Renfrew of the Royal Mounted
Encyclopedia
Renfrew of the Royal Mounted was a popular series of boy's adventure books written by Laurie York Erskine
that later were filmed and became a series on both radio and television.
officer who joined the Royal Northwest Mounted Police, later the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
.
Erskine also wrote approximately 17 Renfrew short stories for The American Boy (1899–1941) magazine.
.
. As the film and musical Rose-Marie
was well known as were singing cowboy
s on the silver screen, Criterion decided that Renfrew would sing. They cast radio vocalist James Newill who had studied opera and made his film debut in Grand National's Something to Sing About. Renfrew also had a faithful dog named Lightning that predated Yukon King of Sergeant Preston of the Yukon.
Alpha Video
has released Region 0
DVDs of five of the eight Renfrew films: Fighting Mad, Crashing Thru, Yukon Flight, Murder on the Yukon and Sky Bandits.
with Arthur Franz
as Renfrew was filmed but never picked up.
satirized this series as "Miltie of the Mounties" in the fifth issue of Mad
.
Canadian comedian Dave Broadfoot
featured a "Corporal Renfrew" character on the Royal Canadian Air Farce
radio series. Broadfoot's version of Renfrew delivered monologues about his adventures hunting down criminals — like all good Mounties he always got his man, but did so in an outlandishly slapstick manner which relied as much on the criminal's incompetence and stupidity as on Renfrew's police skills. Invariably, he was knocked out cold at some point in the chase, giving rise to the character's signature catchphrase, "When I regained consciousness..."
Broadfoot also performed the character on stage several times at actual RCMP conventions and events. His popularity was such with the RCMP that his character was promoted to Sergeant
, then Sergeant Major
. The honourary promotion to Sergeant, complete with all insignia, was given to Broadfoot personally by Commissioner Simmins of the RCMP.
Laurie York Erskine
Laurie York Erskine was a popular boys adventure author, educator, and co-founder of the Solebury School in New Hope, Pennsylvania, United States.-Biography:...
that later were filmed and became a series on both radio and television.
Canon
Douglas Renfrew was a former Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
officer who joined the Royal Northwest Mounted Police, later the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
.
- 1. Renfrew of the Royal Mounted (1922)
- 2. The River Trail (1923)
- 3. The Laughing Rider (1924)
- 4. Renfrew Rides Again (1927)
- 5. Renfrew Rides the Sky (1928)
- 6. Renfrew Rides North (1931)
- 7. Renfrew's Long Trail (1933)
- 8. Renfrew Rides the Range (1935)
- 9. Renfrew in the Valley of the Vanished Men (1936)
- 10. Renfrew Flies Again (1941)
Erskine also wrote approximately 17 Renfrew short stories for The American Boy (1899–1941) magazine.
Radio
Erskine narrated Renfrew of the Mounted, a 1936-40 radio series with House Jameson in the title role of Sergeant Douglas Renfrew. Several premiums from the program were circulated by the program's sponsor, Wonder BreadWonder Bread
Wonder Bread is the name of three North American brands of white bread: One produced by George Weston Bakeries in Canada, another by Hostess Brands in the United States, and the third by Grupo Bimbo in Mexico.- United States :...
.
Films
With the popularity of the books, magazine short stories and radio show, Criterion Pictures released two Renfrew films through Grand National Pictures and six more through Monogram PicturesMonogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures Corporation is a Hollywood studio that produced and released films, most on low budgets, between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram is considered a leader among the smaller studios sometimes referred to...
. As the film and musical Rose-Marie
Rose-Marie
Rose-Marie is an operetta-style musical with music by Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart, and book and lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II. The story takes place in the Canadian Rockies and concerns Rose-Marie La Flemme, a French Canadian girl who loves miner Jim Kenyon...
was well known as were singing cowboy
Singing cowboy
A singing cowboy was a subtype of the archetypal cowboy hero of early Western films, popularized by many of the B-movies of the 1930s and 1940s...
s on the silver screen, Criterion decided that Renfrew would sing. They cast radio vocalist James Newill who had studied opera and made his film debut in Grand National's Something to Sing About. Renfrew also had a faithful dog named Lightning that predated Yukon King of Sergeant Preston of the Yukon.
