NORTHWEST STAMPEDE

US, 1948, 78 minutes, Colour.
Joan Leslie, James Craig, Jack Okoe, Chill Wills.
Directed by Albert S.Rogue L.

In the 1940s, there were many popular horse films from Green Grass of Wyoming, Smoky, My Friend Flicka. This is one of those films.

At beginning and end there is a tribute to Canadian authorities for allowing the location filming in Calgary and Alberta, the background of the Rockies. This is certainly an attractive aspect of the film.

The film has a very strong female character, perhaps a bit ahead of its times. Joan Leslie portrays Chris Johnson, the manager of a property, dealing with the workers, trying to expand the work of the property, especially with the horses. But, in the valleys and mountains outside there are a number of stallions, especially of white stallion who seems to lead the group. The owner of the property dies and his son, Dan, played by James Craig, has put it on the market.

He travels participating in rodeos, very successful and has been away from home for some years. He is accompanied by his friend who does commentary, comedian Jack Oakie. He decides to go back home, presuming that the manager is a man because of the name. On discovering what really happened and being accosted by Chris, he decides to conceal his name and goes to work on the property.

One of the main aspects of the story is the sparring between the man and the woman eventually, of course, meaning that they fall in love – but not after quite some defiance and Chris being able to rival Dan in a rodeo, make a bet, shrewdly buy more horses that ties him to the property.

On the other aspect, again course, is Dan’s attempt to corral the white stallion, chases, dangers, injuries… But, interestingly, it is Chris who is able to obtain the stallion – by making a mare available and his quiet submission!
For those who love seeing horses on screen – but an old-fashioned (except for the dominance of the woman) corny action and romance film.