Die scharlachroten Reiter (1940)
47KDie scharlachroten Reiter: Directed by Cecil B. DeMille. With Gary Cooper, Madeleine Carroll, Paulette Goddard, Preston Foster. In 1885, a Texas Ranger travels to Canada to arrest a trapper who’s wanted for murder and who’s stirring up the Natives in a rebellion against the Canadian government.
“… but the director is Cecil B. DeMille, and given that DeMille helped build Paramount, itu0026#39;s not like the studio is going to deny even his worst impulses.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eItu0026#39;s 1885, and the Metis (half-breed) people of western Canada are planning a rebellion, led by bad guys Corbeau (George Bancroft), Riel (Francis McDonald), and Duroc (Akim Tamiroff). Out to stop them are the stalwart men of the North West Mounted Police, led by the straight-backed Sgt. Jim Brett (Preston Foster). He bristles when heu0026#39;s forced to accept help from Texas Ranger Dusty Rivers (Gary Cooper), who has come north in search of a fugitive murderer. Both Brett and Rivers chase after angelic nurse April Logan (Madeleine Carroll). Meanwhile, young Mountie rake Ronnie Logan (Robert Preston) is conducting an illicit affair with half-breed wildcat Louvette (Paulette Goddard).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis is a big, loud mix of the dumb and the entertaining. Itu0026#39;s bad but never boring, with outrageous characters sporting silly names (u0026quot;Dusty Riversu0026quot;? Really?!?), tonally awkward scenes of slapstick comedy followed by people being shot in the head, and laughably misplaced romance. The gorgeous u0026quot;Canadianu0026quot; scenery was achieved primarily on LA soundstages, and the filmmakers never did make it to Canada, although thereu0026#39;s some legitimate outdoor scenes shot in California state parks. However silly it all is, DeMille knew his formula well, as this ended up being Paramountu0026#39;s biggest hit of the year, as well as earning Oscar nominations for Best Score, Best Sound, Best Color Art Direction, and Best Color Cinematography, as well as winning for Best Editing.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWould it have gotten these accolades had the director NOT been De Mille? I doubt it.”
