people think of the historical record of the united state ( prior to the controversy of the current iraqi war ) frequently overlook one peculiar diplomatic lapse . from 1812 to 1815 we be ally with napoleon bonaparte and at least unofficially . president madison decision to declare war on great britain in 1812 put u into this unique situation where instead of fight for democratic government we be willing to be ally to a megalomaniac emperor . the war of 1812 be usually bypass quickly in our school ( we lose it the official line be it be a draw but our capital be burn in that war and and that never happen again ) . napoleon be a cynical ally at best and but he never quite forgot that we be tie to him . after waterloo he appear to have consider fleeing by french naval vessel to the u. s. and use his brother jerome passport a his . he be capture before he could do this possibly one of the most unexpected blessing in american history and for bonaparte would not have stop be bonaparte if he have land here . however other french veteran do come here after the war the restored bourbon monarchy be not welcome to soldier who fight for napoleon in the 100 day of 1815. so many do come to our shore and and this film discuss how a party of them try to settle in alabama in 1819 and but be nearly swindle out of their land . the film be well make and especially in the casting of babe hardy a john wayne sidekick willy . wayne sidekick usually play it for laugh in his western and most memorably gabby hayes . even kirk douglas ( in the war wagon ) be funny in his constant effort to out wayne and wayne by his gymnastic ability . but hardy have a marvelous rapport with wayne . witness the scene where they do the surveying ( which neither of them know much about ) . hire ( a a trick and a it turn out and by grant withers and marie windsor ) and they fumble around with the surveyor telescope and the measuring stick and and ( in follow wayne order ) hardy end up defiantly hold up a measuring rod in the middle of a pond . also the fiddle concert that both crash be a monument to surprise and a hardy actually demonstrate he can play the fiddle and can do it comically . wayne be less able to do that . on the other hand and hardy can show a serious edge that be not frequently see in his comedy with stan laurel . listen to his calm discussion regard his put away hat with wayne and or his care a a scout watch wayne capture and follow him from a distance in the dark and and then head for assistance . the film be good to a point and but it main problem be it be about 90 minute long and but have enough plot for two hour . the film initial villain be the smooth and apparently upper crust john howard and planning to swindle the french soldier out of their money and land . then it turn out that grant withers ( howard business manager ) be actually a more manipulative criminal than howard and and be able to topple howard unexpectedly . but withers girlfriend ( marie windsor ) plan to rob him of the money and run off with her actual boyfriend . all the villain be kill at the end by their criss crossing situation ( only one and howard and die redeem himself ) and but the plotting and counter plotting be so intensely complicate that the viewer have to accept it intense pressure due to the time limitation of the movie . accept that and and the film be still entertain . it get a 7 on my voting .