Jubilee Trail (1954)

The film is a combination of western, melodrama and musical. The action sequences are quite good, and there is humor, too. Even if you have not read the book by Gwen Bristow, it is obvious that producer Herbert Yates has omitted key chunks of the narrative, presumably to keep the focus on his wife, Vera Ralston, who stars in this project.But the omissions hurt the picture. Indeed, too many liberties have been taken while transferring Bristow's epic story to the big screen: the New York prologue is eliminated; we do not see the death of the California woman who kills herself and her baby; the Russian character is introduced at the Hale ranch, not in San Francisco. And the film spends its final half hour in Los Angeles.There are other changes. For instance, we do not get a scene in which Garnet (Joan Leslie) learns she's pregnant; and at one point, she has her arm in a sling, though we have no idea why she's been injured at the ranch. Apparently, there was an earthquake, but those scenes were either edited out or not filmed at all.Despite the imperfections, the film is more enjoyable than one would expect it to be. It is told from the point of view of the western female; and at its heart, the story celebrates the friendship of pioneer women.

TCM is going crazy. First, 'Beat the Devil,' worst Bogart film ever made. When I get to Heaven and meet Bogie, I will not bring this title up for fear he'll send me to hell.Next, they air 'Jubilee Trail,' not a western; rather a bad soap opera(was there ever a good one)? I wrote TCM about their frequent repeats, concentrating too much on 'stars,' and failure to air 'cult' films, black (dark) comedies and sexy foreign movies, with stars such as Judy Geeson ('....round the Mulberry Bush), Brigitte Bardot (anything), Nicole Aubrey (Seven Deadly Sins - which I have on DVD). Also, what about 'Montenegro,' best dark comedy I have ever seen.If TCM airs movies uncut, let's see some sex and nudity, not the American version of foreign films.As for 'Jubilee Trail,' thumbs w-a-a-a-a-a-y DOWN!

JUBILEE TRAIL is close to a disaster, and it particularly distressing to see lovely and very talented JOAN LESLIE reduced to a namby-pamby secondary role to the awful Vera Ralston. Ralston, of course, was a stellar Olympic figure skating champion who arrived in Hollywood to skate her way into a couple of films for Republic Pictures' boss Herbert J. Yates (who fell in love with her, married her, and spent years and money on trying to convince the public that she could act.) Ralston's acting was poor but less annoying in those films in which she was surrounded by professionals (e.g. MURDER IN THE MUSIC HALL and ANGEL ON THE AMAZON). But Yates kept pushing the envelope, and Republic's expensive western JUBILEE TRAIL is one of the nadirs. Lots of money obviously spent on the film, but Ralston, as a 'dance hall' performer (hmmm) is all over the place with shrieky acting techniques, an overabundance of makeup, and a plump-ish body. It is truly one of the lowest acting exercises. Photography, though, is quite good, and Yates' money expenditures are obvious in other facets of the production. John Russell is the best in a large supporting cast. Joan Leslie remains the central character around whom the plot is moved along. She is beautiful and tries to do the best with some of the awful dialog. (She plays a nice newlywed who, for some unfathomable reason, befriends Ralston.). What a waste!!! If life were fair, Leslie, by this time, would have been an appreciated talent whose abilities were growing with her own maturity.

Lavish Republic western with good female cast.Joan Leslie and Vera Ralston are most effective as two women heading to California to make a new life.Joan's husband is killed,Vera finds work as an entertainer,barkeeper.There's a load of familiar faces in the character parts.The costumes are nice.The settings lavish.Republic made alot of strong women films with a western setting.It was nice seeing women finally being more than just dutiful wives and saloon girls.Republic had a way of making realistic settings,costumes.The men in the story actually look dusty after a long ride.The Victor Young score is very nice,including the title song.This film is usually dismissed as just another Vera Ralston film but it's Joan Leslie's story.