The short-lived Bear
Flag Republic of California came into being in 1846 with a revolt against the
Mexican military authority of Gen. José Castro. Instrumental in that uprising
were two figures well known from American history, explorer John C. Frémont and
his scout, Kit Carson. Working together through the 1840s, they had opened up
the West to immigration along the Oregon Trail.
This western
portrays both men as heroes of westward expansion. Before tackling the Mexican
forces under Castro’s command, they successfully escort a wagon train of
settlers across hostile Indian country. For romantic interest, the two are
involved in a love triangle with the daughter of a wealthy Californian.
 |
| Dana Andrews, Lynn Bari, Jon Hall |
Plot. As the story begins, Frémont (Dana Andrews) is
waiting with his troops and a wagon train bound for California at the fort of
Jim Bridger (Raymond Hatton) on the Oregon Trail. Trapper Kit Carson (Jon Hall)
and two companions (Ward Bond, Harold Huber) arrive, and Frémont tries to
persuade Carson to take command of the train as wagon master.
Carson first
declines, despite the appeals of a prominent member of the immigrant party,
Dolores Murphy (Lynn Bari). They are fools, he says, to take women and children
into Indian country. But apparently out of boredom, he changes his mind, and he
and his two pals join the train.
The Shoshone waste
no time giving them trouble and make a night attack in an effort to run off the
horses. Two sentries on night duty are shot, and there is a fierce gun battle
with numerous casualties. Meanwhile, we learn that the Indians’ rifles and
being supplied by General Castro.
Capturing one of
Castro’s lieutenants, Carson, Frémont, and Bond interrogate the man by tying
him up and pitching knives and hatchets at him. And from him they learn what
Castro has been up to. Seeing no need for a fair trial, Frémont calls up a
firing squad and the lieutenant is soon disposed of. Barri is horrified at
their cold-hearted savagery.
 |
| Kit Carson (1809-1968) |
Determined to find a
direct route through the Sierras, Frémont and his men part company with Carson
and his wagon train. Carson argues that taking the long way around has numerous
advantages, but Frémont cannot be dissuaded. And he marches off directly into
an Indian ambush. The wagon train is soon under attack, too. Only after some
heroics by Carson are the troops rescued and the Indians driven back.
Cut to the hacienda
of Bari’s father in Monterey. There’s a fiesta in progress with dancing and
drinking, but Carson is not much of a partier. Time to go check traps along the
Platte, he says, and departs with Bond and Huber.
Discovering a camp
of Mexican soldiers, they capture one of Castro’s officers, a congenial and
rotund General Vallejo (Lew Merrill) who is an amigo of the americanos. He’s
relieved to be taken captive, as it means sanctuary from Castro, who has grown
suspicious of him.
Vallejo happily
spills what he knows about Castro’s plans to run the americanos out of
California and then declare himself emperor of not only California but all of
Mexico. Someone brings out a bear flag, and the revolt is in full swing. Attacking the hacienda where he
believes the americanos have all gathered, Castro is held off by Carson, his
pals, and a handful of others. Frémont’s troops then drive the Mexicans off,
and the republic is born.
