Marked Trails (1944)

 

Director: John P. McCarthy
Writer: John P. McCarthy (Original Story & Screenplay), Victor Hammond (Screenplay)
Supervising Producer: William Strohbach
Cinematographer: Harry Neumann
Sound: Glen Glenn
Editor: John C. Fuller
Assistant Director: Bobby Ray

Technical Director: E.R. Hickson
Music: Frank Sanucci (Musical Director)
Stunts: John Cason, Ben Corbett, Tex Palmer, Rex Rossi, Matty Roubert, Wally West

 

Production Company: Monogram Pictures

Cast

Hoot Gibson - Hoot Parkford
Bob Steele - Bob Stevens - posing as Cheyenne
Veda Ann Borg - Blanche - aka Mary Conway, aka Susanna
Ralph Lewis - Jed
Mauritz Hugo - Jim Slade
Charles Stevens - Denver - Henchman
Bud Osborne - Sheriff Jim
Lynton Brent - Tex - Henchman
George Morrell - Whippletree - Liveryman
Allen D. Sewall - Hank Bradley (Credited as Allen B. Sewall)

Silver Tip Baker - Jim - Stage Driver (uncredited)
John Cason - Chuck - Henchman (uncredited)
Steve Clark - U.S. Marshal Harry Stevens (uncredited)
Tommy Coats - Deputy (uncredited)
Ben Corbett - Henchman (uncredited)
Jack Evans - Townsman (uncredited)
Kansas Moehring - Blackie - Henchman (uncredited)
Bill Nestell - Townsman (uncredited)
Herman Nowlin - Barfly (uncredited)
Tex Palmer - Barfly (uncredited)
(Not) Rose Plumer - Rosie Bradley (uncredited)
Walter Shumway - Geologist (uncredited)
Dorothy Vernon - Lily Morgan (uncredited)

Unknown - Ma Stevens (uncredited)

Plot

Two lawmen posing as an outlaw and a community builder respectively, ride into town separately to try and find out who killed the uncle of one of them.

Review

The copy of the film I saw was quite dark and most of the action took place in the dark which made it difficult to watch. The plot was a little bit loose and seemed to be rushed towards the end. I didn't understand why a lawman posing as an outlaw would want to get into a fight with a card cheat just so that he could kill him to show his worth to the real bad guys. Didn't find much enjoyment in this one except for a couple of camera shots taken from the moving stagecoach over the shoulder of Silver Tip Baker. Quite impressive for a 1940s B-Western.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting Additional Information

After meeting with the Geologist in his hotel room, Blanche (pretending to be French-Canadian) says 'Bonjour, Monsiour', which is a greeting used for 'Hello', and leaves. I think this was an error rather than having any reason in the storyline.

It is assumed (on IMDB) that Rose Plumer plays the part of Rosie Bradley in this film, but if you compare this picture to one of Rose Plumer in other films you will see that they are quite different actresses. I have not identified the actress in this film yet

In these Westerns I find that the world is dominated by men. As such, there are not many women in prominent roles so it is fun to spot the women given extra parts. In this first shot we see Mauritz Hugo and Dorothy Vernon discussing the recent crimes and the young lady in the background is dressed in her fineries as though about to attend church.

 

 

 

 

 

In the same scene another more robust looking lady is standing next to the first.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This final shot shows the actress playing Bob Steele's mother. As with the mysterious 'Rosie', it is not known who she is, but she does have a line or two of dialogue at the beginning of the film and is featured again at the very end. Maybe you can identify her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So many unidentified actors in this film. The barman is another one. He has plenty to say.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The usual selection of barflies, which according to IMDB include stuntmen Herman Nowlin and Tex Palmer. I think Tex is standing nearest to the camera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title Screens