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:

Clarence Wilson in the role as "Paymaster" and Lionel Pape in the role of "General" are in studio records/casting call lists as cast members, but they did not appear or were not identifiable in the movie.

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:

Referenced in "Grim & Evil: The Firebird Sweet/The Bubble with Billy (#4.12)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Yankee Doodle

This is one of my favorite films.

This film has everything, drama, humor, and action. My favorite character is Mrs. McKlennar, played by the great Dame Edna May Oliver (also see her in A Tale of Two Cities). She's got the right combination of real independence, sauciness, and feeling. Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert are also fine as Gil and Lana. The usual John Ford stock company (Ward Bond, Arthur Shields, etc.) are in evidence in the well cast supporting roles. I'm kind of surprised that no one has targeted this story for a remake, though it might be a case of watching out what you wish for - it could be ruined by political correctness. Anyway, sit back and enjoy.