Les trappeurs de l'Hudson

HUDSON'S BAY is a costume adventure of the era that tells of the founding of the famous trading post. You get the impression that everything is simplified here and what in actuality involved hundreds if not thousands of different people is condensed down into a dozen or so. I found Paul Muni's protagonist slightly irritating if I'm honest, as he has a certain campness that sits at odds with his supposed prowess. The best thing about this production for me was the opportunity to see some big genre names popping up in supporting roles; for example, it's a hoot to see Nigel Bruce and Vincent Price interacting in one scene.

Seems they got the costumes more or less right and certainly the names but that's about it. Muni is unbearable in the lead role of adventureous rogue fur trapper Pierre Radisson , attempting financing for an expedition to Hudson's Bay. His eyes , hands , body, in constant exagerrated motion, it's a bit like watching Charlie McCarthy in buckskin. Laird Creager is a little better, less mannered as his partner Grossilliers. There's some action and a portage with natives that looks pretty compelling. That ends of course as soon as sac le bleau tabernac and maple syrup soaked Muni brings everything to a standstill while he "Frenchies up dee atmousehere". Nice to see a very young Gene Tierney turn up looking ravishing and sporting an English accent nearly as mannered as Muni's French one. Good for laughs , maybe.

Frontier picture mostly set in Canada but the film's English scenes feature Vincent Price as King Charles II with his paramour, Nell Gwynn. Gene Tierney is second billed but has little to do apart from be beautiful and act as love interest to John Sutton. Star Paul Muni alongside Laird Cregar are two roguish French/Canadian fur trappers. Nigel Bruce is billed 7th as Prince Rupert but does not enter the film until it is almost halfway through and though he is decent enough, the serious nature of his role doesn't allow him to shine.

First of all, I tracked down this film because of the cast. This film boasts Vincent Price, Gene Tierney, Paul Muni, and Nigel Bruce, which sounds like a great treat. Unfortunately, the film fails them. You can see each of them struggling to bring this movie to life with each line they deliver, but it just isn't enough. Although I was happy to see these stars, the film in its entirety isn't worth watching for most.

The film tells the story of an Englishman from the courts of King Charles II, who is exiled to Canada, and meets up with fur traders in jail. He bands together with them to hatch a scheme that will get him back in good standing with the king and his friends back home. This involves a lot of hard work, and some meddling in their business by the French government in Canada who want their cut of the money. They find their way to England and explain to the king what their idea is. Eventually, he agrees to their plans, although there are still some squabbles and fights along the way. I wont tell how it ends, but it isn't hard to tell whether or not they succeed.

As you may have guessed by my description, this is a fictionalized account of the history of fur traders. If you aren't interested in Canadian, Indian, or American history of this time period, or maybe even if you are, this is going to be a boring movie to watch. Many times, there are scenes of exposition to explain what was going on in history at the time. Either that, or characters sit around and talk for a long time about laws, rules, and their future plans. There just isn't enough action for a film that is supposed to have adventure as well as history.

The only reason why I didn't give this film a lower score was the actors. They really tried their hardest. Even those who played the Indians and the French gave better performances than they needed to. I was happy to see that each nation was represented fairly as well. Other films around this time period might not have shown as much respect, or would have used stereotypical behavior. So, that was a plus.

Overall, it isn't one of the worst historical adventure films I have seen. It certainly isn't a good one either, unfortunately. Because it is stuck in that limbo of 'just okay' films, it's been forgotten about by audiences for a long time. I'm not saying that this is a forgotten gem we need to resurrect, but if you are a die hard fan of these actors, like me, you should check it out if you can.

To make up for his lack of a French accent in The Life of Emile Zola, and to round out his repertoire of accents, Paul Muni put on a consistent and hilarious French accent in Hudson's Bay. He plays a fur trapper in Canada, and along with his Daniel Boone-like costume and scruffy beard-which wasn't in fashion in 1941 or the 1600s-Paul looks and sounds the part, making this movie all the more delightful.

While the beginning is a little boring, once you get into the heart of the film, it's very entertaining. Paul and Laird Cregar are friends and partners in their fur-trading business. Paul has dreams of opening a trading post, and when he crosses paths with an English nobleman, John Sutton, he devises a plan to turn all situations to his advantage. With charm, humor, and intelligence, Paul makes his way through Indian territory, the royal court, and jail, all with the goal of his trade post in mind. It's very cute how he worms his way through the movie, always with a smile so no one can really get mad at him.

If you're interested in seeing a young Gene Tierney, you can find her in one of her first movies, as John's beautiful love interest. Vincent Price plays King Charles II, and it's always nice to see him before he got type-casted as the creepy villain. It's Paul who steals the show, though, so get ready to love him even more than you already do.