In 1871, professional gambler John Devlin elopes with Sandra "Sandy" Poli, daughter of Marko Poli, an immigrant who has risen to railroad tycoon. Sandy, knowing that the railroad is to be extended into Dakota, plans to use their $20,000 nest egg to buy land options to sell to the railroad at a profit. On the stage trip to Ft. Abercrombie, their fellow passengers are Jim Bender and Bigtree Collins, who practically own the town of Fargo and Devlin is aware that they are prepared to protect the little empire... trying to drive out the farmers by burning their property, destroying their wheat, and blaming the devastation on the Indians. Continuing their journey north on the river aboard the "River Bird', Sandy and John meet Captain Bounce, an irascible old seafarer. Two of Bendender's henchmen, Slagin and Carp, board the boat and relieve John of his $20,000 at gunpoint. Captain Bounce, chasing the robber's dinghy..
Acting
Walter Brennan steals scenes as grumpy riverboat captain.
Practical Effects
Actual wheat fields burned, actual riverboats used.
Director
Joseph Kane
John Wayne
John Devlin
Vera Ralston
Sandy Poli
Walter Brennan
Bounce of the Riverbird
Ward Bond
Jim Bender
Ona Munson
Jersey Thomas
Hugo Haas
Marko Poli
Mike Mazurki
Bigtree Collins
Olive Blakeney
Mrs. Stowe
Paul Fix
Carp
Grant Withers
Slagin
Robert Livingston
Lieutenant
Olin Howland
Devlin's Driver
Pierre Watkin
Wexton Geary
Robert Barrat
Anson Stowe
Jonathan Hale
Colonel Wordin
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Vera Ralston was Republic Pictures owner Herbert Yates' girlfriend—her casting in multiple Wayne films was notoriously nepotistic and critics savaged her Czech accent in Western roles.
The Northern Pacific Railway's actual 1870s land-grab scandals inspired the plot, though the film conveniently makes corporate villains independent operators rather than the railroad itself.
US
