The Canadians (1961)

When the Sioux come to Canada, the Canadians permit them to stay in Canada if they come peacefully. However, some cowboys kill all inhabitants of one of their villages. The cowboys seek to ... See full summary »

Director:

Burt Kennedy

Writer:

Burt Kennedy

Stars:

Robert Ryan, John Dehner, Torin Thatcher

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Ryan	...	Inspector William Gannon
John Dehner	...	Frank Boone
Torin Thatcher	...	Sergeant McGregor
Burt Metcalfe	...	Constable Springer
John Sutton	...	Superintendent Walker
Jack Creley	...	Greer
Scott Peters	...	Ben
Richard Alden	...	Billy
Teresa Stratas	...	The White Squaw

Storyline

When the Sioux come to Canada, the Canadians permit them to stay in Canada if they come peacefully. However, some cowboys kill all inhabitants of one of their villages. The cowboys seek to get back their horses, but they pretend to search for a girl who once had been robbed by the Indians.

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Plot Keywords:

canada | american indian | native american | horse rustling | captive | 

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Genres:

Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 March 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die rote Schwadron

Filming Locations:

Cypress Hills, Saskatchewan, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated Producers (API), Twentieth Century-Fox Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

The white squaw: Mr. Gannon?
Insp. William Gannon: Yes.
The white squaw: If you met a woman, a woman like me, that had been taken by the Sioux, how would you feel knowing that?
Insp. William Gannon: If I loved her, it wouldn't matter.
The white squaw: It wouldn't?
Insp. William Gannon: No ma'am, it wouldn't matter at all.

User Reviews

Upholding the Right in Wild Country.

THE CANADIANS is surprisingly satisfying both as a history lesson and cinema entertainment. The story tells how the North West Mounted Police came to be established in Saskatchewan. It features an anomaly in early 1960s Hollywood films: Indians played by actual Indians speaking a real Indian language, albeit this is limited and the Sioux woman that Inspector Gannon talks to is actually speaking Cree. The acting is solid, both from the established cowboy stars like Robert Ryan and John Dehner and the supporting cast which includes two people who won awards in non-acting fields( Burt Metcalfe produced the TV show "M*A*S*H*"; Teresa Stratas was a star on Broadway and the Met). Teresa Stratas is the real star of this film. Her character is the romantic love interest and her story is pivotal to the plot. She sings three songs, one of which is a Sioux lullaby which is probably meant to replicate Jennette MacDonald's "Indian Love Call" from ROSE MARIE. However, in this movie, the song is sung to her 2 year old Metis child, not to her Mountie lover. If you saw and liked "Alien Thunder" with Donald Sutherland, you'll want to watch this one which shares similar plots and settings(Cypress Hills in beautiful Cinemascope, in this case) but also fine performances from Jack Creley. THE CANADIANS was Creley's first film; his second was DR. STRANGELOVE. The beautiful scenery may also remind you of the film "Zulu" made a few years later. Even the costumes and the plot are "Zulu"-ish, with the red coat officers taming a "wild country" on behalf of the Queen. In conclusion, this is a fine film that shows an important moment in Canadian history and American cinema.