SUSANNAH OF THE MOUNTIES
US, 1939, 78 minutes, Black and white.
Shirley Temple, Randolph Scott, Margaret Lockwood, J. Farrell Mc Donald, Maurice Moscovitch, Moroni Olsen, Victor Jory.
Directed by Sidney Lanfield.
Susannah of the Mounties is a colourful Shirley Temple vehicle. It is a Canadian western, focusing on the Mounties and the Canadian-Pacific? Railroad as well as the attacks by the Blackfoot Indians. Fortunately, Shirley is there to effect peace between white and red.
This is the film that Daryl F. Zanuck wanted Shirley Temple to do instead of going to make The Wizard of Oz at MGM. She is supported genially by Randolph Scott (who was with her in Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm). The surprising leading lady is English Margaret Lockwood.
Conventional material - done pleasantly for the Shirley Temple audience - and with some pleas for understanding between Indians and whites.
1. Pleasant western, Shirley Temple vehicle?
2. Colour photography, locations? The atmosphere of Canada and the West? Opening up of the railroads? The Mounties' forts? Indian land? Musical score and songs?
3. The focus on Shirley Temple as Susannah? Her experience in the Indian raid, being found by the Mounties? Her plucky style? Taking charge? Devotion to Monty? To Pat? Her getting into the life of the fort, her devotion to Monty and looking after him? The jealousy of Vicki and her rude remarks? Watching her, watching the dance? Teaching Monty to dance? Friendship with Pat, the clothes etc? The friendship with Little Chief, her asserting women's rights, white rights? Getting to understand the Indian, becoming a blood brother? Keeping the secret? The attack, her leaving with her pony, the confrontation with the Indians, into the tent, with Monty, telling the truth to the chief, with Little Chief? The happy ending and smoking the peace pipe? A Shirley Temple character?
4. The background of the 1880s, the opening up of the west, Canada? The railroad and Chambers and his harsh attitudes? The men working for him? The clashes with the Indians? Treaties, peace? Indians subverting the peace - and raiding wagons, stealing horses and trying to resell them? Trying to rouse up Indian attacks? The collage of the Indian forces and attacks? The outposts and trying to keep peace?
5. Monty as the honourable Mountie, on duty, finding Susannah, helping her, devotion, attraction to Vicki, withstanding and his contact with the chief? The dance, lovesick? Susannah's jealousy? His going to the chief, being captured, to be executed? The happy ending?
6. Vicki, her father and his benign command? In the outpost, attracting the men, arranging the dance, attracted to Monty? Chambers? Going back? Coping with Susannah's jealousy?
7. Pat as the genial Irishman, giving up things for Monty, smiling at Susannah, helping her?
8. The officers, life in the fort, the absence of women, the pioneering? Pioneering men and women? The attack of the Indians? Fights, death?
9. A colourful presentation of the west - in the style of the '30s?
