Saskatchewan (1954)

Director:

Raoul Walsh

Writer:

Gil Doud (story)

Release Date:

30 March 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Western

Plot:

O'Rourke and his Cree half brother Cajou are returning from a northern Canadian trapping trip when they...

Plot Keywords:

Border | Attack | Sioux | Cross Cultural Relations | Rescue

Cast

Alan Ladd	...	Thomas O'Rourke
Shelley Winters	...	Grace Markey
J. Carrol Naish	...	Batouche
Hugh O'Brian	...	Carl Smith
Robert Douglas	...	Benton
George J. Lewis	...	Lawson
Richard Long	...	Patrick J. Scanlon
Jay Silverheels	...	Cajou
Antonio Moreno	...	Chief Dark Cloud
Frank Chase	...	Keller
Lowell Gilmore	...	Banks
Anthony Caruso	...	Spotted Eagle
Henry Wills	...	Merrill
Bob Herron	...	Brill (as Robert D. Herron)

Also Known As:

O'Rourke of the Royal Mounted (UK)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

West Germany:12 (nf) | Finland:K-12 | USA:Approved (PCA #16782, General Audience) | Sweden:15 | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

A solid and enjoyable b-movie western

O'Rourke is a red coat – no, not Butlins but a member of the Canadian Mounted Forces; and he is returning to service having travelled with his Cree Indian half brother Cajou. When he reaches his posting, his commander Benton immediately distrusts Cajou, driving a divide between the half brothers that see them separate. Escorting the beautiful survivor of a Sioux attack (Grace Markey) across the territory, the Mounties are fearful of the Sioux, even though O'Rourke can see their side of things – a viewpoint that makes him the target of suspicion and mistrust from Benton, Smith and others in the party.

The strange name attracted me to it, a statement that perhaps shows just how ignorant a person I really am! The cast also suggested that this would be a solid and enjoyable b-movie western that would meet my needs. The film actually did more than that and I found it to be an enjoyable if slightly apologetic b-movie that provided solid characters, a good plot and some exciting (if dated) action scenes. Of course it isn't anything that wonderful and those who dislike the genre would do well to avoid it for obvious reasons. The plot starts well, with some interesting character issues but then does little with them and heads into the usual b-movie territory, forgetting the more interest conflict between O'Rourke and Cajou that appeared to be the focus early on. That said it does well enough for the genre and provided enough entertainment for my needs.

Cinematography wise it looks good; despite the claim that it was all filmed in Saskatchewan the presence of rolling hills and impressive mountains suggest that perhaps this was not the case. Despite this it looks good, not John Ford but the bright colours and location feel that the better b-movies could muster. Ladd is enjoyably wide-chested in a typically heroic role and will please genre fans. Winters is a good female co-star, pretty enough to fill that role but feisty enough to avoid blandness. Silverheels has a smaller role than I would have liked and people like Long, Douglas and Naish all fill their roles well enough despite not doing anything in particular of merit.

Overall this is a solid b-movie western that does all that you expect it to and, if that is what you want, you'll enjoy it like I did. It could have done more of course but it works for what it is and the colourful presentation and solid pace help cover what "could have been" with what is.