Daniel Boone (1936)
“Blaze the trail to a new frontier.”
Streamed free from the Internet Archive · no signup, no cost — this film is in the public domain.
Synopsis
A brisk RKO frontier adventure starring rugged Western favorite George O'Brien as the legendary pioneer. As Boone guides settlers into 1775 Kentucky, he must outwit renegade Simon Girty (a young John Carradine) and a scheming land speculator. Perils, battles, and narrow escapes make it classic family matinee fare.
Cast
About the Director
David Howard — David Howard, a specialist in handsome low-budget outdoor pictures, directed for producer George A. Hirliman's RKO unit. He stages the wilderness treks and skirmishes with energy, leaning on O'Brien's athletic, understated screen presence to carry the legend.
Why It’s Free: The Public-Domain Story
Public domain in the United States. A US-origin film whose original copyright was never renewed after the initial 28-year term required by the 1909 Copyright Act, so it entered the public domain on January 1, 1964. No notice, renewal, or URAA restoration applies.
Behind the Scenes
RKO released Daniel Boone on October 16, 1936, as a B-feature riding the Depression-era boom in Westerns. It was produced by George A. Hirliman Productions, a unit formed specifically to make economical pictures for RKO distribution.
Did You Know?
- Dickie Jones, who plays young Jerry Randolph, later voiced the title role in Disney's Pinocchio (1940).
- John Carradine's menacing turn as renegade Simon Girty came years before he became a horror-film mainstay.
- George O'Brien was a popular Western star who had headlined John Ford's silent classic The Iron Horse.
Reception & Legacy
Contemporary reviewers praised George O'Brien's unassuming Boone and Carradine's vivid villainy while finding the script standard blood-and-thunder fare. Modern viewers regard it as an entertaining, fast-moving example of the era's B-adventure.
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