Wagon Wheels (1934) - full transcript

The trio of Belmet, Burch, and O'Meary are leading a wagon train west and Murdock is out to stop them. The settlers fight off his initial Indian attack and reach the mountains. With the wagon train vulnerable as it crosses a river, Murdock has the Indians make a final attack.

[music playing]

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.

I come before you pleading
the election of a man whose one

ambition is to see
these 26 states fulfill

their destiny as a nation.

[crowd cheering]

To see the stars and stripes
floating from the Atlantic

to the Pacific.

Over Oregon.

You're right, my friend.

Over Oregon.



[crowd cheering]

Oregon, 2000 miles from
where we're standing tonight,

a land of new hope
and a glorious future

for the thousands
who will settle

there and make it a part of
these United States of America.

[crowd cheering]

But the settlement of a
vast and uncharted wilderness

is not the only issue in
this presidential campaign.

And it came to me like a flash.

I can go [inaudible]
take Sonny with me.

But Nan, why don't you
wait a couple months?

Maybe I can go.

I'm not going to wait.

No grandparents can
keep my child from me.



Well you can't go
out to Oregon alone.

Oh, be a good brother and
see things my way just once.

You seem to forget that
mother came out her in a wagon

with five children
to look after.

I guess I can take care of one.

Did you ever think
what would happen to you

if you were caught doing this?

Oh, I saw the whole family
at a political rally.

Sonny must be at the
house with mammy Lou.

I can have handle her.

And there's nothing I can do or
say that will change your mind?

You can give one thing for me.

You can get some of
my things packed.

I'll be back in half an hour.

Miss Wellington, we
stealing that child of yours.

He's mine.

Would has a better
right to have him?

--[inaudible] what I'm going
to get for this night's work.

Hush, [inaudible].

[inaudible]

[chickens clucking]

Abby!

Abby!

Help me find that rooster.

Always got your
nose in the book.

If you ever get them
chickens to Oregon,

you'll want
[inaudible] chickens.

Well I am.

Goodbye, papa.

Goodbye, Abby.

Goodbye, Hetty.

[rooster crows]

Goodbye, pop.

Pa, you hold out for the
best price you can get.

You sell this farm.

There are going to be a lot
of people going out to Oregon

in the next few years.

No, sir.

Indiana soil is
good enough for me.

[inaudible]

Whoa.

Where you headin' to?

Oregon.

I guess I just spied
[inaudible] in the whole state

of Tennessee.

Seems like everybody else
is a-hankerin' to move.

That country out
there will have

to be settled if we
want to hold it with all

this trouble over the boundary.

Where they leaving from?

First wagon train leaves from
Independence, Missouri in May.

Tank gonna take
your sticks to Dave?

No, I'm figuring on
blacksmithing the lot of them

before we leave.

We can't do worse
than we're doing here.

So pa and me, we decided
we'd go to Oregon.

Well, you got a
nice day for it.

Yep.

Giddy-up!

Goodbye, [inaudible].

Goodbye, folks.

Steady now.

Let her turn.

Well, if I ain't
missed my count,

that makes 50 wagons I worked
on in the last two weeks.

Hey, wait a minute up there.

What's the matter now?

You're overloading that wagon.

You're apt to bust an axle.

Well, looks as if we're
going to get away today.

Where's that saw
mill machinery?

Up ahead.

What's that they're
lugging across the country?

I hope the fire engine works
when we get it out to Oregon.

[laughs]

We might throw a match
into that load of kerosene

and give it a try.

[laughter]

Noel, they put that stuff in
lamps and light a whole house

with it.

No.

Yeah, seen it done.

Where's Chris Belmet?

Haven't seen him since
early this morning.

Well you'd better
line up these wagons

and tell everybody
to keep their places.

Seen Chris Belmet?

He was lining up
some freighter.

Mother, can I peek out?

No, Sonny.

You stay there and
keep quiet while mother

finds out what she has to do.

Aw right.

Can I do anything
for you ma'am?

How do I join the wagon train?

Why, the register's office
is right over yonder.

Oh, thank you.

[horse neighing]

Let's go.

[horse neighing]

Yourself and four
drivers, trading post only.

