Winds of the Wasteland
Encyclopedia
Winds of the Wasteland is a western film, starring John Wayne
and Phyllis Fraser
. The film was directed by Mack V. Wright
, and was released by Republic Pictures
, not to be confused with Republic serials. The rights on this movie haven't been renewed, so this movie is legally free to watch on various internet sites.
) are dismayed when the arrival of telegraph ends the Pony Express
. Hoping to utilize their horse-riding skills, they decide to start a stage coach transportation business. They go to Buchanan City and ask local magnate Cal Drake (Douglas Cosgrove) if he is willing to sell them a stage coach. Instead, Drake offers them a franchise from his own stage coach line - a line out to bustling Crescent City.
Upon arriving at Crescent City, Blair and Adams quickly realize that had been bamboozled into paying the line as Crescent City is a ghost town. The only residents are the mayor, Rocky O'Brien (Lew Kelly
), and Dr. William Forsythe (Sam Flint). The mayor is thrilled to get not only new residents to double the size of the town, but a stage coach line too. Blair disparages as there are no customers to transport and will have to lose his business so quickly. The mayor says there is a way for Blair to get all the money he owes and more. There will be a contest in the next few days where the fastest team in a race will win a $25,000 government contract to deliver mail to the area. With Blair's luck returning, he also meets a telegraph crew, who he saves from poisoning after drinking from a local water hole. In appreciation, the telegraph crew offers to run the line through Crescent City if Blair will give them laborers to build the telegraph line.
Blair is able to get laborers to build the telegraph line and the population of Crescent City begins to skyrocket. Drake, upset that Blair is actually a competing business out of his lie, then decides to hire Blair to drive a gold shipment to Sacramento only to ambush him. If Blair can get the gold to the destination, Drake will take off $1,000 off of the original loan. Blair escapes the ambush and collects the money at gunpoint. Drake nexts hopes to stop Blair at the race. He gets his henchman to throw obstacles in Blair's way and hoping to defeat him by any means necessary. But despite all odds, Blair wins the race and the $25,000 reward.
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
and Phyllis Fraser
Phyllis Fraser
Phyllis Fraser Cerf Wagner was an American actress, journalist, and children's book publisher, and the co-founder of Beginner Books.-Early life:...
. The film was directed by Mack V. Wright
Mack V. Wright
-Selected filmography:Director*Wolf Tracks *Masked *Thieves' Clothes *The Broncho Kid *Red Blood *The Texas Terror *Tarzan and the Golden Lion *South of the Rio Grande...
, and was released by Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures was an independent film production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, operating from 1934 through 1959, and was best known for specializing in westerns, movie serials and B films emphasizing mystery and action....
, not to be confused with Republic serials. The rights on this movie haven't been renewed, so this movie is legally free to watch on various internet sites.
Plot
The film is set in 1861. John Blair (Wayne) and his partner, Larry Adams (Lane ChandlerLane Chandler
Lane Chandler was an American actor specializing in Westerns.-Early life:He was born as Robert Chandler Oakes on a ranch near Culbertson, Montana, the son of a horse rancher. At an early age, the family relocated to Helena, Montana, where he graduated from high school...
) are dismayed when the arrival of telegraph ends the Pony Express
Pony Express
The Pony Express was a fast mail service crossing the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the High Sierra from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, from April 3, 1860 to October 1861...
. Hoping to utilize their horse-riding skills, they decide to start a stage coach transportation business. They go to Buchanan City and ask local magnate Cal Drake (Douglas Cosgrove) if he is willing to sell them a stage coach. Instead, Drake offers them a franchise from his own stage coach line - a line out to bustling Crescent City.
Upon arriving at Crescent City, Blair and Adams quickly realize that had been bamboozled into paying the line as Crescent City is a ghost town. The only residents are the mayor, Rocky O'Brien (Lew Kelly
Lew Kelly
Lew Kelly was an American film actor. He appeared in over 200 films between 1928 and 1944.He was born in St...
), and Dr. William Forsythe (Sam Flint). The mayor is thrilled to get not only new residents to double the size of the town, but a stage coach line too. Blair disparages as there are no customers to transport and will have to lose his business so quickly. The mayor says there is a way for Blair to get all the money he owes and more. There will be a contest in the next few days where the fastest team in a race will win a $25,000 government contract to deliver mail to the area. With Blair's luck returning, he also meets a telegraph crew, who he saves from poisoning after drinking from a local water hole. In appreciation, the telegraph crew offers to run the line through Crescent City if Blair will give them laborers to build the telegraph line.
Blair is able to get laborers to build the telegraph line and the population of Crescent City begins to skyrocket. Drake, upset that Blair is actually a competing business out of his lie, then decides to hire Blair to drive a gold shipment to Sacramento only to ambush him. If Blair can get the gold to the destination, Drake will take off $1,000 off of the original loan. Blair escapes the ambush and collects the money at gunpoint. Drake nexts hopes to stop Blair at the race. He gets his henchman to throw obstacles in Blair's way and hoping to defeat him by any means necessary. But despite all odds, Blair wins the race and the $25,000 reward.
Cast
- John WayneJohn WayneMarion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
- John Blair - Phyllis FraserPhyllis FraserPhyllis Fraser Cerf Wagner was an American actress, journalist, and children's book publisher, and the co-founder of Beginner Books.-Early life:...
- Barbara Forsythe - Lew KellyLew KellyLew Kelly was an American film actor. He appeared in over 200 films between 1928 and 1944.He was born in St...
- Mayor Rocky O'Brien - Douglas Cosgrove - Cal Drake (Buchanan Stage Line)
- Lane ChandlerLane ChandlerLane Chandler was an American actor specializing in Westerns.-Early life:He was born as Robert Chandler Oakes on a ranch near Culbertson, Montana, the son of a horse rancher. At an early age, the family relocated to Helena, Montana, where he graduated from high school...
- Larry Adams (Blair's partner) - Sam Flint - Dr. William 'Doc' Forsythe
- Bob KortmanBob KortmanBob Kortman was an American film actor mostly associated with westerns, though he also appeared in a number of Laurel and Hardy comedies...
- Cherokee Joe (henchman) - Ed Cassidy - Mr. Dodge (Pony Express manager)
- Jon HallJon HallJon Hall was an American film actor.-Biography:Born Charles Felix Locher in Fresno, California, and raised in Tahiti by his father, the Swiss-born actor Felix Locher, he was a nephew of James Norman Hall, one of the authors of Mutiny on the Bounty...
- Jim (Pony Express rider) - Merrill McCormickMerrill McCormickMerrill McCormick was an American film actor. He appeared in over 250 films between 1916 and 1953.He was born in Denver, Colorado and died in San Gabriel, California from a heart attack.-Selected filmography:...
- Henchman Pete - Christian J. FrankChristian J. FrankChristian J. Frank , was an American actor. He appeared in 65 films between 1920 and 1948.He was born in New York, New York, USA and died in Los Angeles, California.-External links:...
- Telegraph crew chief - Jack Rockwell - Buchanan City Marshal
- Arthur MillettArthur MillettArthur Millett was an early American motion picture actor whose career was at its height in the silent film era....
- Postmaster In Buchanan City - Tracy Layne - Reed