Saskatchewan, titled in the UK,
is a 1954 American Technicolor Northern/Western film directed by
Raoul Walsh starring Alan Ladd and Shelley Winters.
The title refers to Fort Saskatchewan in modern Alberta.
Shooting was in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada, not far from the headwaters of the Saskatchewan River.
Production
It was Alan Ladd's second starring vehicle for Universal, for whom he had made Desert Legion.
The arrangement was made in England, where Ladd was shooting Hell Below Zero.
The film was to be shot on location in Canada, enabling Ladd to get a tax exemption from the US government
"I see absolutely no reason why I should not avail myself of the exemption because it is a law," said Ladd.
Shelley Winters was his co-star in June. She contracted an eye infection
when she arrived on location at Lake Louise but was able to make the film.
Filming started August 1953
User Review
Mounties, Cree and the Sioux.
15 January 2012 | by Spikeopath (United Kingdom)
Quote from spikeoDisplay MoreSaskatchewan is directed by Raoul Walsh and written by Gil Doud. It stars Alan Ladd, Shelley Winters, J. Carrol Naish, Hugh O'Brian, Jay Silverheels, George Lewis and Robert Douglas. Music is by Joseph Gershenson and cinematography in Technicolor is by John F. Seitz.
Saskatchewan River Country, Spring 1877, and Mountie Sergeant O'Rourke (Ladd), who was reared by the Cree Indians, sets about trying to prevent the Cree from joining forces with the Sioux who have crossed the border into Canada after massacring General Custer at Little Bighorn.
Competent story with muscular direction for the action sequences, Saskatchewan is undoubtedly reliant on the beautiful visuals to keep the viewer enthralled. Plot is one of those that telegraphs the outcome right from the off, thus any genuine suspense is hard to garner, while the characterisations are drawn as standard. Male cast members are mostly fine, with Ladd always watchable when doing stoicism, but Winters, in a character desperately trying not to be a token, is sadly miscast. However, the action is of high standard, with lots of extras and horses whizzing about to create excitement, and the photography in and around Banff National Park in Alberta is sublime. Whether it's the wonderful mountains, the angled trees or the shimmering river (the latter providing a truly breath taking reflection at one point), Seitz's (The Lost Weekend/Sunset Boulevard) work for this film is reason enough to seek it out. 6/10
The Pegasus Region 2 DVD release is presented in 4:3 full frame and the picture quality is good to fair, if a little grainy for the very light scenes.