Fighting Caravans
Encyclopedia
Fighting Caravans is a lavish 1931
western
film starring Gary Cooper
and Lili Damita
. The movie was directed by Otto Brower
and David Burton. Although the film is billed as being based on the novel of the same name by Zane Grey
, the stories have little in common. The film was actually written by Agnes Brand Leahy, Edward E. Paramore, Jr. and Keene Thompson
.
The movie was remade
just three years later as Wagon Wheels
, a low-budget production employing extensive stock footage from Fighting Caravans and featuring Randolph Scott
and Gail Patrick
in the leads. Every character's name was changed in the remake except that of Clint Belmet, played by Cooper and Scott.
) and Jim Bridger (Tully Marshall
) talk a sympathetic Frenchwoman named Felice (Lili Damita) into telling the bumbling, drunken marshal that Clint had married her the previous night. Clint is released so he can accompany Felice on the wagon train
heading west to California.
A short time later, Felice finds out that Bill and Jim had lied to her; she did not need a man in order to join the wagon train. In a short stopover in a town, they learn that the Indians are causing trouble, so Clint offers to guide the wagon train through the dangerous trails ahead. On the journey, Felice's wagon runs out of control downhill and Clint rescues her. Felice starts talking about marriage. Clint has always been free and wants to stay that way, so he leaves.
He later finds out that Indians (Kiowas and Cheyenne who have been talked into the warpath by crooked traders), are planning to attack the wagon train. He, Bill and Jim rush back to save the day. The Indians attack at a river crossing. Clint helps save the day with some barrels of gunpowder but his friends are killed. The survivors continue on to California.
1931 in film
-Top grossing films:-Academy Awards:*Best Picture: Cimarron - MGM*Best Actor: Lionel Barrymore - A Free Soul*Best Actor: Wallace Beery - The Champ*Best Actor: Fredric March - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde...
western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
film starring Gary Cooper
Gary Cooper
Frank James Cooper, known professionally as Gary Cooper, was an American film actor. He was renowned for his quiet, understated acting style and his stoic, but at times intense screen persona, which was particularly well suited to the many Westerns he made...
and Lili Damita
Lili Damita
Lili Damita was a French actress who appeared in 33 movies between 1922 and 1937.-Early life and education:...
. The movie was directed by Otto Brower
Otto Brower
Otto Brower was an American film director. He directed 45 films between 1928 and 1946.He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and died in Hollywood, California, from a heart attack.-Selected filmography:...
and David Burton. Although the film is billed as being based on the novel of the same name by Zane Grey
Zane Grey
Zane Grey was an American author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories that presented an idealized image of the Old West. Riders of the Purple Sage was his bestselling book. In addition to the success of his printed works, they later had second lives and continuing influence...
, the stories have little in common. The film was actually written by Agnes Brand Leahy, Edward E. Paramore, Jr. and Keene Thompson
Keene Thompson
Keene Thompson was a story, scenario and screenwriter who worked in the film industry from 1920 to 1937.-Career:...
.
The movie was remade
Remake
A remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
just three years later as Wagon Wheels
Wagon Wheels (1934 film)
Wagon Wheels is a 1934 remake of 1931's Fighting Caravans, using stock footage from the original and substituting a new cast headed by Randolph Scott and Gail Patrick to replace the earlier film's Gary Cooper and Lili Damita. The western movie was directed by Charles Barton from the Zane Grey novel...
, a low-budget production employing extensive stock footage from Fighting Caravans and featuring Randolph Scott
Randolph Scott
Randolph Scott was an American film actor whose career spanned from 1928 to 1962. As a leading man for all but the first three years of his cinematic career, Scott appeared in a variety of genres, including social dramas, crime dramas, comedies, musicals , adventure tales, war films, and even a few...
and Gail Patrick
Gail Patrick
Gail Patrick was an American film actress.Born Margaret LaVelle Fitzpatrick, she appeared in 62 movies between 1932 and 1948, usually as the leading lady's extremely formidable rival; some of these roles include the second wife in My Favorite Wife with Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, Anna May Wong's...
in the leads. Every character's name was changed in the remake except that of Clint Belmet, played by Cooper and Scott.
