Quebec

Rebellion against British rule by French and English Canadians in 1837 and their abortive attempt to take the fortress at Quebec form the historical basis of this adventure story, written and produced by Alan Le May. Fine battle scenes, with the Redcoats glistening in Technicolor, and beautiful shots of old Quebec and the wilderness of the voyageurs give a pictorial quality to the film. However, a fanciful and poorly-motivated plot detract from the overall effect. The picture, directed by George Templeton, should be promoted as a spectacle and not an epic. Corinne Calvet is the mysterious leader of the rebellion, spurred on by her hatred for the commander of the British garrison, played by Don Haggerty, to whom she was married briefly at the age of 15. Her true love is Patric Knowles, leader of the rebellious voyageurs of the woods. With Knowles is his son, John Barrymore, Jr., who does not know that Miss Calvet is his mother. When young Barrymore does meet his mother it as an adoring follower of the rebellion's leader. Lending romantic interest are Nikki Duval, vivacious and forward girl of the woods, and Barbara Rush, pretty ward of Miss Calvet. Both girls vie for the love of handsome young Barrymore, who is too busy fighting to pay much attention to either. The ill-fated rebellion is doomed to defeat and Knowles is killed when he attempts to negotiate an amnesty for his men. Young Barrymore takes over for another desperate attempt to take the fortress, again unsuccessfully, and this time Miss Calvet dies in an attempt to save her son. Miss Duval, too, is killed as she refuses to betray Barrymore, thus leaving the field to Miss Rush. John Hoyt plays the part of a sympathetic priest, Arnold Moss is a rabble-rousing speaker and among the voyageurs are Howard Joslin, Paul Guevrement, Adrian Belanger, Rene Constantneau, Marcel Sylvan and Rolland Joseph Beaudet. Others are Patsy Ruth Miller and Jacques Champagne.