PHANTOM EMPIRES
  • MOVIES
  • OLD TIME RADIO
  • US TV
  • UK-TV
  • MOUNTIE PULP!
  • BOOKS
  • ARTISTS
  • ALMANAC
  • My Fiction
  • contact

North West Mounted Police (1940) - Happy Birthday, Gary Cooper!

5/7/2014

2 Comments

 
Picture
Hot on the heels of my celebration of Tyrone Power's birthday this week, in which I wrote about Power's amazing turn in the red coat (albeit in the British army in India),  I want to wish Gary Cooper a happy birthday as well!  It's fun to have the opportunity to celebrate two incredible actors, and each in connection to the scarlet.

In the fantastic Northwestern North West Mounted Police,  Gary Cooper plays Texas Ranger Dusty Rivers, on assignment in Canada,  on the trail of the murderer Jacques Corbeau (played by the blunt-faced character actor George Bancroft).  As it turns out,  Corbeau is one of a trio of Métis (also called half-breeds in the film) revolutionaries,  intent on rebelling against the British Empire and starting an independent government.   Historically, though the Métis are the descendants of European settlers and aboriginal Canadians, they have no recognised status (unlike relatively pure-blooded natives);  in fact,  by some definitions, currently half of Canada are Métis, as at least 50% are of mixed blood.  At the time in which the film is set it was apparently a clearer distinction, as evidenced by the real-life North-West Rebellion upon which this film was based. 

Marshall Rivers reports the the fort where the Canadian Mounties are stationed,  just in time for Corbeau to join with the Métis rebel Louis Riel (now a schoolteacher) returning some years after having failed in his first attempt at insurrection (the Red River Uprising, also known as the First Riel Rebellion).  There Rivers meets the super-Mountie Sergeant Jim Brett, played by the very cool Preston Foster...and the fun really begins!

Picture
Directed by Cecil B. DeMille,  this was his first colour feature, as well as Cooper's.  The Technicolor is gorgeous (as it usually was in the movies of the time),  and it seems to have been created to make the Canadian Mountie look his best.  The script was fun and pretty tight,  though there were a few lagging bits,  mostly related to the romantic scenes.  What I enjoyed most was the fun banter between Texas Ranger Rivers and the Mounties.  Some fun Uncle Sam vs "The Queen" comments zinging back and forth.  The actors seemed like they were having quite a bit of fun!

Picture
Although this is technically Cooper's vehicle (and he is AMAZING),  I think the guy that shines best is Preston Foster.  He's so amazingly masculine and driven that his uncompromisingly honourable and courageous Sgt. Brett never strikes a wrong note.  In fact,  it took a guy with Cooper's presence for Foster not to run away with the whole thing!  As it stands,  they made a good pair,  each trying to out-hero the other.  That camaraderie is very exciting to watch.  It's a good choice for a birthday party!  This is one of the best Mountie-related movies that I've yet seen.  The Mountie mythos is given it's full due,  right down to 'always getting their man'.

Of course,  like the "regular" western,  there are sociopolitical issues inherent to the story that might, for some, make it difficult to watch.  Lots of people of many cultural backgrounds died to create modern America and,  it seems,  Canada,  and those stories are filled with conflict and moral ambiguities.  The British Empire spawned a lot of those stories and issues, as all empires tend to do.  I,  for one,  don't let myself get involved with those issues;  I take the story as it is, and I roll with it. North West Mounted Police is quite an exciting story to roll with!

It may be one of the best Mountie pictures possible...it's THAT good.


Picture
As a fun side note,  the fiddling tradition of the Métis is becoming more well known amongst lovers of folk music.  There is a wonderful documentary on the subject, called Medicine Fiddle,  and it can be viewed by clicking on the image to the right.  It's an interesting sound, very similar to other Canadian fiddle styles, but with its own flavour.  Unfortunately the folkies in America have taken it on, so it will be ruined soon...experience it while you can.

Learn about the first Riel Rebellion HERE
Learn about the second Riel Rebellion HERE


Here is my (ever-growing) list of Mountie movies and serials!  They span from 1914 to modern times, and cover ever style and format;  silent, talkie, b&w, colour, film, videotape,  & DVD!  Enjoy!
mountie_films_and_serials_v4.pdf
File Size: 73 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


2 Comments
    Picture

    Picture
    “Maintiens Le Droit”

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    (click)

    Below is my  list of Mountie movies and serials!  They span from 1914 to modern times, and cover ever style and format;  silent, talkie, b&w, colour, film, videotape,  & DVD!  Enjoy!
    mountie_films_and_serials_v4.pdf
    File Size: 73 kb
    File Type: pdf
    Download File


    Picture

    Mountie Links

    RCMP Heritage ctr.
    RCMP Heritage ctr. FB
    Nat. RCMP
    Mountie Gift Shop
    Northwest Mounted
    MOUNTIE GRAVES
    Mountie Graves blog
    R.C.M.P.  trunks & Urns

    R.C.M.P. Vets
    Vets Canteen Gifts
    Mountie Shop

    Mounted Police Art


    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Picture

    The List

    All
    3 Need To See
    Arnold Friberg
    Bob Wills
    Caryl Of The Mountains
    Charles M. Russell
    Darth Vader
    Dick Powell
    Errol Flynn
    Evelyn Keyes
    Fabio Testi
    Fort Vengeance
    Frederick Remington
    Gary Cooper
    George Hilton
    James Craig
    James Oliver Curwood
    John Barrymore
    Joseph Cotten
    King Of The Mounted
    Kitosch
    Lon Chaney
    Marilyn Monroe
    Monopoly Piece
    Mountie Art
    Mountie Books/Pulps
    Mountie Comic Books
    Mountie Films
    Mountie Meme
    Mountie Radio Series
    Mountie Serials
    Mountie Swag Series
    Mrs. Mike
    Nomads Of The North
    Northern Pursuit
    North West Mounted Police
    Northwest Rangers
    Pulptastic!
    Rin-Tin-Tin
    Robert Preston
    Robert Ryan
    Rudy Valee
    Silent Mountie Films
    Spaghetti Mountie
    Tim McCoy
    Viewmaster


    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.