Main Cast: Fess Parker, Kathleen Crowley, Jeff York, David Stollery, Sebastian Cabot, George Reeves, Cubby O'Brien
Release Year: 1956
Country: US
Run Time: 94 minutes
Plot
Disney's Westward Ho, the Wagons is a leisurely paced western which seems more like a collection of anecdotes than a unified whole. Fess "Davy Crockett" Parker stars as head wagon scout Doc Grayson, who shepherds a group of travellers through hostile Indian territory. Preferring to use brains rather than bullets, Grayson is able to ward off an Indian attack through a clever--if costly--diversion. A later crisis is averted when Doc, an amateur physician (hence his nickname), saves the life of a seriously injured chief's son. The action highlights are superbly staged by Yakima Canutt, though not quite as exciting as they should be. Kathleen Crowley costars as Doc's erstwhile sweetheart Laura, while George Reeves, his face obscured by a full beard, makes an effective break from his Superman image as wagon leader James Stephen. The fact that Westward Ho, the Wagons featuerd several of Disney's Mouseketeers (Karen Pendleton, Cubby O'Brien, Doreen Tracy, Tommy Cole) in the supporting cast was plugged to death on TV's Mickey Mouse Club, as was the film's hit song "Wringle, Wrangle". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Barbara Woodell - Mrs. Stephen; Leslie E. Bradley - Spencer Armitage; Morgan Woodward - "Obie" Foster; Iron Eyes Cody - Many Stars; Anthony Numkena - Little Thunder; Jane Liddell - Ruth Benjamin; Jon Locke - Ed Benjamin; Julie Compton; John War Eagle - Wolf's Brother; Earl Holliman - Little Thunder
Credit
Marvin Aubrey Davis - Art Director, Gertrude Casey - Costume Designer, Chuck Keehne - Costume Designer, William Beaudine - Director, Cotton Warburton - Editor, George Bruns - Composer (Music Score), Fess Parker - Songwriter, Tom Blackburn - Songwriter, Paul J. Smith - Songwriter, Gil George - Songwriter, Stan Jones - Songwriter, David Newell - Makeup, Charles P. Boyle - Cinematographer, Bill Walsh - Producer, Bertram Granger - Set Designer, Emile Kuri - Set Designer, Tom Blackburn - Screenwriter, Mary Jane Carr - Book Author
A small group of families join together to travel to Oregon in 1846. Their leader is ostensibly James Stephen (George Reeves), who has made the trip before, and is now bringing his family along. John Grayson (Fess Parker), known as Doc for his ambition to study medicine, however, proves to be the real leader of the wagon train.
The pioneers deal with the elements and occasional raids, but after hostile Pawnees drive off their spare horses, they realize they may not make it to the Oregon Territory. While stopping at Fort Laramie, the pioneer children make friends with Sioux children. After the Sioux chief's son is injured in an accident, Doc Grayson helps heal him, earning the trust of the Sioux. As the story ends, the Sioux warriors escort the wagon train safely through Pawnee territory.
