Nelson Eddy's last feature (or penultimate).Still in very good voice as a 46 y.o. baritone whose renderings of "Raindrops on a Drum"," Nearer and Dearer",written by Rudolf Friml ("Rose Marie"),back from retirement for this work,are still a delight. Very much a repeat of the theme of "Rose Marie" i.e. Mountie,policeman,ranger,guard,soldier pursues beautiful suspect who has assignment to rescue fugitive lover,brother etc. The music by Friml rescues the story from the formula and there is some historic merit in the the settings in Fort Ross in California;the earlier scenes have incidental music evocative of P.Tchaikowski and reminiscent of "Balalaika" in which the two juvenile leads also starred.(They are also on opposite sides ). Ilona Massey (from Hungary)has a pleasant contralto voice and the film has a number of practiced or well known supporters:Joseph Shildkraut,Elsa Lanchester,Hugo Haas plus the talented director, Alan Dwan. Despite the fact that the two stars have aged by this time, this is pleasant entertainment with empathic background orchestral music.Forget the story,listen to the singing and also the newly formed "G.I.Chorus". The final scene,both on horseback is just like the last in "Naughty Marietta". Although done on the Republic lot, certainly not the "horse-opera" described by some critics.
Review of Northwest Outpost
