The Champagne Safari

Film about Charles Bedaux who came to the US from France and changed the way factories produced their products. In the process he became one of the wealthiest men in the world only to see it all begin to slip away as he fought to maintain ties with the axis powers during the Second World War and as the workers of the world fought against his methods. The film intercuts footage from an expedition he took across the Canadian Rockies with his life story, the result is a mish mash of a tale who's purpose I'm still trying to sort out. Blame it on the director. there is the nuggets of a good story in this mess but I can't find it. I know little more about Bedaux after the film then when I went in. His was the only side and so long as his family friends and business were safe he didn't care what he he did. Unfortunately the American government did, especially during war time. Its on odd film about an odd man and its interesting up to a point, but somewhere about half way in I realized I had no idea why I was watching this or why I should care. I made it to the end, but can't really say it was worth the slog- even if the footage from the Rockies trip is often spectacular. I'd take a pass

A bio of wealthy international industrialist Charles Bedaux, who lived in the first half of the twentieth century, "The Champagne Safari" uses old B&W home movies to recreate the man's dubious expedition into the wilds of northern British Columbia in the 1930s. The film, which also contains interviews with modern biographers, further tells of Bedaux's early life and his later business dealings with Nazi Germany.

Bedaux comes across in the film as extremely unsympathetic. His Canadian wilderness adventure consisted of a huge caravan of vehicles, manpower, horses, and supplies, including cases of champagne and exotic foods. His intent was to "conquer" one of the world's last frontiers. The expedition accomplished nothing of significance; it tore up the environment; and the film clearly shows cruelty to horses. Mostly, the adventure was a publicity stunt aimed at enhancing the man's ego and business interests.

Bedaux was an opportunist who apparently saw nothing wrong with an alliance with Nazi Germany, if it could enhance his power, wealth, and prestige. And in many parts of the film we see him and his wife hobnob with Europe's rich and famous during the 1930s and 40s, seemingly oblivious both to the dangers of Hitler and to the plight of Bedaux's own factory workers.

As a historical cinematic essay on wealthy businessmen, "The Champagne Safari" might have some value as to the mindset of entrepreneurs in the 1930s and 40s. Giving the man an enormous benefit of a doubt, we might conclude that Bedaux was simply a product of his time. But the film, if you'll pardon the pun, is not a pretty picture. And the sooner I can forget this guy, the better.

Although Bedaux was eventually arrested by American authorities on a charge of treason it is not in the least obvious that he was simply another Nazi collaborator. The truth is much more fascinating inasmuch as Bedaux seemed to feel a sense of duty or loyalty only to his wife and to his business projects. His blind pursuit of business and adventures on the scale of continents cost him his life.

Champagne figured prominently in Bedaux's semi-successful safari through subarctic bush and wetlands, and over mountain passes, from Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) to British Columbia in 1934. Indeed his entire life was a dazzling "champagne safari". He was famous for entertaining the world's richest people, including European and American business and political elites--and housing the Duke and Duchess of Windsor--in his renovated Loire chateau.

And he managed all of this having arrived from France in New York a couple of decades earlier with one dollar in his pocket.