None of you taking up land.

That's right.

Got all your supplies
and equipment?

Yes, sir.
All approved.

Sign here.

You claim two sections of
land when you get to Oregon.

The government
gives you that free.

There's a lady waiting here.

Provision for
government financing

for the first three years.

Thank you.

I'm all taken.

Sign here, please.

[horse neighing]

Who owns this outfit?

I do.

What are you doing with it here?

I'm going to Oregon.

That thing wouldn't take you
to the South Pole with a flat.

I'm signed up.

Who signed you?

She said she had
the proper equipment.

What would she know about it?

I can buy another wagon, or
anything else this required.

Just tell me what I need.

He'll tell you
if the government

want to be responsible for you.

Oh no, nothing like that.

We'll have trouble
enough without nursing

lillywhite women
across the Rockies.

You've got to let me go.

We won't take her.

Who is that man?

That's Clint Belmet.

He's chief scout.

He and his partners
have contracted

to take this part into Oregon.

They're responsible.

I would buy
anything you demand.

That's the trouble, miss.

You can't get a complete
outfit around there.

Are you travelling with us?

I'm afraid [inaudible]
reports with the fur company.

I ain't asking anybody
to be responsible for me.

Mommy, can I come out now?

Yes, Sonny.

Your kindness seems to
have gone for nothing.

Are you not going with us?

I guess not, with this outfit.

Well I can fix you
up with a heavy wagon.

How?

I'll sell you one of mine.

Would you?

Why, of course.

How much would it cost?

Oh, we'd talk about that later.

Come on.

You three partners are
really guardian angels

of this entire wagon train?

Yep, we got the responisibility
of the whole outfit.

Yes, ma'am.

How romantic.

William O'Meary, Clinton
Belmet, James Burch.

That's you, isn't it?

Any middle initial, Mr. Burch?

Well, not that I
recollect of, ma'am.

No.

You're not married?

No.

[laughs]

Any children?

Eh?

Oh, of course not.

No.

CLINT BELMET: You're a
squint-eyed old liar.

A liar, ay?

Want to make anything of it?

Well I-- Clint's always
making them jokes on me.

He's one of my partners.

I'm just Abigail Masters.

I'm Clint Belmet.

Who's that
raw-boned old heifer?

Why, she's writing the
history of our trip,

and she's got the three
of us in the book already.

I'm originally from Indiana.

Mmm.

Where am I from
originally, Bill?

I don't know.

We found you starving to death
in a deserted Indian camp.

Should have left you there.

I wish we had, too.

Where you been
keeping yourself?

Yeah, we'd have been
going away by now.

What'a you been doing all
morning, ya moon-eyed old calf?

Pay no mind to him, ma'am.

He's out of his head this
way a good part of the time.

Come on, now.

Let's get this party organized.

You help these women hook up.

And that's all.

How do you know they
want you hanging around?

You know, I might be of
considerable help to you

in writing up with
that [inaudible] book.

Thank you, Mr. Burch.

This wagon train
is larger and better

equipped than we anticipated.

That's for the future of
our fur trade, Mr. Murdock.

There'll be no fur
trade if the white man

builds his house in Oregon.

Of course, this immigration
cannot be halted permanently,

but it can be discouraged
for and a number of years.

And now is the time
to do it, but we

do not want a large [inaudible],
you understand that.

I understand the white man.

When he wants land for
which he gives nothing,

he'll destroy
anything to get it.

You speak almost as an Indian.

My mother was an Indian.

My father I never saw.

I don't like white
men, but I know they

won't turn back for just that.

There will be killings.

We don't want that.

Do anything else to
make them turn back.

But they must not reach
[inaudible] the river.

They won't if I
handle it my way.

[MUSIC - CHOIR, "ONWARD
CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS"]

[SINGING] Onward Christian
soldiers marching as to war

with the cross of
Jesus going on before.

Christ our royal master,
leads against the foe,

forward into battle
see his banners go--"

[singing continues]

And we contracted to
take them to Oregon.

And I'll offer
pledges to both of you

to set foot in [inaudible].

[inaudible]

Now wait a minute, we ain't got
time for another of your talks.

