Unconquered (1947 film) facts for kids

Unconquered is a 1947 American historical epic adventure film. It was produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille. The movie stars Gary Cooper and Paulette Goddard.

The film shows the struggles between American colonists and Native Americans. This happened on the western frontier in the mid-1700s. The story takes place during Pontiac's War in 1763. Most of the action is around Fort Pitt, which is now Pittsburgh.

The movie is known for its grand style. It features colorful costumes, large sets, and many extra actors.

Story of the Film

In London in 1763, a young woman named Abigail "Abby" Hale (played by Paulette Goddard) is on trial. She is accused of causing the death of a navy officer. This happened when she tried to save her sick brother from being forced into the navy.

The judge offers her a choice: be executed or be sent to the British colonies in North America. There, she would work as an indentured servant for at least 14 years. An indentured servant is someone who works for a period of time to pay off a debt. Abby chooses to go to America.

On the ship to America, Abby angers a trader named Martin Garth (Howard Da Silva). He insists that Abby be sold right away. Captain Christopher Holden (Gary Cooper) bids against Garth and wins Abby for a very high price.

Holden plans to free Abby. But then, his fiancée Diana tells him she has married his brother. So, Holden sets Abby free.

Meanwhile, Garth tricks the slave dealer and destroys Abby's freedom papers. Garth takes Abby to the western frontier. He is selling guns to the Native Americans there. Holden soon realizes Garth is a dangerous person.

Later, Garth shows he likes Abby. But his Native American wife, Hannah, who is Chief Guyasuta's daughter, arrives with important news. Garth leaves for a meeting.

At the meeting are important leaders like George Washington and Captain Holden. They are worried about a possible Native American uprising. Holden suggests sending "peace belts" to the tribes. Garth suggests Holden go, and Holden agrees.

Holden is ambushed on his journey. He realizes Garth is involved. When he confronts Garth, he finds Abby again. They clear up their misunderstandings and escape together to Fort Pitt.

Garth comes for Abby at Fort Pitt. Holden challenges him to a duel. But Garth has the papers proving he bought Abby. So, the governor says Abby must go with Garth. Before Garth can do anything, Chief Guyasuta calls him away. Garth takes Abby with him.

When a nearby settlement is destroyed, the governor prepares Fort Pitt for a siege. This means the fort will be surrounded and attacked.

Holden bravely walks into Guyasuta's camp without weapons. He uses a clever trick to save Abby from being killed. They escape and see the terrible results of the attack on the settlers. They rush to warn Fort Pitt about the Native American attack.

However, Garth convinces the authorities that Holden is a traitor. Holden is sentenced to death, and Abby is returned to Garth. Abby makes a deal with Garth: she will go with him if he helps Holden escape. Garth agrees, but secretly plans for Holden to die during the escape.

Hannah, Garth's wife, learns he is leaving her for Abby. She warns Holden and takes his place in the escape attempt. She is fatally shot.

With no food left, the British commander at Fort Pitt decides to surrender. But just in time, reinforcements arrive, and the Native Americans flee. The relief force enters the fort, but the soldiers in their wagons are dead. Holden could not get many soldiers, but he brought a small group of drummers and bagpipers from the famous Black Watch regiment.

Afterward, Holden kills Garth in a shootout. This leaves Holden and Abby free to marry, and Abby is no longer a servant.

Main Actors

• Gary Cooper as Captain Christopher Holden
• Paulette Goddard as Abby Hale
• Howard Da Silva as Martin Garth
• Boris Karloff as Guyasuta, a Chief of the Seneca tribe
• Cecil Kellaway as Jeremy Love
• Ward Bond as John Fraser
• Katherine DeMille as Hannah
• Henry Wilcoxon as Captain Steele
• Sir C. Aubrey Smith as Lord Chief Justice
• Victor Varconi as Captain Simeon Ecuyer
• Virginia Grey as Diana
• Mike Mazurki as Bone
• Porter Hall as Leach
• Richard Gaines as Colonel George Washington
• Alan Napier as Sir William Johnson
• Marc Lawrence as Sioto, a Medicine Man
• Raymond Hatton as Venango Scout
• Lloyd Bridges as Lieut. Hutchins
• Clarence Muse as Jason
• Cecil B. DeMille as Narrator (uncredited)
• Robert Warwick as Pontiac (uncredited)
• Jay Silverheels as Indian (uncredited)
• Chief Thundercloud as Chief Killbuck
• Iron Eyes Cody as Red Corn

Making the Film

How the Idea Started

Director Cecil B. DeMille got the idea for Unconquered from a book called The Judas Tree. This book was about people convicted in England who were sent to America in the 1700s to be sold as servants.

DeMille bought the rights to the story. He hired the author to write a new book called Unconquered: A Novel of the Pontiac Conspiracy. The film's script was written by Charles Bennett, Jesse Lasky Jr., and Fredric M. Frank.

DeMille wanted to show the exciting adventures of American colonists. He was less focused on perfect historical accuracy. The script included common ideas about Native Americans at the time. For example, Paulette Goddard's character says that "The Indians will always burn, torture, and kill to get back the wilderness."

Film Costs

The movie cost $4.3 million to make. This was $394,000 more than planned. It also took nine extra days to film.

The actors' salaries alone cost $1 million. This was the most DeMille had ever paid for actors. Gary Cooper received $300,000, which was twice his usual pay. Paulette Goddard earned $112,000.

Choosing the Actors

Unconquered was the last of four movies Gary Cooper made with Cecil B. DeMille. DeMille originally wanted actress Deborah Kerr for the role of Abby Hale. But he could not afford her salary.

The movie had 25 well-known actors. It also used 4,325 extras in costumes. Thirteen stunt performers helped with the dangerous scenes.

Most of the actors playing Native American characters were actually Caucasian. Boris Karloff, who played Chief Guyasuta, studied the Seneca language for his role. Only a few Native American actors were in the film, playing smaller parts. These included Chief John Big Tree, Rodd Redwing, Jay Silverheels, and Chief Thundercloud.

Filming Locations and Tricks

Most of the movie was filmed on sound stages in Hollywood. Some outdoor scenes were shot in western Pennsylvania. River scenes were filmed on the Snake River in Idaho.

The famous waterfall scene was filmed in two different places. One river had only rapids, and another had only falls. Artists combined these two scenes later to make them look like one river. They also painted an overhanging tree branch into each shot.

Stunt performers did the dangerous parts of the canoe ride. Gary Cooper and Paulette Goddard were filmed in a canoe on a soundstage. A screen behind them showed the moving water.

For the big attack on Fort Pitt, DeMille wanted a spectacular battle. This scene cost $300,000 to create. It involved nearly 800 extras. It also used "three hundred pounds of dynamite, fifty pounds of flash powder, fifty flintlocks, and three hundred fireballs."

Paulette Goddard refused to stand in the scene while fireballs were thrown. This made DeMille very angry. He did not speak to Goddard for years after this.

Gary Cooper's character used real 18th-century pistols. These were from DeMille's own collection.

Release and Success

The film was released on October 3, 1947. Before its release, the studio arranged for the actors to promote the movie on a radio show.

Box Office Earnings

Unconquered earned $5.25 million in the United States. This made it one of the highest-earning films of 1947. However, because the movie cost so much to make, it actually lost over $1 million.

The film was released on DVD in 2007.

Awards

The movie was nominated for a 1947 Academy Award for Best Special Effects.

See also

In Spanish: Los inconquistables para niños