Unconquered
Directed by Cecil B. DeMille
Written by Charles Bennett, Fredric M. Frank, and Jesse Lasky Jr. from the novel “The Judas Tree” by Neil H. Swanson
1947/USA
Paramount Pictures
First viewing/Netflix rental
Martin Garth: The King’s Law moves with the king’s muskets, and there are very few King’s muskets west of the Alleghenies.
There is something wrong on so many levels with seeing Boris Karloff playing an Indian Chief in Technicolor.
The setting is Colonial Pennsylvania. Abby (Paulette Goddard) is found guilty of murder in 18th Century England and given the choice of hanging or being sold as an “indentured slave” (?) in America at public auction. She chooses the latter option. On the journey to the New World, Abby catches the eye of the evil Martin Garth (Howard Da Silva) and he insists on buying her on the spot. However, somebody insists on an auction and Capt. Christopher Holden (Gary Cooper) stays in the bidding until he wins her and can set her free. Holden then departs to rejoin his fiancee.
After his departure, Garth manages to regain possession of Abby through some lies and bribery. After securing ownership papers, he puts his minion “Bone” (Mike Mazurki) in charge of the young woman while he goes off to hand out weapons to the Indians. Garth has profited from fur trading in the territories and is determined to see no white settlements in his area.
In the meantime, Holden finds his fiancee has married his brother in his absence. He reports for duty at one of the forts, near where Abby is toiling as a serving wench in Bone’s tavern. He reclaims his purchase but when Garth shows a bill of sale it is Holden that is exiled.
It is not necessary to reveal all the twists and turns of the 2 1/2 hour plot. Just know that Abby changes hands several times; she and Holden make several desperate escapes, one over a waterfall; and Guyasuta, Chief of the Senecas (Karloff) is ever ready with a burning at the stake or a massacre. With many familiar faces including Ward Bond, Henry Wilcoxon, Cecil Kellaway, and C. Aubrey Smith.
If Karloff is not bad enough, Da Silva and Mazurki are totally miscast for this kind of thing. The whole tone feels more like a WWII celebration of the American Way than a period piece. But then I just don’t appreciate Cecil B. DeMille’s epics. Cooper and Goddard are OK and there’s plenty of action for those who like this kind of thing.
Unconquered was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Effects, Special Effects.