Are you agreed?

Then let's stretch him
out and get started.

CLINT BELMET:
[SHOUTING] Stretch out!

Stretch out!

Stretch out!

[inaudible].

Come on, men, stretch out.

[inaudible]

Let her go!

[whip cracks]

[music playing]

Oregon bound, the sight of
[inaudible] sweeps westward.

Nothing can stop these
wheels rolling and rolling.

Our destiny rides
with us out to empire.

Oh shut up, or you'll get
these horses all excited.

Abby, come and
dry these dishes.

You got to pitch in and
help or I'll leave you

out on the prairie somewhere.

[horse neighing]

Evening.

And how are you long
women folks getting along?

Marvellously, Mr. Burch.

Isn't he absolutely
indigenous, [inaudible]?

Looks like any other man to me.

So I be.

So I be.

Where'd you get all
them big words at?

Out of the book.

She spends most
of her time at it.

Hmm, well it sound
right tasty like to me.

Eh, was you intending to
taking to doings this evening?

Yes, I'm going
to sing for them.

Then I won't be a-goin'.

I always appeared at all
the socials back home.

[SINGING]

[music playing]

ALL: [SINGING]
[inaudible] Oregon

trail spreads them far away.

Rivers to cross, mountains to
climb, and loads of trouble

all the time.

But this green valley's
[inaudible] the other side,

so climb on your wagon and ride.

Wagon wheels, wagon wheels,
keep on a turning, wagon wheels.

Wagon wheels, wagon wheels,
keep on a turning, wagon wheels.

Roll along, sing your song,
carry me over the hills.

[inaudible] there's
a [inaudible]

the boss is watching
[inaudible] there's a pasture

at the end of each road.

Wagon wheels, wagon wheels,
keep on a turning, wagon wheels.

Wagon wheels, wagon wheels,
keep on a turning, wagon wheels.

Roll along, sing your song,
wagon wheels, carry me home.

Roll along, sing your song,
wagon wheels, carry me home.

Wagon wheels, carry me home.

Hello, partner.

Hello.

Can you do this?

Like this?

No.

Take your [inaudible]
finger like that.

Oh, like this.

No.

[laughs] Tell

Me, where did you come from?

Over there.

And where's your daddy?

Up there.

What's your name?

Clint.

What's yours?

Sonny.

[laughs]

Folks, I want to introduce
to you Miss Abigail Masters

the Indiana songbird, and she'll
give us a rendi-- a ren-- well,

she'll sing a song
called-- "Snowy Daisies."

[applause]

Key of G, please.

[SINGING] I've just been
learning the lesson of life,

the sour sweet lesson of loving.

With all its pleasure and
all its pain, been sadly,

sadly proving.

And all that is left of
this bright, bright dream

were the stars
and million faces.

Is a bundle of letters with a
pink blue ribbon [inaudible]

and a bouquet of
snowy white daisies.

The beautiful,
beautiful daisies.

The snowy white daisies.

And thus forever
throughout this wide world,

yes love our sorrow proving.

And all [inaudible]
sad, sad world

is love our sorrow proving.

For the life of [inaudible]
and love our sorrow proving.

So I bless my lot, though with
[inaudible] with a bouquet

of white whithered daisies.

The beautiful,
beautiful daisies.

The snowy, snowy daisies.

[applause]

That's plum good, Miss Abby.

Oh, thank you.

Do you know who's boy this is?

No, I don't.

No, I don't know.

I thought I told you you
couldn't come on this trip.

Is he-- is he your boy?

Where 've you been?

[inaudible]

Yes, I know.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Too tired to unhook your team?

Oh no, I--

What'll you do when the
going really got tough?

I'll manage.

You must have pretty
good reason for making

this trip having no menfolk.

But I have.

My husband I've got to join you.

Where is he now?

He's in California,
or he will be.

He had business interest
in San Francisco.

I don't need your help.

These mules here, they
ought to be staked out.

I'll get one of Mr.
Murdock's drivers

unhitch them if I need to.

Murdock's taken you
under the wing, has he?

Well, he sold me
one of his wagons.

That's his wagon
right behind yours.

Belmet.

Clint Belmet.

