The Fighting Kentuckian (1949)

In 1818, a member of the Kentucky militiamen, named John Breen, returning home from the War of 1812 between the U.S.A. and England, falls in love with a young woman, named Fleurette, from a community of French exiles who were former members of Napoleon's army. He decides to stay at that city and court her. There are multiple problems he must face, though. Fleurette is engaged, against her will, to be married to a local boss. To complicate things, there is a plot to swindle the French landowners out of their land.

As many commenters have pointed out, this is a heavily plotted film, with many side characters. As the film is not long, there is no time to develop and explain the many details of the plot. Also, as IMDB commenter JamesHitchcock has remarked, there are many historical inaccuracies:

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 One of Willie's most prized possessions is a top hat which he says has been in his family for three generations. As top hats had only been invented some 20 years before the date when this film is set this seems unlikely. When playing chess with Breen, Willie takes three of his opponent's pieces in one move- something legal in draughts, but not in chess. In the final battle the French charge into battle on horseback with all guns blazing. This might have been possible in a Western set some sixty or seventy years later, but not in one set in 1818. The early nineteenth century cavalryman fought with sword and lance- before the invention of the revolver and repeating rifle single-shot firearms would have been little use to him. Little attention has been paid to period accuracy as far as costumes are concerned; some of Fleurette's dresses recall the Civil War era, some fifty years after the date of this film.
*end quote*

I am not sure whether it stems from the abovementioned problems, but the film just doesn't generate enough empathy or excitement. It goes by indifferently and I do not recommend it except for die-hard fans of the two stars who play, respectively, the leading part and his sidekick.

Rating: 35