A violent war. Big battle scenes. Over-the-top performances and everything you expect from a Hal Roach production with the exception of the presence of Laurel and Hardy and the remains of "Our Gang". This is an early American history lesson only 35 years into the country's foundation post declaration of independence, a good looking film, but unfortunately not as memorable as it could have been.
As the world faced a new war, film audiences got a look at one from over a hundred years before, the war of 1812. It deals with the early days of the war and the determination of the grieving Louise Platt to get revenge on the British after attacking the ship she's on when her father is killed. Rousing battle scenes to stir up patriotic feelings but somehow even as a history lesson, it falls flat.
Flamboyant performances by Victor Mature and Leo Carrillo, with rugged support by Bruce Cabot and silly comic relief by El Brendel and Roscoe Ates who stutters in his dialog but sings perfectly, perhaps an inside joke. Vivienne Osborne screeches up a storm with an outrageously fake French accent. Miles Mander is a one dimensional, pompous British naval officer who snears every line. Carillo though does get a laugh with his line about female fleas only attacking him.
As the world faced a new war, film audiences got a look at one from over a hundred years before, the war of 1812. It deals with the early days of the war and the determination of the grieving Louise Platt to get revenge on the British after attacking the ship she's on when her father is killed. Rousing battle scenes to stir up patriotic feelings but somehow even as a history lesson, it falls flat.
Flamboyant performances by Victor Mature and Leo Carrillo, with rugged support by Bruce Cabot and silly comic relief by El Brendel and Roscoe Ates who stutters in his dialog but sings perfectly, perhaps an inside joke. Vivienne Osborne screeches up a storm with an outrageously fake French accent. Miles Mander is a one dimensional, pompous British naval officer who snears every line. Carillo though does get a laugh with his line about female fleas only attacking him.