George O'Brien swaps his usual cowboy gear for a coonskin cap to play Daniel Boone. It's an "eastern western", as he leads a wagon train over the Appalachian Mountains to found a settlement in Kentucky. In the course of the movie, he must court Heather Angel, deal with vengeful and effete Ralph Forbes, escape from Indians who want to burn him alive, under the command of renegade John Carradine, and an attack of the settlement.It's a well done B under the direction of David Howard, with some lovely compositions by cinematographer Frank Good. In story terms, it hearkens back to LAST OF THE MOHICANS, with a faithful, if brutal Indian companion, played by George Regas. Modern viewers may be upset by scene-stealing Clarence Muse, playing a slave; he does so with enormous dignity. For fans of Mr. O'Brien, it will be a delight.

1936's "Daniel Boone" benefits from the casting of George O'Brien in the title role, still a few years away from retirement. An accurate portrait of the rigors of life on the Kentucky frontier, complicated by omnipresent evildoer Simon Girty (John Carradine), leading a band of renegade Indians that indulge in murder and rape. Also conducting villainy from a safe distance is prissy British aristocrat Stephen Marlowe (Ralph Forbes), supported by the Virginia legislature in confiscating the land built up by Boone's people. Love interest is provided by Heather Angel, solid support from George Regas and Clarence Muse. Later appearing as a murderer on the 60s teleseries DANIEL BOONE ("The Witness"), Carradine, on loan from Fox, excels in one of his flashier villain roles; too bad the picture sags a bit when he's off screen too long (he appropriately wears a skunk-skin cap, as opposed to Boone's traditional coonskin).

The picture deals as the title says about Daniel Boone ( George O'Brien ) , as famous scout , he leads some settler families towards Kentucky state ; meanwhile he falls in love with a beautiful colonist ( Heather Angel ) facing off her suitor ( Ralph Forbes ) . Besides , he'll confront Indians led by a nasty villain ( John Carradine ) , risks and numerous perils. The film is based on real events , these are the following : In 1775,after mediating the purchase of 20 million acres of Kentucky Cherokee land,which was about to be opened to white settlers as the 14th colony,Transylvania,the 40 years old Boone(1734-1820,dead at the age of 85) led colonials to blaze trail.Driving northward from Tenessee through the Cumberland Gap to the Kentucky River,they cleared the famous Wilderness Road,which ended at a settlement on the Kentucky, they called Boonesborough in honor to his name.Daniel Boone as militia leader charged with directing the defense of Kentucky's frontier settlements against Indian attacks and stalled a raid on defenseless women and children left in Boonesboro.Captured by Shawnees and after escaping,Boone reached the settlement in time to help fight off Indian attack and his legend grew to epic proportions and would gain an inflated reputation as Indian fighter ,learning his wilderness skills from friendly Native Americans whose ways he respected and understood.In fact,the myths about Boone's prowess abounded and multiplied even in his own time,but in true,Boone never relished fighting Native Americans and may have killed only one Indian during his entire career and contrary to myth he never wore a coonskin cap.His greatest legacy is,perhaps,his undying legend as the first trail-brazer of America's advance to the West coastThe motion picture packs adventures , battles , action though is a little bit outdated because of being an early talkie the film-copy is worn-out. The flick will appeal to old movies buffs and frontier western enthusiasts.

A well-crafted script efficiently sets up three areas of conflict: white settlers in 1775 Kentucky vs. local Indians stirred up by a renegade named Simon Girty; these same white settlers vs. corrupt officials back in Richmond; and he-man Daniel Boone vs. fancy-man Stephen Marlowe for the affections of the beautiful Virginia Randolph. These conflicts are woven together into a briskly-paced frontier drama which, while showing its age, still holds one's interest. Its chief fault is an ending which, at least on the tape available, seems unfocused and a bit confusing.Though not well remembered today, leading man George O'Brien was a popular actor in late silents and early talkies. During a fight scene in 1924's "The Iron Horse" his shirt was torn off and audiences got an uncommon eyeful of "beefcake" which earned for O'Brien a nickname: the Chest. Though only 35 or 36 years old when he filmed "Daniel Boone," O'Brien shows signs of middle-age in the form of a somewhat expanded waistline but he's still featured in an extended "beefcake" scene. Captured by Indians he's tied, shirtless, to a post and soon surrounded by burning piles of wood. His bindings allow him to move in a tight circle around the post, (an authentic touch), so O'Brien sweats and squirms as he tries to avoid the tongues of flame. It's a good scene but cut far too short by an all-too-easy rescue. (A shirtless O'Brien also suffered through a prison flogging in 1928's "Honor Bound" but prints of this movie seem to be unavailable.)John Carradine makes a hissable villain and Heather Angel is an appropriately pretty heroine but Ralph Forbes seems a bit "too, too" as the no-good Stephen Marlowe. No woman would regard him as a serious competitor for George O'Brien! Black actor Clarence Muse has a role surprisingly free of most of the era's usual stereotypes.