course, silently reminding him, to "SMILE!" It's a very charming scene that would have given audiences plenty of reason to remember this new talented kid on the block, and to want to see more of him. An impressive performance for a 4-year old.

Filmology

'Waggon Wheels' is based on a Zane Grey story. One of several Grey stories come to the big screen. It has all the standard features of a stock Hollywood western, including a good guy in white hats abd bad guys in black hats. This is one of the waggon train genre.

Cast

The main character is suitably white-htted Clint Belmet, a no-nonsence western frontier scout (Randolph Scott) supported by two sidekicks rather the ordinaey one lead a wagon train of greenhorns west into Indian country. The film is a remake of the 1931 Gary Cooper film -- 'Fighting Caravans'. Usually Hollywood let a remake go more than 3 years. We are not sure why the studio decided to make the film over after such a short period of time. Perhaps it was the original's popularity. The heronine (Gail Patrick) is an innocent who clashes with valiant hero. Child star Billie Lee plays one of the waggon train kids. Billy was signed by Paramount. He continued to work with Ethel Meglan's instruction in singing, dancing and acting. 'Wagon Train' was his first full length feature for Paramount Pictures. He was cast in a lead role, being listed third in the credits. This was Billy's first real acting role, which also marked his singing debut in a feature film.

Plot

The plot is fairly standard, follows the wagon train journey from its beginning in Missouri west to the Oregon Territory over the famed Oregon Trail. The Oregon Trail was one of the primary routes west. It is too bad there is not a serious film about it. Before reaching Oregon the viwer is presented the standard quotion of dastardly Indian attacks and villinous outlaws. Murdock (Monte Blue) is the principal bad guy and for western newcomers he wears a black hat to leave no doubt about his role. He is paid off by fur trapers to create trouble beteen the Indians and the settlers. And to make the plotting trappers even more villinous, they are depicted as scheming foreigners. To cut profuction costs, stock footage from 'Fighting Caravans' were used in the film.

Music

Part way through the movie, as the caravan of wagons head west, the cast takes turns singing lead vocal on the song, "Wagon Wheels". The music is really the best part of the film. Sonny Wellington (Billy Lee) is seated on a stage coach next to his screen mom, Gail Patrick, as he's singing his lines, when up rides Belmet, who after jumping from his horse and onto the moving stage coach to take a seat next to his new pal, Sonny, whose mother has yet to take a liking to hero, he joins Sonny in song at his request, and Clint and Sonny sing a part together. The following close-up of Billy Lee as he enthusiastically sings the rest of his part, gives one the impression that Ethel Meglin is just outside of camera shot cheering Billy on, and of course, silently reminding him, to "SMILE!" It's a very charming scene that would have given audiences plenty of reason to remember this new talented kid on the block, and to want to see more of him. An impressive performance for a 4-year old. A reader writes, "He was having alot of fun doing this picture. His happiness is still evident after 78 years!"

Created: 1:11 PM 7/12/2012
Last updated: 9:44 PM 7/3/2015