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{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West
| name = The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West
| image = The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West.jpg
| image = The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| border =
| alt =
| caption =
| director = [[Jack Arnold (director)|Jack Arnold]]<br>[[Earl Bellamy]]<br>[[Bruce Bilson]]<br>Oscar Rudolph
| director = [[Jack Arnold (director)|Jack Arnold]]<br>[[Earl Bellamy]]<br>[[Bruce Bilson]]<br>Oscar Rudolph
| producer = [[Elroy Schwartz]]
| writer = [[Ron Friedman (producer)|Ron Friedman]]<br>Howard Ostroff<br>Brad Radnitz<br>[[Sherwood Schwartz]]<br>[[Elroy Schwartz]]
| writer = [[Ron Friedman (producer)|Ron Friedman]]<br>Howard Ostroff<br>Brad Radnitz<br>[[Sherwood Schwartz]]<br>Elroy Schwartz
| based_on =
| based_on =
| producer = Elroy Schwartz
| starring = [[Bob Denver]]<br>[[Forrest Tucker]]
| starring = [[Bob Denver]]<br>[[Forrest Tucker]]
| music =
| cinematography = Alan Stensvold
| cinematography = Alan Stensvold
| editing = Jack Woelz
| editing = Jack Woelz
| studio =
| studio =
| distributor = Danton Films
| distributor = Danton Films
| released = August 1, 1976<ref>http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_wackiest_wagon_train_in_the_west/</ref>
| released = {{Film date|1976|08|01|ref1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_wackiest_wagon_train_in_the_west/|title=The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref>}}
| runtime = 86 mins.
| runtime = 86 mins.
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = English
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}
}}


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==Plot summary==
==Plot summary==
A [[stagecoach]] and covered wagon heading west across the plains become separated from their wagon train thanks to Dusty (Denver), a bumbling assistant to Wagonmaster Callahan ([[Forrest Tucker]]). Lost in the wilderness, seven hapless souls must now make their way to California on their own using what brains they have or haven't got.
A [[stagecoach]] and covered wagon heading west across the plains become separated from their wagon train thanks to Dusty, a bumbling assistant to Wagonmaster Callahan ([[Forrest Tucker]]). Lost in the wilderness, seven hapless souls must now make their way to California on their own using what brains they have or haven't got.


First, the characters meet Indians. Then there is a "[[necktie party]]" looking to hang Dusty as a horse thief. Third, a couple of cattle rustlers want to "get friendly" with some willing females. And finally, a "shootout" takes place, with Dusty dressed up as [[Bat Masterson]] in a [[ghost town]] setting.
First, the characters meet Indians. Then there is a "[[necktie party]]" looking to hang Dusty as a horse thief. Third, a couple of cattle rustlers want to "get friendly" with some willing females. And finally, a "shootout" takes place, with Dusty dressed up as [[Bat Masterson]] in a [[ghost town]] setting.


==Observations==
==Home media==
⚫
''The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West'' was released on [[VHS]] by JTC, Inc., Front Row Video, Inc. and Direct Source Special.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8QPsAAAAMAAJ&q=The+Wackiest+Wagon+Train+in+the+West+vhs |title=Variety's Complete Home Video Directory |date=1988 |publisher=R.R. Bowker |language=en}}</ref> The film has also been released on [[DVD region code#1|Region 1]] [[DVD]] by numerous companies including Tango Entertainment, Digiview and St. Clair Vision. These releases by numerous budget labels were due to the fact that the copyrights on most episodes of ''Dusty's Trail'' were never properly claimed, making the series one of the last television series to enter the [[public domain]] before the [[Copyright Act of 1976]] (and its much longer copyright terms) took effect. As the film was sourced from this series, the film itself is also in the public domain.{{Cn|date=December 2023}}


== Reception ==
Each of the seven main characters are derivative of those of ''[[Gilligan's Island]]'', a previous series that had been created by [[Sherwood Schwartz]], who had been trying unsuccessfully to sell a ''Gilligan's Island'' revival for several years (and eventually succeeded, in animated form, with ''[[The New Adventures of Gilligan]]'' in 1974).
”Only television cultists will find anything worth watching here.”, commented [[TV Guide (magazine)|TV Guide]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-wackiest-wagon-train-in-the-west/review/2030107998/ |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}</ref>

