Details
Movie Description
Because of his long standing desire to do a western, Nelson Eddy accepted a starring role, as Jim Laurence, in this musical about Russian aristocrats living in 19th Century California. Viewers can decide for themselves whether the term 'western' applies. Natalie Alanova (Ilona Massey) arrives at the Russian settlement at Fort Ross in 1830, and is greeted by Prince Nicolia Balinin (Hugo Haas) and his wife Princess Tanya (Elsa Lanchester). When Natalia catches sight of a group of convicts she looks for her husband Prince Igor Savin (Joseph Schildkraut), among them. Prince Nicolai explains to Natalie that, since the U.S. is taking possession of the territory, his current employee, former soldier Jim Laurence, will be commanding the fort, and will need to validate her papers. When Laurence discovers that she's forged a signature on her papers, she explains that she was forced both to sign and to marry her husband under political pressure. Natalie goes to visit Savin on a prison ship, and he threatens to have her father, who is held by his political associates, killed, unless she uses her influence with Laurence to bargain for his release. For good reason, this proved to be Nelson Eddy's last film appearance. As a warning to those who may see this film, the image of the singing Eddy leading a parade of muzhiks down the main street of Fort Ross might well be indelibly etched in your synapses.
Film Notes
"Northwest Outpost" was Nelson Eddy's final feature film.
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