Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Lamar Trotti (screenplay) and
Sonya Levien (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

10 November 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War | Western

Tagline:

Red-Blooded DRAMA !

Plot:

Before the Revolutionary War farmer Martin brings bride Magdelana the Mohawk Valley where they are burned out by Indians...

Plot Keywords:

New York | Farm | Fort | Farmer | Militia

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Claudette Colbert	...	Lana (Magdelana)
Henry Fonda	...	Gilbert Martin
Edna May Oliver	...	Mrs. McKlennar
Eddie Collins	...	Christian Reall
John Carradine	...	Caldwell
Dorris Bowdon	...	Mary Reall
Jessie Ralph	...	Mrs. Weaver
Arthur Shields	...	Reverend Rosenkrantz
Robert Lowery	...	John Weaver
Roger Imhof	...	Gen. Nicholas Herkimer
Francis Ford	...	Joe Boleo
Ward Bond	...	Adam Hartman
Kay Linaker	...	Mrs. Demooth
Russell Simpson	...	Dr. Petry
Spencer Charters	...	Innkeeper

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | USA:Approved (Certificate #5530) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Australia:PG (video rating) | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Duck Creek, Kanab, Utah, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

John Ford's first film in color.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Gil is running to the next fort for help he crosses a stream with the 3 Indians in hot pursuit. The next scene shows him running into the woods and his pant legs are completely dry.

Quotes:

Reverend Rosenkrantz: O Almighty God, hear us, we beseech Thee, and bring succor and guidance to those we are about to bring to Your divine notice. First we are thinking of Mary Walaber. She is only 16 years old, but she is keeping company with a soldier from Fort Dayton. He's a Massachusetts man, and Thou knowest no good can come of that.

Movie Connections:

Edited into My Country 'Tis of Thee (1950)

Soundtrack:

Yankee Doodle

The pioneers, rebuilding their houses and their lives.

When self help books are selling so well, there are some films which have the same effect. As "It's a Wonderful Life" is ideal for someone who is depressed, "Drums Along the Mohawk" should be seen by newlyweds, specially when they are going through hard times. The great heroes here are specially the women, having the gumption to start all over again, when everything is destroyed by the Mohawks, oriented by the British. At the beginning, before the first attack, they are talking about material objects like Wedgewood pottery, but it all changes, themselves included. Edna May Oliver gives an impressive performance, she flirts with a much younger Ward Bond and she even scares the Mohawks. Claudette Colbert is better than in any other film I have seen her, and Henry Fonda good as always.