Yes, it would be nice if Hollywood had been more representative of the truth when dealing with world history, but when a film uses such gorgeous locations to tell a story, the viewer is drawn in for that breathtaking vista. This gorgeous "northern" utilizes snow-capped mountains, rushing rivers and visions of such greenery that the eye is in for a treat the moment that the film begins. It's important to know that this doesn't represent many facts about the place and time where this takes place, even though many historical figures of the time are mentioned.
The Northwest Mounted Police deals with possible treason when officer Alan Ladd stands up to his commanding officer who seems a bit mad and much needed to be reassigned. In the first 20 minutes of the film, he betrays surrogate brother Jay Silverheels whom he rejects over duty as opposed to honor. Ladd and Silverheels have rescused Shelley Winters after her wagon train was attacked, leaving her as the sole survivor. The mounties are busy escorting her to where she can get back to the United States when she breaks down to tell Ladd her secret.
In spite of the factual flaws, there is a lot to enjoy in this film as there is plenty of action and conflict. It's also interesting to have leading characters that are flawed, and there are also very good performances by J. Carroll Naish and Hugh O'Brian. In the end, there's plenty to root for as far as Ladd and Winters are concerned, especially in seeing Ladd and Silverheels reunite. I bet in a Vista vision movie screen as on a large digital TV, it is breathtaking.
The Northwest Mounted Police deals with possible treason when officer Alan Ladd stands up to his commanding officer who seems a bit mad and much needed to be reassigned. In the first 20 minutes of the film, he betrays surrogate brother Jay Silverheels whom he rejects over duty as opposed to honor. Ladd and Silverheels have rescused Shelley Winters after her wagon train was attacked, leaving her as the sole survivor. The mounties are busy escorting her to where she can get back to the United States when she breaks down to tell Ladd her secret.
In spite of the factual flaws, there is a lot to enjoy in this film as there is plenty of action and conflict. It's also interesting to have leading characters that are flawed, and there are also very good performances by J. Carroll Naish and Hugh O'Brian. In the end, there's plenty to root for as far as Ladd and Winters are concerned, especially in seeing Ladd and Silverheels reunite. I bet in a Vista vision movie screen as on a large digital TV, it is breathtaking.