Yes?

Bill wants you.

Good night, Sonny.

Good night, Clint.

Don't forget this.

He's my partner.

Now young man, you
get yourself to bed.

Goodbye, mom.

Good night, darling.

Good evening.

Good evening.

How's everything coming?

Fine, thanks.

Good.

You and Jones stay right
in here, [inaudible].

[inaudible] here.

Clint Belmet said to put two
guards in between these wagons.

The two of you men unhook
this woman's team for her.

How does that thing go, Jonesy?

[SINGING] Wagon wheels, wagon--

ALL: [SINGING] Keep on
a-turning, wagon wheels.

Roll along, sing your song,
carry me home wagon wheels.

Go on, you, there's a
happy man before us where

we'll all be finding our home.

Go on, you, [inaudible]
end of each road.

Wagon wheels, wagon wheels.

Keep on a-turning, wagon wheels.

Why don't you sing, Clint?

[SINGING] roll along, sing
your song, wagon wheels carry

me home, home, home, home.

Wagon wheels, carry me home.

The stage to Santa Fe will be
passing us in a few minutes.

I can stop it for
you and the boy.

Why don't you take him?

You can't stand
what's ahead of us.

Don't you realize
we'll have to break

trail all the way to Oregon?

Here comes the Santa Fe Stage.

This is your last chance.

You have no right to
meddle in my affairs.

I won't again, ma'am.

[inaudible] is going back?

It's a long fancy, ain't you?

Must be making about
6 miles an hour.

Yeah, we don't make
over 12 miles all day.

Good luck, [inaudible].

Nothing but horror
and hardship.

Yeah

Abby.

Yes?

Scarcely a man has
slept in two weeks.

Seen anyone hanging
around by the chickens?

No.

Getting plenty of history
to write about these days?

It's horrible.

We'll [inaudible] the
varmints as soon as we

strike the mountains.

Somebody's been
stealing my chickens.

More than half of
them's disappeared.

So's a lot of horses and mules.

I might be interested
in your chickens

if we could hitch them up
to save a couple of wagons

we've got to leave behind.

Better put that
candle out as soon

as it gets a little darker.

Where'd you get the chicken?

[inaudible] chicken.

They grow them big out here.

The sign the fowl is
ingeniginous to this region

and locality.

Mmm, I thought at first
you might have stole it.

What do you think of this?

And I was saving the
white meat for you, Bill.

Then keep after them all night.

All right.

[gunshots]

[indians chanting]

Hey, wake up.

I ain't had a wink of
sleep in three days.

Pop one of these, you'll
get plenty of sleep.

Hi, Clint.

Hello, Sonny.

You'd better get him inside.

It's safe.

I told you what I'm gonna
do, I'm turning back.

Let me be.

[shouting]

-I'm turning back!
-Take it easy.

Bill, take care of him.

I'm turning back, I tell you!

Get that wagon back in line.

I'm turning back.

[gunshots]

[indians chanting]

Where you been?

Been around.

Belmet said nobody
was to go out at night.

Well I did.

Some of them savages will
plug you with an arrow.

They didn't.

[indians chanting]

Jim!

[inaudible] Jim Burch.

Jim Burch!

He's done for.

That's the fifth man
they've killed tonight.

Got our [inaudible] by any
tribes that have been after us.

Seems to be working.

Scared stiff.

Scatter the boys about.

Talk up the idea of going back.

What's going to
happen to us, Belmet?

I'm for turning back?

And we'll go with you.

And my wagon will
be right behind you.

What good would that do you?

Well, it might stop
some of these attacks.

What make you think that?

I know it.

They'll always fight settlers.

[woman screaming]

Get the kerosene wagon!

[indians chanting]

I wonder how much more of this
train they'll burn up tonight?

Break camp.

We're moving on tonight.

The women can drive, give
you men a chance to sleep.

[indians chanting]

[gunshots]

We've got to move out here
before they burn us out.

--[inaudible] Murdock says
it's gonna get worse.

Yes, he knows this country
about as well as you do.

Then he's been lying to you.

Well, if we woke up
we're turning back.

I tell you, you'll
never make it.

