I first saw this movie almost a half century ago and I've seen it several times since. I thought it memorable to the point that I watched the movie the other night and recalled many of the spoken lines. It isn't a typical Howard Hawks action film. It's an adventure/drama with some action.
Two Kentucky woodsman meet on a road to Louisville in 1832. After a shaky beginning the become good friends and decide they've had it with civilization. The head to St. Louis to find one of the men's uncle, who is a Missouri River fur trapper.
The story concerns a group of independent French traders whotake on the three men on a 2,000 mile keel boat trip up the Missouri. On the trip they have to contend with a ruthless fur company and their Crow (Indianl allies. They aim to trade with an always hostile Blackfeet tribe with their introduction being a daughter of a chief, captured by the Crow tribe. The girl managed to escape and was then rescued by one of the keel boat men. The French party face hostile Crows, hostile fur company men, and a hostile envirinment. In the mix is a poignant love story involving the Blackfoot girl and the two Kentuckians, one of whom hates Indians. Kirk Douglas and Arthur Hunnicut have memorable rolls, as does Buddy Baer and an unregonizable Hank Worden. The music is also hauntingly beautiful.
Unfortunately, the film has never been released on DVD and it5damn near impossible to find. It took a while but I managed a copy and it was worth the search.
Two Kentucky woodsman meet on a road to Louisville in 1832. After a shaky beginning the become good friends and decide they've had it with civilization. The head to St. Louis to find one of the men's uncle, who is a Missouri River fur trapper.
The story concerns a group of independent French traders whotake on the three men on a 2,000 mile keel boat trip up the Missouri. On the trip they have to contend with a ruthless fur company and their Crow (Indianl allies. They aim to trade with an always hostile Blackfeet tribe with their introduction being a daughter of a chief, captured by the Crow tribe. The girl managed to escape and was then rescued by one of the keel boat men. The French party face hostile Crows, hostile fur company men, and a hostile envirinment. In the mix is a poignant love story involving the Blackfoot girl and the two Kentuckians, one of whom hates Indians. Kirk Douglas and Arthur Hunnicut have memorable rolls, as does Buddy Baer and an unregonizable Hank Worden. The music is also hauntingly beautiful.
Unfortunately, the film has never been released on DVD and it5damn near impossible to find. It took a while but I managed a copy and it was worth the search.