The Big Trail -1930

Gary Cooper turned down the role of Breck Coleman.

This was his only talking film of Tyrone Power, Sr., father of Tyrone Power. He died in 1931.

Incredibly, five different versions of this film were shot simultaneously. (1) a 70mm version in the Grandeur process for exhibition in the biggest movie palaces; (2) a standard 35mm version for general release; (3) a 35mm alternate French language version La piste des géants (1931)' (4) a 35 mm alternate Spanish language version La gran jornada (1931), and (5) a 35 mm alternate German language version Die große Fahrt (1931). The three alternate language versions were shot with (mostly) different casts.

Reportedly this film debuted at a running time of 158 minutes. However, this is unconfirmed as of May 2008.

The cast of The Big Trail

John Wayne as Breck Coleman
Marguerite Churchill as Ruth Cameron
El Brendel as Gus, a comical Swede
Tully Marshall as Zeke, Coleman's sidekick
Tyrone Power, Sr. as Red Flack, wagon boss
David Rollins as Dave "Davey" Cameron
Frederick Burton as Pa Bascom
Ian Keith as Bill Thorpe, Louisiana gambler
Charles Stevens as Lopez, Flack's henchman
Louise Carver as Gus's mother-in-law
John Big Tree as Indian Chief
Ward Bond as Sid Bascom
Nino Cochise as Indian
Iron Eyes Cody as Indian