Plot summary
Clint Belmet (Gary Cooper) is a bit of a firebrand and is sentenced to at least 30 days in jail, but his partners, Bill Jackson (Ernest TorrenceErnest Torrence
Ernest Torrence was a Scottish born film character actor who appeared in many Hollywood films, including Broken Chains with Colleen Moore,Mantrap with Clara Bow, and Fighting Caravans with Gary Cooper and Lili Damita...
) and Jim Bridger (Tully Marshall
Tully Marshall
William Phillips was an American character actor known as Tully Marshall, with nearly a quarter century of theatrical experience behind before he made his first film appearance in 1914.-Career:...
) talk a sympathetic Frenchwoman named Felice (Lili Damita) into telling the bumbling, drunken marshal that Clint had married her the previous night. Clint is released so he can accompany Felice on the wagon train
Wagon train
A wagon train is a group of wagons traveling together. In the American West, individuals traveling across the plains in covered wagons banded together for mutual assistance, as is reflected in numerous films and television programs about the region, such as Audie Murphy's Tumbleweed and Ward Bond...
heading west to California.
A short time later, Felice finds out that Bill and Jim had lied to her; she did not need a man in order to join the wagon train. In a short stopover in a town, they learn that the Indians are causing trouble, so Clint offers to guide the wagon train through the dangerous trails ahead. On the journey, Felice's wagon runs out of control downhill and Clint rescues her. Felice starts talking about marriage. Clint has always been free and wants to stay that way, so he leaves.
He later finds out that Indians (Kiowas and Cheyenne who have been talked into the warpath by crooked traders), are planning to attack the wagon train. He, Bill and Jim rush back to save the day. The Indians attack at a river crossing. Clint helps save the day with some barrels of gunpowder but his friends are killed. The survivors continue on to California.
Cast
- Gary CooperGary CooperFrank James Cooper, known professionally as Gary Cooper, was an American film actor. He was renowned for his quiet, understated acting style and his stoic, but at times intense screen persona, which was particularly well suited to the many Westerns he made...
as Clint Belmet - Lili DamitaLili DamitaLili Damita was a French actress who appeared in 33 movies between 1922 and 1937.-Early life and education:...
as Felice - Ernest TorrenceErnest TorrenceErnest Torrence was a Scottish born film character actor who appeared in many Hollywood films, including Broken Chains with Colleen Moore,Mantrap with Clara Bow, and Fighting Caravans with Gary Cooper and Lili Damita...
as Bill Jackson - Tully MarshallTully MarshallWilliam Phillips was an American character actor known as Tully Marshall, with nearly a quarter century of theatrical experience behind before he made his first film appearance in 1914.-Career:...
as Jim BridgerJim BridgerJames Felix "Jim" Bridger was among the foremost mountain men, trappers, scouts and guides who explored and trapped the Western United States during the decades of 1820-1850, as well as mediating between native tribes and encroaching whites... - Fred KohlerFred KohlerFred Kohler was an American actor known for his "heavy" style of character.-Career:Fred Kohler was born in Kansas City, Missouri. As a teen, he began to pursue a career in vaudeville, but worked other jobs to support himself. He lost part of his right hand in a mining accident during this time...
as Lee Murdock - Eugene PalletteEugene PalletteEugene William Pallette was an American actor. He appeared in over 240 silent era and sound era motion pictures between 1913 and 1946....
as Seth Higgins - Roy StewartRoy StewartRoy Stewart , originally from Jamaica, began his career as a stuntman and went on to work in film and television, at a time when there were few working black actors....
as Couch - May Boley as Jane
- Jim Farley as Amos
- James A. Marcus as The Blacksmith
- Donald MacKenzie as Gus
- Eve SouthernEve SouthernEve Southern was an American film actress. She appeared in 38 films between 1916 and 1936.-Filmography:-External links:...
as Faith - Frank CampeauFrank CampeauFrank Campeau was an American actor. He appeared in 93 films between 1911 and 1940.He was born in Detroit, Michigan and died in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles.-Selected filmography:* Fighting Caravans...
as Jeff Moffitt - Charles WinningerCharles WinningerCharles Winninger was an American stage and film actor, most often cast in comedies or musicals, but equally at home in drama.-Biography:He began as a vaudeville actor...
as Marshall - Frank HagneyFrank HagneyFrank Hagney was an Australian actor. He appeared in over 350 films between 1919 and 1966.He was born in Sydney, Australia and died in Los Angeles.- Selected filmography :*Go Get 'Em Hutch...
as Renegade