Susannah of the Mounties (film)
Susannah of the Mounties | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | |
Screenplay by |
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Story by |
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Based on | Susannah of the Mounties 1936 novel by Muriel Denison |
Produced by | Kenneth Macgowan |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Arthur C. Miller |
Edited by | Robert Bischoff |
Production company | Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation |
Distributed by | Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation |
Release date |
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Running time | 79 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Susannah of the Mounties is a 1939 American drama film directed by Walter Lang and William A. Seiter and starring Shirley Temple, Randolph Scott, and Margaret Lockwood.[1] Based on the 1936 novel Susannah of the Mounties by Muriel Denison, the film is about an orphaned survivor of an Indian attack in the Canadian West who is taken in by a Mountie and his girlfriend. Following additional Indian attacks, the Mountie is saved from the stake by the young girl's intervention with the Indian chief.
The plot differs significantly from the book in that it is set twenty years earlier at a much smaller Mounted Police fort and Susannah's parents are dead rather than in India.
Plot[]
As the Canadian Pacific Railway makes its way through the western frontier of Canada in the early 1880s, railroad workers and settlers come under frequent attack by Indians who resent the white man's encroachment on their land. One such attack on a wagon train leaves only one survivor of the Indian massacre, a young girl named Susannah Sheldon who is found by a mounted patrol in the command of Inspector Angus "Monty" Montague. The young girl is taken back to the post where she is adopted by Monty and his friend, Pat O'Hannegan. The two men do their best to help the girl overcome her ordeal.
Some time later, Vicky Standing, the daughter of the Superintendent arrives from Toronto to visit her father. Monty is immediately enchanted by the beautiful woman. The blossoming romance sparks a rivalry in Susannah and Harlan Chambers, the head of the railroad camp. The Indian attacks resume when a band of renegades steals horses from the railroad camp. One of the friendly Indians, Chief Big Eagle, promises to track down the renegades and deliver them to the camp. As a show of good faith, the Chief leaves his son Little Chief at the post.
Little Chief is soon teaching Susannah the way of the Indians. While the two are out riding one day, they come upon one of the renegades, Wolf Pelt, attempting to sell his stolen horses to Chambers. The two argue and Chambers threatens the Indians with extinction. Wolf Pelt returns to his tribe and uses Chambers' threats to demand that the tribe go to war against the Europeans. That night, Wolf Pelt raids the post to retrieve Little Chief and kidnaps Monty. Soon after, Big Eagle sends a message demanding that the railroad abandon the area or they will kill Monty.
Susannah decides to search for Monty, and as she approaches the Indian camp she is taken prisoner by the Indians. As the tribe prepares to burn Monty at the stake, Susannah escapes from her teepee and makes an appeal to Big Chief, accusing Wolf Pelt of inciting Chambers by stealing his horses. Wolf Pelt denies the charges. To determine who is telling the truth, Big Chief uses the stick of truth that will point to the liar. When the stick drops towards Wolf Pelt, Big Chief frees Monty and offers him and Susannah his pipe of peace.
Cast[]
- Shirley Temple as Susannah Sheldon
- Randolph Scott as Inspector Angus "Monty" Montague
- Margaret Lockwood as Vicky Standing
- Martin Good Rider as Little Chief
- Maurice Moscovitch as Chief Big Eagle
- J. Farrell MacDonald as Pat O'Hannegan
- Moroni Olsen as Supt. Andrew Standing
- Victor Jory as Wolf Pelt
- Lester Matthews as Harlan Chambers
- Leyland Hodgson as Randall
- Herbert Evans as Doctor
- Jack Luden as Williams
- Charles Irwin as Sergeant MacGregor
- John Sutton as Corporal Piggott[2]
Production[]
The film was announced in June 1937.[3] Production was pushed back.[4] Shooting started 23 January 1939.[5] Walter Lang was meant to direct but he fell ill and was replaced by William Seiter.[6]
Margaret Lockwood made the film during her brief stint in Los Angeles.[7]
In the film there was a contingent of 12 full blooded Blackfoot Indians led by Chief Albert Mad Plume, who were brought in largely as extras. Another member of the Blackfoot tribe, Martin Goodrider, played the role of Little Chief. Temple and Goodrider struck up an instant friendship (something unusual with Temple as she was normally forbidden from mingling with her child costars). As an act of goodwill, Temple swore in all members of the Blackfoot tribe as members of the Shirley Temple Police Force while Temple was made an honorary member of the Blackfoot tribe and given the name Bright Shining Star.[8]
Soundtrack[]
"The Maple Leaf Forever" (Alexander Muir) played during opening titles
- "In the Gloaming" (Annie Fortescue Harrison, Meta Orred) sung a cappella by soldiers in Supt. Standing's home
- "I'll Teach You to Waltz" (M. F. Carrey) played on harmonica by J. Farrell MacDonald and sung by Shirley Temple
- "Down Went McGinty" (Joseph Flynn) sung a cappella by J. Farrell MacDonald[9]
References[]
- ^ "Susannah of the Mounties". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
- ^ "Full cast and crew for Susannah of the Mounties". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
- ^ "FOX LISTS FILMS FOR NEXT SEASON: 66 Features Are Included in Company's Most Ambitious Production Schedule 204 SHORTS TO BE MADE Zanuck Will Supervise 52 Long Pictures at 20th Century Studios in Beverly Hills". New York Times. June 2, 1937. p. 20.
- ^ "Shirley Temple's Future Directed at Dramatics". Los Angeles Times. Oct 30, 1938. p. C3.
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (Dec 21, 1938). "Universal to Release English-Made 'Mikado': 'Shaw Features Planned Scott in Temple Film R.K.O. Recalls Tracy Jubilee Movies Vogue". Los Angeles Times. p. 10.
- ^ "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Errol Flynn Chosen for Lead in 'Burning Daylight'--Role for Edward G. Robinson THREE NEW FILMS TODAY W. C. Fields-Charlie McCarthy in 'You Can't Cheat an Honest Man' Opens at Rivoli Miss Drew in Crosby Film Of Local Origin". New York Times. Feb 18, 1939. p. 19.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (January 29, 2020). "Why Stars Stop Being Stars: Margaret Lockwood". Filmink.
- ^ Shirley Temple Black, "Child Star: An Autobiography" (New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, 1988), 267, 271-272
- ^ "Soundtracks for Susannah of the Mounties". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
External links[]
- 1939 films
- English-language films
- 1939 drama films
- American films
- American black-and-white films
- Films about orphans
- Films about children
- Films based on children's books
- Films set in Canada
- Love stories
- 20th Century Fox films
- American drama films