- Renfrew of the Royal MountedRenfrew of the Royal Mounted (1937 film)Renfrew of the Royal Mounted is an American film directed by Albert Herman, starring James Newill and released by Grand National Pictures.- Cast :*James Newill as Sergeant Renfrew*Carol Hughes as Virginia Bronson*William Royle as George Poulis...
(1937) - On the Great White TrailOn the Great White Trail- Cast :*James Newill as Sgt. Renfrew*Terry Walker as Kay Larkin*Robert Frazer as Andrew Larkin*Richard Alexander as Doc Howe*Richard Tucker as Inspector Newcom*Bob Terry as Sergeant Kelly*Eddie Gribbon as RCMP Constable Patsy*Walter McGrail as Garou...
(1938) - Fighting Mad (1939) (based on Renfrew Rides Again)
- Crashing Thru (1939) (based on Renfrew Rides the Range)
- Yukon Flight (1940)
- Murder on the Yukon (1940) (based on Renfrew Rides North)
- Danger Ahead (1940) (based on Renfrew's Long Trail)
- Sky Bandits (1940) (based on Renfrew Rides the Sky)
Alpha Video
Alpha Video
Alpha Video is an entertainment company, based near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that specializes in the manufacturing and marketing of public domain movies and TV shows on DVD...
has released Region 0
DVD region code
DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region...
DVDs of five of the eight Renfrew films: Fighting Mad, Crashing Thru, Yukon Flight, Murder on the Yukon and Sky Bandits.
Television
In 1953, the films were edited into the syndicated Renfew of the Royal Mounted television series featuring Newill in new scenes relating events from the films. A television pilotTelevision pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
with Arthur Franz
Arthur Franz
Arthur Franz was a B-movie actor whose most notable role was as Lieutenant, Junior Grade H. Paynter, Jr. in The Caine Mutiny. He also appeared in Roseanna McCoy , Invaders from Mars , Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man and The Unholy Wife , among others...
as Renfrew was filmed but never picked up.
Parody
Harvey KurtzmanHarvey Kurtzman
Harvey Kurtzman was an American cartoonist and the editor of several comic books and magazines. Kurtzman often signed his name H. Kurtz, followed by a stick figure Harvey Kurtzman (October 3, 1924, Brooklyn, New York – February 21, 1993) was an American cartoonist and the editor of several comic...
satirized this series as "Miltie of the Mounties" in the fifth issue of Mad
Mad (magazine)
Mad is an American humor magazine founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines in 1952. Launched as a comic book before it became a magazine, it was widely imitated and influential, impacting not only satirical media but the entire cultural landscape of the 20th century.The last...
.
Canadian comedian Dave Broadfoot
Dave Broadfoot
Dave Broadfoot is a Canadian comedian who was born on December 5, 1925 in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In 1943, he joined the merchant navy serving until 1947...
featured a "Corporal Renfrew" character on the Royal Canadian Air Farce
Royal Canadian Air Farce
Air Farce Live, also credited as Air Farce, previously Royal Canadian Air Farce, and Air Farce—Final Flight! for the final season, was a Canadian comedy series starring the comedy troupe The Royal Canadian Air Farce that previously starred in an eponymous radio show on CBC radio from 1973 to 1997...
radio series. Broadfoot's version of Renfrew delivered monologues about his adventures hunting down criminals — like all good Mounties he always got his man, but did so in an outlandishly slapstick manner which relied as much on the criminal's incompetence and stupidity as on Renfrew's police skills. Invariably, he was knocked out cold at some point in the chase, giving rise to the character's signature catchphrase, "When I regained consciousness..."
Broadfoot also performed the character on stage several times at actual RCMP conventions and events. His popularity was such with the RCMP that his character was promoted to Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
, then Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
Sergeants major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. In Commonwealth countries, Sergeants Major are usually appointments held by senior non-commissioned officers or warrant officers...
. The honourary promotion to Sergeant, complete with all insignia, was given to Broadfoot personally by Commissioner Simmins of the RCMP.