classicsoncall
Well this is a new one on me, I didn't think John Wayne fought any battles prior to the Civil War. Played almost along the lines of a typical B Western, the film's story line and production values are a slight notch above, with Claire Trevor joining Wayne in another film released the same year as "Stagecoach" in which they both appeared. Trevor's character here is not much more than a caricature, as she's constantly grumbling over her status as a woman who's not allowed to take part in the rough and tumble world the men around her find themselves in. Thinking about it now, she was the only woman in the entire picture; how realistic was that? It struck me while watching that this was one film that probably would have benefited from the color treatment, what with all those Redcoats around causing dismay for the Allegheny settlers. Wayne's character Jim Smith and company rebel against the British for allowing trade to continue with marauding Indians, but except for one brief skirmish, the Indians aren't much of a factor in the story. It's those thieving, conniving traders in league with the Brits.If nothing else, the film forced me to search my brain to recall bits and pieces I learned in parochial school about the French and Indian War and the new 'American' spirit of freedom and independence. With the story taking place a decade and a half prior to the Revolutionary War, it's a somewhat different kind of Western taking place East of the Mississippi with the good guys trading their white hats for coonskin caps.
dbdumonteil
I have not seen the colorized version but it does not matter for the characters themselves are very colorful;particularly George Sanders as the "aristocratic" straight-faced phoney military man who treats the +Yankees as if they were ripe for exploitation;particularly Claire +Trevor who teamed up with Wayne in "stagecoach" and later would in ,notably ,"the high and the mighty" ,as the tomboy who wants to fight with the men who were still very macho in those troubled times. The story is routine ,and although it takes place in North America ,has a Robin Hood side ,but the actors make it a winner . The first scene when the men are asked to take off their hat is almost comedy.
vitaleralphlouis
A pre-Revolutionary War frontier movie, when central Pennsylvania was still the frontier; this is a wonderful JOHN WAYNE adventure movie. The main problem is that lovely Claire Trevor wants John Wayne, but Wayne might just as soon keep his freedom. Problem #2 is that bad guys led by Brian Donlevy are into selling liquor and booze to the Indians while the Indians are at war with the settlers.If you have a choice, see this movie colorized. RKO ought to have made it in color to begin with, but color films were few in 1939. The color is excellent. It enhances the Pennsylvania countryside, the British redcoats, etc. Not all colorizing is great, but this is A+.Most films made in 2006 and 2007 will have a commercial life of maybe 6 to 9 months; to be forgotten forever. Nobody will be searching in 50 years for any of the junk in today's multiplex. Allegheny Uprising is just one of many films made in 1939 that have endured for 68 years. Released, re-released, re-released again. Then shown on TV, sold on VHS, on DVD. Quality endures, junk dies fast.
lastliberal
John Wayne took second billing on this film to Claire Trevor. He wasn't a star yet.This is a forgettable film that takes place after the French and Indian wars in Pennsylvania. It came out the same year as Stagecoach.Some whites were trading with the Indians and this caused problems for the settlers as the British were busy expanding the frontier. The locals took it upon themselves to solve the problem.There wasn't anything very memorable about the film and it really wasn't worth staying up for. It is just another look at Wayne outside a cowboy movie.
AD
