By 1949 John Wayne had become one of Hollywood's biggest stars. Tiny Republic studios who had employed the Duke before he became a big star in Stagecoach (1939) were very happy to retain his services. They allowed him to produce some movies including this one which is possibly for a few reasons is a little more interesting than the general run of John Wayne westerns.
It starts with a rather sombre voiceover and the shadow of Napoleon indicating that the movie is based on a true story about French refugees from the Napoleonic wars, supporters of the great French emperor.
Wayne plays John Breen who helps a group of French refugees to save their land from unscrupulous Americans. John of course falls in love with one of the refugees, Fleurette (Vera Ralston). There is some good action near the end but not much fighting really from this particular Kentucky rifleman.
Probably the most interesting aspect of the movie is the appearance of Oliver Hardy without Stan Laurel but behaving most of the time like Stanley. Still a lot of Ollie mannerisms and takes are present, he ends up in the drink at one point recalling Way Out West (1937).
He is good as Wayne's sidekick a role he at first turned down before being encouraged to do it by Stan Laurel. Hardy made two other solo appearances after teaming with Stan in Zenobia (1939) with Harry Langdon and a year after this with Bing Crosby in Frank Capra's Riding High (1950).
The film is on the whole quite appealing without being very distinguished or exciting.
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