* Dusty was based on Bob Denver's ''Gilligan's Island'' character, Gilligan.
* Tucker's role as the wagonmaster was based on The Skipper, originally played by [[Alan Hale, Jr.]]
* The millionaire Brookhavens ([[Ivor Francis]] and Lynn Wood) were essentially the same characters as the Howells ([[Jim Backus]] and [[Natalie Schafer]]) from ''Gilligan's Island''.
* Music hall singer Lulu ([[Jeannine Riley]]) was an adaptation of Ginger Grant, the movie star played by [[Tina Louise]]
* Girl-next-door Betsy ([[Lori Saunders]]) replaced farm-girl Mary Ann Summers ([[Dawn Wells]])
* Andy ([[William Cort]]) filled the role of the savant Professor ([[Russell Johnson]])

Other elements of the series are reproduced/recycled:

* the ''Gilligan's Island'' shipwreck, following what was meant to be a "three hour tour," is now replaced with a wagon being lost in the wilderness after getting separated from a wagon train.
* Head hunters are now replaced by American Indians, who bear resemblance to the [[F Troop#The Hekawi tribe|Hekawi]], a fictional tribe from Forrest Tucker's previous series, ''[[F Troop]]''.

==Home media==
⚫
''The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West'' was released on [[VHS]] by JTC, Inc., Front Row Video, Inc. and Direct Source Special. The film has also been released on [[DVD region code#1|Region 1]] [[DVD]] by numerous companies including Tango Entertainment, Digiview and St. Clair Vision. These releases by numerous budget labels were due to the fact that the copyrights on most episodes of ''Dusty's Trail'' were never properly claimed, making the series one of the last television series to enter the [[public domain]] before the [[Copyright Act of 1976]] (and its much longer copyright terms) took effect. As the film was sourced from this series, the film itself is also in the public domain.


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb title|id=0295018}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0295018}}
* {{tcmdb title|560786|The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West}}
* {{tcmdb title|560786|The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West}} [BROKEN LINK]


{{Jack Arnold}}
{{Jack Arnold}}
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[[Category:1970s Western (genre) comedy films]]
[[Category:1970s Western (genre) comedy films]]
[[Category:1976 independent films]]
[[Category:1976 independent films]]
⚫
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:American Western (genre) comedy films]]
[[Category:American Western (genre) comedy films]]
[[Category:American independent films]]
[[Category:American independent films]]
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[[Category:Films edited from television programs]]
[[Category:Films edited from television programs]]
[[Category:1976 comedy films]]
[[Category:1976 comedy films]]
[[Category:1970s English-language films]]
⚫
[[Category:1970s American films]]
[[Category:English-language independent films]]
[[Category:English-language Western (genre) comedy films]]

Latest revision as of 21:32, 11 May 2024

The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJack Arnold
Earl Bellamy
Bruce Bilson
Oscar Rudolph
Written byRon Friedman
Howard Ostroff
Brad Radnitz
Sherwood Schwartz
Elroy Schwartz
Produced byElroy Schwartz
StarringBob Denver
Forrest Tucker
CinematographyAlan Stensvold
Edited byJack Woelz
Distributed byDanton Films
Release date
  • August 1, 1976 (1976-08-01)[1]
Running time
86 mins.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West is a 1976 American Western comedy film directed by Jack Arnold. The film stars Bob Denver as Dusty, the bumbling assistant to Wagonmaster Callahan featured in the syndicated series Dusty's Trail.

The film itself consists of four episodes of Dusty's Trail edited together: "Tomahawk Territory", "Horse of Another Color", "There Is Nothing Like a Dame", and "The Not So Magnificent Seven".

Plot summary[edit]

A stagecoach and covered wagon heading west across the plains become separated from their wagon train thanks to Dusty, a bumbling assistant to Wagonmaster Callahan (Forrest Tucker). Lost in the wilderness, seven hapless souls must now make their way to California on their own using what brains they have or haven't got.

First, the characters meet Indians. Then there is a "necktie party" looking to hang Dusty as a horse thief. Third, a couple of cattle rustlers want to "get friendly" with some willing females. And finally, a "shootout" takes place, with Dusty dressed up as Bat Masterson in a ghost town setting.

Home media[edit]

The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West was released on VHS by JTC, Inc., Front Row Video, Inc. and Direct Source Special.[2] The film has also been released on Region 1 DVD by numerous companies including Tango Entertainment, Digiview and St. Clair Vision. These releases by numerous budget labels were due to the fact that the copyrights on most episodes of Dusty's Trail were never properly claimed, making the series one of the last television series to enter the public domain before the Copyright Act of 1976 (and its much longer copyright terms) took effect. As the film was sourced from this series, the film itself is also in the public domain.[citation needed]

Reception[edit]

”Only television cultists will find anything worth watching here.”, commented TV Guide.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West". Rotten Tomatoes.
  2. ^ Variety's Complete Home Video Directory. R.R. Bowker. 1988.
  3. ^ "The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West". TVGuide.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Wackiest_Wagon_Train_in_the_West&oldid=1223396289"