Winds of the Wasteland ** (1936, John Wayne, Phyllis Fraser, Lew Kelly, Douglas Cosgrove, Lane Chandler, Sam Flint, Bob Kortman) – Classic Movie Review 7169

‘A six-shooter writes the law as war flames on the range! Adventure – as bullets blaze the pioneer trail!’ – well, they are selling it well! Director Mack V Wright’s 1936 Winds of the Wasteland stars a very young-looking John Wayne stars as Pony Express rider John Blair in a basic, unsurprising Republic Pictures studios’ black and white Western.

In Joseph F Poland’s mild, cosy and familiar-seeming original story and screenplay, Wayne clashes with stage boss Cal Drake (Douglas Cosgrove) over who will get a lucrative government postal contract.

Winds of the Wasteland is short and fast moving, and acceptable as a poverty row B-Western, but it would be completely forgotten without Wayne.

Besides Wayne, also in the cast are Phyllis Fraser as Barbara Forsythe, Lew Kelly as Rocky O’Brien, Douglas Cosgrove, Lane Chandler as Larry Adams, Sam Flint as Dr William Forsythe, Bob Kortman as henchman Cherokee Joe, Ed Cassidy, Jon Hall, Merrill McCormick, Christian J Frank, Jack Rockwell, Arthur Millett, Tracy Layne, Yakima Canutt, Lloyd Ingraham, Herman Hack, Henry Hall, Art Mix and Cliff Lyons.

Winds of the Wasteland is directed by Mack V Wright, runs 55 minutes, is produced by Republic Pictures, is released by Republic Pictures, is written by Joseph F Poland, from a story by Joseph F Poland, is shot in black and white by William Nobles, is produced by Nat Levine, and is scored by Heinz Roemheld and Arthur Kay.

It is a bit of a giveaway that long shots show the stunt coach driver with a light-coloured vest with a whip in his right hand while close-ups show Wayne wearing a dark-coloured vest and both of his hands holding reins.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7169

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