I've got more lose in this
outfit than any man here.

My wagons are turning
back in the morning.

[crowd gasps]

Nobody's turning back.

I'll give you 15
minutes to hook up.

All right?

Get started.

[music playing]

It seems impossible that human
beings could have survived.

There they sleep in
majestic grandeur,

under their blankets of snow.

The air's so thin up
here I can hardly breathe.

Boo!

Where'd you get
that coat, Sonny?

Grandpa give it to me.

Sonny, Mr. O'Meary is
not your grandfather.

He said I can call him grandpa.

Need any help to
set her up, Sam?

No, but it'll take time.

We're going to camp
here until tomorrow.

Evening Miss [inaudible].

Say, is there any Indians
in these mountains?

No, not 'till we get
down by the rivers.

Someone stole two
more of my chickens.

Hmm.

Maybe it's these immigrants.

They're running
kind of low on food.

It looks as if
that's what happened.

What will we do if
the food were all gone?

I don't know.

Once your trapper's
gotten that fixed once,

and-- and they get
us at each other.

Oh, I don't believe it.

[inaudible]?

He's the sole survivor
of that party.

Mother?

Yes?

It's all [inaudible].

All right, Sonny.

I didn't hurt your hand, did I?

Nope, this
lillywhite's all right.

It won't snow tonight.

Why the shelter?

It's my birthday.

No, how old are you?

Four years old.

Momma's gonna make a game
for me with real eggs in it.

Mmm.

And [inaudible].

Am I invited?

Sure.

See you later, partner.

All right.

Make a wish first, Sonny.

Have you made it?

Them blow out the candles.

[music playing]

Try and get it away from him.

[SINGING]: There's a [inaudible]
the [inaudible] my name,

[SINGING]: There's a [inaudible]
the [inaudible] my name,

the [inaudible]
one I [inaudible]

come and tell me
if my [inaudible]

Would you have another cup
of coffee before you go?

Well, no thanks.

I--

I haven't been such a
bother to you, have I?

Well, there have
been times when--

When you wished I wasn't along?

I didn't say that.

But you were plenty determined.

Did you ever wonder why?

I knew you were running
away from something.

I was.

When my husband died, his
people took Sonny away from me.

But I got him back, and
that's why we're here.

I love that song.

Starting down the west slope
of the Rockies tomorrow morning.

That will be exciting.

Yes, ma'am.

Good night.

[SINGING]: My [inaudible]

[music playing]

What's this coming?

Gee, [inaudible].

It must be a bunch of
freighters or something.

-I wonder where they're from.
-Howdy, stranger.

Where you from?

Independence, Missouri.

How long will it take these
wagons to reach Powder River?

Oh, about a week.

You'll have plenty of time.

This rain'll hold them
here several days.

Who's the [inaudible]?

Monsieur Mosley.

You will find him in
his office [inaudible].

I'm leaving early
tomorrow morning.

Yeah?

When do you want that freight
check in to storehouse?

[inaudible]

Mr. Mosley?

Your boy told me I'd
find you in here.

My name's O'Meary.

Jim Burch.

We'd like to rest up
here for a few days.

[inaudible]

Usual business with trappers,
but you're welcome to stay

as long as you see fit.

Will you join me
in a little drink?

I've been pretty dry over
the last five months.

[laughs]

[chickens clucking]

Sonny Wellington!

Are you the boy that's been
stealing everybody's chickens?

What are you doing, Sonny.

Give me that slingshot.

Oh, he can't hurt
them chickens.

But he shouldn't be doing it.

[chickens clucking]

Well, I know what happened
to that one, anyway.

Hand it over, young man.

Have I got to?

Well, then I won't
tell you the secret.

What secret?

Well, it's a very good secret.

What is it?

Come over here.

Clint's gone.

Where did he go?

He told me, but I forgot.

He told me just to tell you--

What?

[inaudible]

Oh, Sonny.

What did he tell you?

Remember.

Well, he'll be back
in four or five days

and he don't have to
tell you where he's been,

because I [inaudible].

[music playing]

Tell them to be ready
when half the wagons

have crossed the river.

Then pocket them.

Do you understand?

Tell them they'll be along
in six or seven days.

