''Trailin' West'' (UK title: ''On Secret Service'') is a 1936 American

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

film directed by

Noel M. Smith Noel Mason Smith (May 22, 1895 – September 20, 1955) was an American film director and writer. He directed more than 120 films between 1917 and 1952. He was born in Rockland, California, and died in Los Angeles, California. Selected fil ...

and written by

Anthony Coldeway Anthony W. Coldeway (August 1, 1887 – January 29, 1963) was an American screenwriter who had an extensive career from 1910 through 1954. Although most of his work was on films, he did some writing for television and also was the director of a ...

and starring

Dick Foran John Nicholas "Dick" Foran (June 18, 1910 – August 10, 1979) was an American actor, known for his performances in Western musicals and for playing supporting roles in dramatic pictures. Early years Foran was born in Flemington, New Jer ...

Paula Stone Paula Stone (January 20, 1912 – December 23, 1997) was an American theater and motion pictures actress from New York City. Birth She was the daughter of Fred Stone, a stage actor, dancing comedian, and owner of the Fred Stone theatrical ...

, and

Wild Bill Elliott Wild Bill Elliott (born Gordon Nance, October 16, 1904 – November 26, 1965) was an American film actor. He specialized in playing the rugged heroes of B Westerns, particularly the Red Ryder series of films. Early life Elliott was born Gor ...

Plot

In 1864, President

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

sends an undercover agent, Lt. Red Colton, to fictional Kent City to apprehend Curly Thorne and his outlaws who are disrupting Union gold shipments. Nearing the town, Red stops the robbery of a stage line, and meets passenger Lucy Blake. Red checks in to the local hotel under the name "John Madison," but his credentials are stolen. Jefferson Duane, in cahoots with Thorne, uses Red's credentials to gain the trust of the Union's Colonel Douglas to gain information about the gold shipments. Red accepts a job as a card dealer at Thorne's bar where Lucy works as a dance hall girl. Red and Lucy overhear a plot between Duane and Thorne to secure assistance from Black Eagle and his Indian tribe in exchange for running guns to the Indians. Lucy erroneously believes Red as "John Madison" is involved in this plot and reports it to Colonel Douglas. Red is arrested and is unable to convince Colonel Douglas of his true identity after Duane lies about his own identity. It is revealed that Lucy, also, is working undercover for the Union. Red escapes custody and convinces Lucy, in Duane's presence, that he, not Duane, is the true Union agent. A gunfight ensues as Duane and his thugs escape during which Lucy receives a flesh wound. Red reports to Colonel Douglas and also convinces him of his true identity. Red leads Union troops to intervene just as the gold shipment is under attack by the Indians and Thorne's gang. The shipment is saved, and Red subdues both Thorne and Duane during their attempted escape. President Lincoln promotes Red to major, and it is revealed Red and Lucy are now married.

Cast

as Lt. Red Colton *

as Lucy Blake *

as Jefferson Duane * Addison Richards as Curly Thorne *

Robert Barrat Robert Harriot Barrat (July 10, 1891 – January 7, 1970) was an American stage, motion picture, and television character actor. Early years Barratt was born on July 10, 1891, in New York City and was educated in the public schools there. He ...

Joseph Crehan Joseph A. Creaghan (July 15, 1883 – April 15, 1966) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 300 films between 1916 and 1965, and notably played Ulysses S. Grant nine times between 1939 and 1958, most memorably in ''Union Paci ...

as Colonel Douglas * Fred Lawerence as Lt. Dale * Eddie Shubert as Happy Simpson *

Henry Otto Henry Otto (August 8, 1877 – August 3, 1952) was an American silent film actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. Otto contributed to over 150 films throughout his career working as an actor and a director throughout. He directed many ...

as Hawk *

Stuart Holmes Stuart Holmes (born Joseph Liebchen; March 10, 1884 – December 29, 1971) was an American actor and sculptor whose career spanned seven decades. He appeared in almost 450 films between 1909 and 1964, sometimes credited as Stewart Holmes. Biog ...

as Elwin H. Stanton *

Milton Kibbee Milton Kibbee (January 27, 1896 – April 17, 1970) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 360 films between 1933 and 1953. He was the brother of actor Guy Kibbee and his daughter was actress Lois Kibbee. He died in Simi Vall ...

as Steve *

Jim Thorpe James Francis Thorpe ( Sac and Fox (Sauk): ''Wa-Tho-Huk'', translated as "Bright Path"; May 22 or 28, 1887March 28, 1953) was an American athlete and Olympic gold medalist. A member of the Sac and Fox Nation, Thorpe was the first Nativ ...

as Black Eagle

References

External links

* * * * 1936 films 1936 Western (genre) films American black-and-white films American Civil War spy films American Western (genre) films Fictional depictions of Abraham Lincoln in film 1930s English-language films Films directed by Noel M. Smith 1930s American films {{1930s-Western-film-stub