Covered Wagon Trails (DVD)

Pioneers head across the plains to Prairieville, where they plan to settle. Local Cattlemen's Association president, J. P. Allen, stirs up anti-homesteader sentiment among the ranchers and sends a gunman to infiltrate the wagon train and poison the horses. When young settler Ed Cameron travels ahead to secure new stock from his older brother, Jack, he is ambushed and murdered by Allen's men. Jack loads his pistols and rides out, determined to hit the vengeance trail.

"B"-Western star Jack Randall (the brother of Robert Livingston) was initially hired by Monogram in 1937 to compete with Republic's Gene Autry. Randall's films reverted to straight action-oriented westerns in fairly short order. Covered Wagon Trails is an entertaining horse opera that boasts good story values and offers the requisite supply of hard-riding, straight-shooting action.- Ed Hulse

• western