Fatally wounded during an Indian attack, Alan Cook asks a man named Hardtack (George “Gabby” Hayes) to watch over his troublesome son Tom.
So while twin brother David grows up with his mom, young Tom follows Hardtack to Mesa City, New Mexico.
Flash forward 15 years, and Tom has made quite a name for himself. As an outlaw. In fact, there’s a $1,000 price tag on his head.
Then comes news that his mother is gravely ill. Mostly to silence Hardtack’s nagging, Tom (Chester Morris) agrees to return home to see her.
Turns out it’s a trap to capture him, orchestrated in part by twin brother David (also Chester Morris).
And once that’s worked, authorities convince David to shave off his mustache and travel back to Mesa City with Hardtack, pretending to be Tom.
That way, he can infiltrate the outlaw gang and they figure they can nab the rest of its members.
And so David, pretending to be Tom, arrives in Mesa City and quickly learns there are all sorts of things that could expose his ruse — from a pet dog who hated Tom, but quickly warms up to him, to a crooked sheriff named McDaniels who’s mighty suspicious.
Then there’s young Phyllis, the saloon girl who idolizes Tom and whom Tom had apparently promised to marry. And her older sister Julie.
She despises Tom and will do anything to break up his relationship with her younger sister Phyllis, even if that means stealing the outlaw’s affections.
Chester Morris as David Cook, ready to leave his double life behind in Wagons Westward (1940)
Chester Morris as Tom Cook, fed up with Hardtack’s meddling in Wagons Westward (1940)
Review:
It’s the old one actor in two roles gimmick, and Chester Morris pulls it off pretty well.
Quite predictably, both brothers wind up in Mesa City by the end of the film, which means all sorts of complications for the “good” twin.
“Gabby” Hayes is on hand to provide the laughs. One running gag has him misplacing his false teeth and having to order another set. He winds up with his mouth glued shut at a critical moment.
This marked a rare Western role for Anita Louise, who plays Phyllis and had already appeared in dozens of films, though still only 25. Ona Munson is best remembered for playing Belle Watling in “Gone with the Wind” (1939).
Oh, and the title’s a bit misleading. This isn’t a wagon train film. The wagons are government owned and carrying $60,000 as bait for the outlaw gang.
Ona Munson as Julie O’Conover, willing to do most anything to keep younger sister Phyllis out of Tom Cook’s arms in Wagons Westward (1940)
Anita Louise as Phyllis O’Conover, young, stubborn and determined to wed outlaw Tom Cook in Wagons Westward (1940)
Directed by:
Lew Landers
Cast:
Chester Morris … David Cook / Tom Cook
Anita Louise … Phyllis O’Conover
Buck Jones … Sheriff Jim McDaniels
Ona Munson … Julie O’Conover
George “Gabby” Hayes … Hardtack
Guinn “Big Boy” Williams … Jake Hardman
Douglas Fowley … Bill Marsden
John Gallaudet … Blackie
Virginia Brissac … Angela Cook
Trevor Bardette … Alan Cook
Selmer Jackson … Maj. Marlowe
Charles Stevens … Pima
Warren Hull … Tom as a boy
Wayne Hull … David as a boy
Runtime: 68 min.
George ‘Gabby’ Hayes as Hardtack, always pushing Tom Cook to do the right thing in Wagons Westward (1940)
Buck Jones as Sheriff Jim McDaniels, a lawman in cahoots with outlaw Tom Cook in Wagons Westward (1940)
Memorable lines:
Alan Cook, after young son Tommy has gunned down an Indian begging for mercy: “Did you see the look Tommy had on his face? Gives me the shivers?”
Hardtack: “Yeah. Acts like he’s got a little rattlesnake blood in him.”
Hardtack to Tom Cook: “I’ve been standing by you because I thought there was some good in you somewhere, son. But I’ve been wasting my time. Ya ain’t got an ounce of decency in you. You’re just a natural born polecat.”
Tom Cook to twin brother David: “You’ve always hated me. Because I had the nerve to do the things you were too yellow to do.”
Phyllis: “Hello, Julie, darling. Tom’s back. Aren’t you glad?”
Julie: “Yeah. I haven’t been so happy since the time I found a tarantula in my bed.”
McDaniel: “I can’t figure you out, Cook. I’ve known you for a long time now. And all of a sudden, I feel like I don’t know you at all.”
George ‘Gabby’ Hayes as Hardtack, wondering how good twin David Cook (Chester Morris) is going to convince folks he’s bad twin Tom Cook in Wagons Westward (1940)
Guinn ‘Big Boy’ WIlliams, leader of one of the outlaw gangs in Wagons Westward (1940)
Virginia Brissac as Angela Cook, realizing one of her grown twins plans to kill the other in Wagons Westward (1940)
Anita Louise as Phyllis O’COnover, stunned to learn she’s married David Cook (Chester Morris), not Tom Cook in Wagons Westward (1940)
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