Westward Ho

Westward Ho

Year: 1935

Runtime: 61 mins

Language: English

Director: Robert N. Bradbury

HistoryWestern

John Wyatt’s parents are killed and his brother Jim kidnapped by Ballard’s trail‑jumpers during a wagon‑train raid. Twelve years later he leads the white‑horse vigilante group the Singing Riders, hunting outlaws and the gang that murdered his family. Jim, now in Ballard’s gang, also falls for Mary Gordon, leading to a tense reunion.

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Timeline & Setting – Westward Ho (1935)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Westward Ho (1935). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 19th century

Set in the late 19th-century American frontier, the narrative blends cattle drives, outlaw gangs, and vigilante justice. Communities rely on rough, self-appointed lawmen rather than formal authorities. The era's scarcity of formal law heightens personal vendettas and brave acts in the pursuit of family protection and property.

Location

American Old West frontier town and surrounding cattle ranches, canyon outskirts

The story unfolds across a rugged frontier town and the surrounding ranch lands of the American West. The action shifts from dusty streets to a remote canyon where outlaws lure a trap. The setting emphasizes cattle drives, saloon-era tensions, and the harsh loyalties of a lawless community.

🏜️ Frontier Town 🐂 Cattle Ranch 🏞️ Canyon

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:22

Main Characters – Westward Ho (1935)

Meet the key characters of Westward Ho (1935), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

John Wyatt - John Wayne

A determined cattleman turned vigilante leader, John is driven by a need for justice and family protection. He unites a posse of cowboys to hunt Ballard and restore order, yet he must balance restraint with decisive action. His resolve fractures under the weight of personal losses and the risky moral choices of vigilante justice.

🏇 Vigilante Leader 🌀 Family Protector 🗺️ Frontier Hero

Jim Wyatt - Frank McGlynn Jr.

Jim is the cunning brother who infiltrates the family under the alias 'Allen' to supply Ballard with information. His deception sustains Ballard's schemes while he searches for a way to aid his brother. In a pivotal turn, he warns John of a trap and ultimately dies helping his brother escape.

🕵️ Infiltrator 💔 Betrayal 🗡️ Sacrifice

Ballard - Jack Curtis

Ballard is the ruthless outlaw leader who murders John and Jim's parents, kidnaps Jim, and schemes to steal cattle and gold. He relies on fear and deceit to control his gang and to manipulate others, including the young Mary Gordon, to achieve his aims.

⚔️ Villain 🐎 Gang Leader 🧭 Manipulator

Mary Gordon - Sheila Bromley

Mary is the sassy and resilient daughter of a cattle-herding family who catches John’s eye. She navigates a tense, dangerous environment, overhears Ballard's plans, and becomes a key ally and love interest amid the escalating conflict.

💃 Love Interest 📣 Courageous 🧭 Town Voice

Ma Wyatt - Mary MacLaren

Ma Wyatt is the matriarch of John and Jim and a symbol of the family's precarious survival. Her death early in the story underscores the personal toll of violence on the frontier and motivates John’s pursuit of justice.

👩‍👦 Family Matriarch 🕯️ Sacrifice 🏚️ Frontier Survivor

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:22

Major Themes – Westward Ho (1935)

Explore the central themes of Westward Ho (1935), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Justice

John Wyatt builds and leads a vigilante group to reclaim justice after his parents are murdered and his brother abducted. The film examines the cost of taking the law into one's own hands and whether ruthless action can restore order without descending into lawlessness. Justice here is personal as much as communal, and it evolves with each confrontation.

👪 Family

Family ties drive the plot: two brothers are linked by vengeance, loyalty, and tragedy. Jim infiltrates the family he now claims to protect, blurring loyalty with deception, while John aims to shield Mary and the others who rely on his protection. The brothers' fates become a test of whether family bonds justify dangerous risks.

🕵️ Deception

Jim Wyatt pretends to be a loyal ally while feeding Ballard information, illustrating how deceit can fuel violence and fracture trust. Ballard's manipulation extends to kidnapping and orchestrating crises to draw John away from the town. The eventual revelation of true identities reframes the conflict and heightens the moral stakes.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:22

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Vengeance in the Wild West movies like Westward Ho

Stories where a hero's quest for justice is forged in frontier violence.If you liked the vigilante justice and frontier revenge plot of Westward Ho, explore more movies where heroes hunt down those who wronged them. These similar Western stories share a tense, action-packed mood and a drive for retribution in a lawless land.

vengefulaction-packedtensebroodingsuspensefulsomberdetermined

Narrative Summary

The narrative typically begins with a profound personal loss, such as the murder of family, which sets the protagonist on a single-minded path of vengeance. The journey is direct and fast-paced, filled with confrontations, shootouts, and a climactic final showdown where justice is served, but often at a significant personal cost.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the revenge archetype within the Western genre. They deliver a consistent experience of tense, action-driven storytelling, a brooding and vengeful mood, and a straightforward plot centered on righting a foundational wrong.

Bittersweet Justice Vigilante stories like Westward Ho

Heroes who achieve justice but are left scarred by the personal price paid.For viewers who appreciated the melancholic resolution of Westward Ho, this collection features similar movies where vigilantes succeed but endure tragic personal costs. Discover tense, medium-weight dramas about the heavy toll of pursuing justice outside the law.

bittersweettensemelancholicsombersuspensefultragicdetermined

Narrative Summary

These narratives follow a clear arc of a character taking extralegal action to correct a grave injustice. The plot is straightforward and driven by confrontation. However, the climax reveals that achieving the goal comes with an unavoidable personal tragedy, turning the victory into a somber, reflective moment rather than a pure triumph.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their exploration of the emotional cost of vigilante justice. They share a specific tonal blend: the tension and excitement of the hunt are balanced by a melancholic, somber mood, culminating in an ending that is both satisfying and sorrowful.

Unlock the Full Story of Westward Ho

Don't stop at just watching — explore Westward Ho in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Westward Ho is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Westward Ho Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Westward Ho, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Westward Ho Summary

Westward Ho Timeline

Track the full timeline of Westward Ho with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Westward Ho Timeline

Westward Ho Spoiler-Free Summary

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Westward Ho Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Westward Ho

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