Kudos to the Canadian National Film Board for this compelling account based on a true story. The film covers a span of roughly ten years in the life of British Army soldier John Brown (Tom Burlinson) who ventures to the Canadian Northwest and gives up the military life to take up gold prospecting and trapping. Brown's story is told in flashback as he stands trial for the murder of former partner McTooth (Donnelly Rhodes), who ventures in and out of Brown's circle at various times, always ending in some misfortune. A despicable character, McTooth was not altogether immune from his own indiscretions, each time he appears on the scene he's missing another body part.Brown's Indian name, given to him by Dumond, leader of the Metis, is Kootenai - 'the one who comes from the West'. Rescued from near death by Dumond's band, he's nursed back to health and falls in love with a squaw named Olivia (Michelle Thrush) who he marries and has a child with. However as the years go by and the buffalo herds thin, Kootenai is forced to take up with white men again in order to earn a living and provide for his family. The event precipitating the murder charge involves McTooth, who stole Brown's furs and pays with his life when Brown can no longer contain his rage over a decade of deceit and thievery.Brown's trial would probably have resulted in a guilty verdict, however a former acquaintance and mining partner, Arthur Vowell (John Pyper-Ferguson), turns up as a character witness for Brown with incriminating evidence against McTooth for a shooting death years earlier. One gets the impression that the judge (Raymond Burr) wouldn't have been persuaded by this argument alone, but was moved by the jury foreman's insistence that Brown's actions were a clear cut case of a man defending his private property. On that note, Kootenai Brown is released and free to reunite with his wife, present during the trial and subject to snide remarks throughout by the judge regarding her background as a 'savage'.Until now I had never heard of this movie title and with minimal exposure here to IMDb viewership, I'm not sure how one would get hold of it. My copy is part of the Mill Creek Entertainment Western Collection of two hundred fifty films on sixty DVD discs, but I haven't seen that set available recently. Best to keep a watchful eye out if you're interested, I'd recommend it as worth the effort.

I saw this film by accident the other night on a college channel that fills its empty air time with films that are out of copyright. It is handsomely produced and beautifully photographed, and the acting and direction are better-than-competent. I was especially impressed with the quality of the dialog, which avoids the obvious and gives the illusion of 19th-century speech.Only Raymond Burr's forced and colorless performance failed to impress. I will be charitable and assume he was ill at the time. (He died two years later.)On a scale of zero to four stars, I would give it (just barely) three stars. It's certainly worth at least one viewing.

I consider this a grossly underrated movie. I watched it by chance last night, unaware of its title or possible fame. I was very impressed. Top marks to the Canadian Board for taking the time and effort to bring to the screen a true tale from its 19 century past, and to have such outstanding performers portray their roles so eloquently and with total belief. Burlinson was smack-on as the hard-done-by Irish officer who fell victim to the hazards of British Columbia's gold regime. And though she spoke very little, the innocence and hardship that Michelle Thrush revealed was celebratory. A quiet yet excellent performance. If only there were more films like this.

This movie was a movie I saw a while ago on Pay TV. I have since watched it at least a dozen times. It is fairly accurate factually, as well as being highly entertaining. An amazing story to be sure. I recommend it to anyone who is at all interested in that part of Canada/USA, or who enjoys movies