jjnxn-1 An unvarnished look at the hard road that a group of women settlers have to face on a wagon train journey to California. Nothing is glamorized and the cost of the trip is honestly depicted as heavy with human lives. As with real life even in tough times there are humorous incidents that happen and they enrich the story and the film. Robert Taylor not usually the most facile of actors is well suited to this role, his weathered appearance and hard manner make the rough but fair wagon master relatable. Hope Emerson stands out as a no nonsense, plain spoken traveler but all the performances are very good. Written by Frank Capra who was too busy to direct fortunately, his style wasn't suitable for the story, he handed this over to Wild Bill Wellman who turned out to be a perfect fit. An involving, unusual picture.

treetnot A top ten favorite. From the first time I tuned in partway through, this movie has been special to me. For years, I read the movie guide every week waiting for it to come on. A full explanation would take a chapter, and much of what I'd say has been said quite well by others, but here are some aspects of it.The ensemble cast is superb. It could even be that not knowing most of their names (until IMDb came along!) made them even more real, and their reactions to everything from tragedy to new life rings true all the way. Little details that I didn't see the first few times keep it fresh, too: after Jean and Maggie's antagonism boils into a fist fight, they quietly become friends. I could wish that Henry Nakamura's character wasn't such comedy relief, but he's tough and stands up for himself and defies The Boss in his way.Nothing comes cheaply or as a throwaway. The light comedy at the end has the resonance of 1500 miles of heartbreak to leaven the laughter. The emotions that the movie draws are all earned. Characters who die go in unromantically realistic ways, and aren't telegraphed in any heavy-handed way, and their loss hits hard every time I see this.As the women develop, Buck's attitude changes. At the end of the movie, he respects them fully. (Interestingly, Buck's slips from the moral high ground are accompanied by tragedy: When he falls in love with Dannon, Indians attack the wagons. When he gets drunk, Laurie drowns in the flood.)There's so much to watch this movie for, and it rewards every viewing. That's why it's one of my favorite movies.

lthunderrider This movie was excellent. I have owned it on VHS for many years, and have watched it over and over again. I am going to have to order it again, because I am afraid it is going to wear out and I don't want to be without it. The characters were excellent and it most likely captured the hardships that women faced on wagon trains during that era. It is an exciting and moving film from beginning to end. Westerns have always been my favorites and this one is my favorite by far. I own many black/white movies on VHS and now many of them are available on DVD. I am currently updating my collection to DVD's as they are available. I agree with John from New Mexico and it is now available on DVD. Dorothy from Beckley, WV

sarahj74 If only this movie would come out on DVD . . . As a woman, this is one of my favorite westerns because it shows women who were courageous, brave, and faced the same danger as all men who went west. The movie has times when you will roll with laughter and even though there may be no tears from cowboys, there are some tearjerker moments. The women in this film are not the 2 dimensional beauties who wait patiently in the wagon for the menfolk to save the day. Regardless of how many times I've seen this movie, I enjoy every single time. Unlike most westerns, any and all gunfights move the plot along and show the women evolving on their journey west. To me, this western is along side Fort Apache for the most well written script.