NR | 2h 6m | Drama, Romance, Western | 1940
Movies that explore lesser-known chapters of history—especially those that American audiences might not be familiar with—often turn out to be some of the most captivating experiences in classic cinema. When crafted during Hollywood’s Golden Age and helmed by some of the period’s more notable talents, these films often carry a rawness and an almost unpolished sincerity that’s largely absent from many modern productions. Contemporary films often suffer from layers of revisionist gloss or politically correct varnish, but the older works feel refreshingly unfiltered, even when imperfect.
One shining example of this is Cecil B. DeMille’s “North West Mounted Police” (1940). DeMille, ever the showman, tackled a significant moment in Canadian history, the North-West Rebellion of 1885, with his trademark flair for pageantry and action.
Set against the sprawling landscapes of Saskatchewan and Alberta, the film dramatizes a time when the Canadian government faced serious unrest from the Métis people, a group descended from European fur traders and Indigenous communities.
The Métis are fed up with the Canadian government and want change through revolution. Métis leader Dan Duroc (Akim Tamiroff) and his friend, a hulking whiskey runner, Jacques Corbeau (George Bancroft), convince former Métis revolutionary leader and politician Louis Riel (Francis McDonald) that an armed uprising has to happen.
A Texas Wildcard
Just as the storm clouds gather, an unexpected figure arrives: Dusty Rivers (Gary Cooper), a Texas Ranger far from home but hot on the trail of Jacques Corbeau. His mission is simple: Capture the outlaw.
But Dusty soon finds himself tangled in the region’s larger, more combustible struggles. His Southern charm doesn’t go unnoticed, particularly by April Logan (Madeleine Carroll), a devoted nurse whose heart is as unsettled as the territories around her. She already has a steadfast admirer in Sgt. Jim Brett (Preston Foster). Brett is as committed to law and order as he is to winning her affection before she’s shipped off to distant Nova Scotia.
Old-School Entertainment
You can tell right away that everyone involved had a blast making this picture. Cooper is particularly magnetic as Dusty, who steals almost every scene he swaggers into.One of the best moments comes when he struts into the Mountie barracks for the first time, spurs jingling so loudly (the sound department really went for it) that it practically drowns out the dialogue. The Mounties, wide-eyed and fascinated, can’t help but stare at him as if he’s some rare, exotic creature. In a hilarious exchange, they even joke that he resembles a giraffe when he bumps his head on a hanging lamp.
Another standout moment finds Cooper sauntering into the Mountie commander’s office, where he listens with casual amusement to the gruff briefing being delivered. All the while, he trades sharp, calculating glances with Foster’s by-the-book Sgt. Brett. It’s less a conversation and more a silent showdown as if the top enforcers of Texas and Canada are quietly measuring who’s got the faster draw—and the bigger badge.
The film also benefits from a strong supporting cast. Carroll plays the poised, blonde nurse caught between two suitors, while Goddard, who looks stunning as usual, does her best with a thick accent as the fiery Louvette. Robert Ryan appears in one of his first roles as Mountie Constable Dumont.
Being a Cecil B. DeMille picture, you can expect large-scale spectacle. The battle at Duck Lake stands out. Brett and his wounded men escape a deadly siege by setting fire to their own encampment, a rousing and chaotic set piece that’s pure DeMille.
The film finishes strong, wrapping up with a couple of unexpected twists and a tall tale that feels right at home in this larger-than-life adventure.
While not without its stumbles, “North West Mounted Police” remains pure, old-school Hollywood fun, with just enough history mixed in to give it an extra layer of intrigue.
