Susannah of the Mounties (1939)

Shirley Temple is Susannah Sheldon, a young girl found hiding in a barrel as the lone survivor when Mounties stumble upon a wagon train massacre.

She’s taken back to the fort and put under the care of a very capable officer named Angus “Monty” Montague (Randolph Scott), to whom she takes an immediate liking.

Of course, the massacre has raised serious concerns for Monty and his commanding officer Superintendent Andrew Standing.

After all, the expansion of the Canadian Pacific Railway is stirring up hostilities among the Blackfeet. They meet to prevent a major uprising.

So they summon Chief Big Eagle to the fort in hopes of working out a new treaty. He agrees to help find the Indians responsible for the wagon train attack.

In a show of his good faith, he leaves his son, Little Chief, behind at the fort.

Susannah’s initially offended by some of the Blackfeet customs when it comes to the role of squaws. And she balks at being called a papoose.

But she and Little Chief eventually become blood brothers, and their friendship might come in handy.

That’s because Wolf Pelt, a key advisor to Chief Big Eagle, is up to no good. And railroad boss Harlan Chambers is more likely to ignite hostilities than calm them.

Shirley Temple as Susannah Sheldon, being discovered as the lone surivor of an Indian attack in Susannah of the Mounties (1939)

Randolph Scott as Angus ‘Monty’ Montague, teaching Susannah a lesson about Indians in Susannah of the Mounties (1939)

Review:

More juvenile, of course, than the classic Westerns of the period, but an entertaining Shirley Temple vehicle nonetheless.

There are generally funny moments, like Shirley repeatedly slapping a toupee back on the head of Pat O’Hannegan in the middle of an Indian attack.

That Indian attack on the fort is surprisingly well done. And if the resolution of the conflict between Mounties and Blackfeet makes you roll your eyes, you can look forward to a clever closing scene.

Margaret Lockwood provides the love interest as Vicky Standing, daughter of Monty’s commanding officer. She comes to the fort for a visit and winds up falling for Monty, of course.

That sparks jealously in Susannah. At one point, she teaches Monty how to dance, only to learn that he’s taking the lesson so he can dance with Vicky.

Shirley Temple was 11 when this film was made and coming off a four-year run as the box-office champ in terms of film earnings.

Margaret Lockwood as Vicki Standing, the pretty young girl who visits the Mountie outpost and takes a liking to Monty in Susannah of the Mounties (1939)

J. Farrell MacDonald as Pat O’Hannegan, realziing Susannah is infatuated with Monty and more than a little jealous of Vicky in Susannah of the Mounties (1939)

Directed by:
William A Seiter

Cast:
Shirley Temple … Susannah Sheldon
Randolph Scott … Anus “Monty” Montague
Margaret Lockwood … Vicky Standing
Martin Good Rider … Little Chief
J. Farrell MacDonald … Pat O’Hannegan
Maurice Moscovitch … Chief Big Eagle
Moroni Olsen … Supt. Andrew Standing
Victor Jory … Wolf Pelt
Lester Mathews … Harlan Chambers
Leyland Hodgson … Randall
Herbert Evans … Doctor
Jack Luden … Williams
Charles Irwin … Sgt. MacGregor
John Sutton … Cpl. Piggott

Runtime: 75 min.

Martin Good Rider as Little Chief, watching his tribe attack the fort in Susannah of the Mounties (1939)

Moroni Olsen as Superintendent Andrew Standing, consulting Montague over potential Indian trouble in Susannah of the Mounties (1939)

Memorable lines:

Susannah Sheldon: “Are you the chief Indian?”
Chief Big Eagle: “Me Big Eagle.”
Susannah Sheldon: “Well, I certainly hope Mr. Standing makes you Indians behave this time! And if you got what you deserve, he’d send you all to jail! That’s where you belong for what you’ve been doing! What gives you the right to …”
“Monty” Montague: “Here, here, Sue. You’ll have to forgive her, Big Eagle. This little girl was the only survivor of the wagon train.”
Chief Big Eagle: “Golden Hawk, little spirit of the sun, Big Eagle sorry you have trouble. Will not happen again.”
Susannah Sheldon: “I don’t see why you want to fight the white people anyway. They haven’t done anything to hurt you.”

Vicky Standing: “I’ve been wondering. Whatever made a man like you take a job like this?”
Mountie “Monty” Montague: ” There are times when it’s rather humdrum. But, right now, you’re here.”

Maurice Moscovitch as Chief Big Eagle, leader of the Blackfeet, trying to figure out who’s speaking with a forked tongue in Susannah of the Mounties (1939)

Victor Jory as Wolf Pelt, Chief Big Eagle’s advisor and one of the men behind the trouble in Susannah of the Mounties (1939)

Little Chief: “Squaw walk behind.”
Susannah Shelton: “Walk behind? I will not.”
Little Chief: “Then brave not go.”

Susannah Shelton: “Can you stop grunting. Say yes when you mean yes and no when you mean no. Understand?”
Little Chief grunts again.

Little Chief, after he and Susannah become blood brothers: “Indian now.”
Susannah Shelton, tossing her cheek: “Will my face turn red?”
Little Chief: “No. You stay pale face.”
Susannah: “I’m glad of that.”

Wolf Pelt of Susannah: “Devil child have forked tongue.”
Little Chief: “Golden Hawk (Susannah’s given Indian name in the film) speaks straight!”

Shirley Temple as Susannah Sheldon, all dressed up to impress Monty Montague in Susannah of the Mounties (1939)

J. Farrell MacDonald as Pat O’Hannegan, Shirley Temple as Susannah Sheldon and Randolph Scott as Agnus ‘Monty’ Montague in Susannah of the Mounties (1939)