Drums Along the Mohawk
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Movie Reviews of Drums Along the Mohawk
Movie Review: Drums Along the Mohawk
Summary: 5 Stars
Ever since I learned that John Ford had a deal to direct two films for the studio in exchange for one that he wanted to do I've found myself trying to figure which category his individual films belong in. They Were Expendable and The Quiet Man are definite John Ford movies. The studio may have greenlighted those movies, but they were both close to Ford's heart.
1939's DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK doesn't seem imbued with quite the degree of burning passion that marks Ford's more personal films. This story of a young farm couple (Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert) in the upper Mohawk Valley during the Revolutionary War doesn't suffer much for it, though. This is a beautiful - very nice Technicolor restoration, guys - and exciting story of late colonial life in America. Young Gil Martin (Fonda) brings his new bride Lana (Colbert) to his humble farm on the fringe of the wilderness. Along the way they cross paths with the nefarious Caldwell (an eye-patched John Carradine), who's probably a Tory (a bad thing) and is probably going to foment a little counter-revolution among the local Indian tribes (a very bad thing.)
There's a Golden Classics feel to DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK. Which, come to think of it, may be why I like it so much. The bad guy is apparent early on and the story line is uncomplicated. The bad Indians are scurrilous and the good Indian, Blue Back (Chief John Big Tree) is a good Christian and an even better comedy foil. When the humor isn't being politically incorrect (as such things are understood in the early years of the 21st century) it's a little broad and vulgar - nothing too unusual for Ford. DRUMS was nominated for two Academy Awards - pretty good for a movie made in 1939. Although it didn't win any, Edna May Oliver was wonderful in her supporting actress role as a tough frontier widow (with a heart of gold, of course. This is a John Ford movie, after all.) And Ray Rennahan and Bert Glennon also received nominations for best color cinematography. There's a short split-screen featurette showing the before and after restoration images as well as a black-and-white trailer.
Movie Review: Phenomenal Restoration of a "Must-See" Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Movie: ***** DVD Transfer: **** 1/2 Extras: ***
"Drums Along the Mohawk" is prime John Ford, an example of the screen Americana of which he and fellow director Henry King were masters. Based on a popular novel by Walter Edmonds, the story concerns the trials and tribulations of a young couple (beautifully played by Claudette Colbert and Henry Fonda) who settle in New York's Mohawk Valley, only to become swept up in the American Revolution. Presented as a series of vignettes, the movie begins with the couple's marriage ceremony and follows them as they travel through the wilderness; set up a home; clear their land; begin a family; and are finally faced with the challenge of fighting the Redcoats and the American Indians who have allied themselves with the British. Questions of historical accuracy aside, the film is superbly acted (with an especially notable performance by distinctive actress Edna May Oliver, who received an Oscar nomination for her work), meticulously directed, and spectacularly photographed in breathtaking three-strip IB Technicolor.
Happily, Fox Home Video invested the time and money necessary to have this classic film digitally restored for its debut on DVD. Having owned the previous VHS and LaserDisc releases of this movie, I can attest that "Drums Along the Mohawk" has never looked so stunning. Although the print is not perfect (several key scenes are marred by a soft quality that appears as subtle red or green outlines among the actors' faces), the video overall is cleaner, crisper, and more free of artifacts than ever before, and the sound is remarkably clear. Besides a restoration comparison, the DVD also includes a theatrical trailer for the film, probably prepared for a mid-1940's re-release since it is presented in black-and-white. (20th Century-Fox was in the habit of reissuing many of its Technicolor classics in black-and-white versions during the post-war years to reduce the cost of new prints.) Minor quibbles aside, this DVD offers a remarkably beautiful transfer of a "must-see" classic, and is heartily recommended for inclusion in your home video library.
Movie Review: The Duke Snider of 1939
Summary: 5 Stars
In his initial book on baseballThe Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract Bill James when picking the best baseball players of all time he comments on how sometimes talent stacks at positions. This is a great description of the movies of 1939.
Drums Along the Mohawk is sometimes forgotten because of epics like Gone with the Wind and Stagecoach and the Wizard of Oz just as Duke Snider is because of Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio. In almost any other year this might have managed to be the best picture of the year, in 1939 it wasn't even the best picture made by John Ford.
Yet the movie shines as Henry Fonda takes his new wife Claudette Colbert into the wilderness of New York State to being a new life. That plot alone would make a good movie but with a backdrop of the American Revolution, a spectacular supporting cast such as Ward Bond and John Carradine and particularly Edna May Oliver as Mrs. McKlennar the movie shines producing drama, comedy and action in a package as beautifully shot as it is acted.
To say this is a movie that shouldn't be missed in an incredible understatement.
Movie Review: Beautiful Technicolor, Moving Story
Summary: 5 Stars
DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK was one of the greatest triumphs of the greatest year in film history, 1939, and it still packs a wallop after almost seventy years. Starring two of the finest talents of the era, Claudette Colbert and Henry Fonda the film was directed by the legendary John Ford and features an Oscar-nominated performance as Edna May Oliver as a harsh on the outside, soft on the inside pioneer widow. The movie is thoroughly entertaining and can be enjoyed by those who enjoy action films or romances - the latter somewhat secondary, but the parting scene between Colbert and Fonda as he goes off to battle and she keeps running for one last look is certainly one of the most famous goodbye scenes in film history.
This DVD has a beautiful print of the film, one wishes there were a few more extras but it's low-priced and definately worth every penny. This is one "old movie" I think will have a strong appeal to people who don't particular care for older films and for those who love the classics, it will likely become one of your favorite movies.
Movie Review: Explores the "unknown" American Revolution on the Frontier
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great movie that just gets better with the years. Released in 1939 it had to compete with "Gone With the Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz", so it ran a little under the radar. When it comes to the Revolutionary War 99% of people think Gen. Washington at Valley Forge, Brandywine and the climatic battle at Yorktown VA. Maybe more interesting and just as important was the war that was fought on the American Frontier. That is the subject of this movie and it is done well. A boyish Henry Fonda plays Gil Martin and Claudette Colbert (who received top billing over Fonda) stars as his wife, Lana. Clothing and props are authentic as well as the flintlock rifles that are used. John Carridine does a great job as "Caldwell", the Loyalist leader of the Indian forces that attack the "whig" settlers. Best of all it has been digitally remastered and looks better than ever. A special features section explains how this was done. It is good to finally see this movie on DVD and it should be in the library of everyone who enjoys historically based movies.