[music playing]

How long they been
hitting it up like this?

Most a week now.

Ever since the wagon
train got rained in.

Like a lot of sailors
just getting into port.

[laughter]

It's unbearable and you ought
to do something about it.

If you can't control
you men folks,

how do you think I'm going to?

Well, a bottle of whiskey'll
cost you a barrel of flour

Why, that's the same
as robbing a man.

Suits me, brother.

You can take it or leave it.

Well, all right.

Carrie, a bottle of the best.

Was he right?

Yes, it's Murdock.

And we got to move
out of here right now.

In all this mud?

Well, that's easier than
fighting Indians all the way.

Hello, Clint.

That's been going on for days.

We'll have to start
moving somehow.

You can't do it, because we're
the only ones that's sober.

All right, the women can drive.

Come on, let's throw
the men in the wagon.

[inaudible]

That's enough of you.

Let go of my arm.

The train's pulling out.

Belmet's given us orders.

Let him go.

[bottle shattering]

[woman screaming]

Get in there and
give them [inaudible].

Get in there and [inaudible].

Get your teams hooked up.

This is what we should
have done three days ago.

There's my husband.

That's my man.

Take him and get
your team hitched.

What happened?

We're moving out.
Did you hook up your teams?

-Why, yes.
-Go ahead.

I'll send a man to
help you if I can.

Is this your husband, ma'am?

-Yes.
-Can you drive?

Sure.

Then get him on
as soon as you can.

Sonny.

Awful slow [inaudible] Clint.

Where's Van Wellington?

He's on the other side.

Get those [inaudible]
straightened out.

MAN: Indians!

Indians!

Indians!

[inaudible]

Pack it up.

[indians chanting]

[gunshots]

Get your wagons together.

Get under your wagon
and pour it into 'em.

[gunshots]

Indians back on the other side.

[gunshots]

[inaudible]

I missed that one.

Because you're getting old.

[inaudible]

Who's [inaudible].

You or me.

I never did [inaudible].

[gunshots]

Things are getting
bad [inaudible].

Looks like they're disorganized.

[inaudible].

You stay here and hold
out as long as you can.

[gunshots]

[inaudible]

Get down here and
grab one of those guns.

I won't do it.

Well, at least you
can help me reload.

I won't be a part of the
killing of any humans.

You'll change your
mind when one of them

starts lifting your hair
with a scalping knife.

Get to the other end.

[indians chanting]

[inaudible]

--[inaudible] she's
crazy about Indians.

[gunshot]

Get back to the wagon.

Get back to the wagon.

[gunshots]

[gunshots]

Looks like they've
got us on this side.

But if they get
across the river,

the whole caravan'll
be wiped out.

[gunshots]

Cut your horses loose
and start swimming.

Give me your gun.

[horse neighing]

[indians chanting]

[indians chanting]

[gunshot]

[explosion]

Let's get down there and give
it to them as they come by.

Come on!
Let's get there.

[indians chanting]

[gunshots]

[woman screams]

[inaudible]

[indians chanting]

It's all over, [inaudible].

We've got them on the run.

[cheering]

Son, it's up to you or me
now to get them to Oregon.

Agreed?

[music playing]

They'll be here in
a few minutes, folks.

Who are they, [inaudible]?

A couple of agents to
take you off our hands.

We've landed you in
Oregon and we're done.

Thank goodness we can stay
in one place for a spell.

You'll have to file on your
claims in the same order

that you signed up
at the independence.

Then you'll have 30 days
to file under two sections.

[scoffs]

Won't take me any 30 days.

We can't wait any longer, Abby.

We got to take up a homestead.

I'm willing to
marry you, Jim Burch.

But you've got to write
to my father in Indiana,

ask for my hand.

But it takes a letter a
year to get there and back.

I can't help that.

It's proper.

Here.

But Abby, I can't write.

[sonny laughing]

Say, what's going on here?

I'm just getting cleaned
up for our wedding.

And you're going to
take me on as your dad?

Sure, then you can do this.

OK, partner.

Can you do this?

That's the church and
here's the steeple.

Walk right in and
see the people?

[laughter]

[music playing]

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.