Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)

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  • DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK


    DIRECTED BY JOHN FORD
    PRODUCED BY RAYMOND GRIFFITH
    EXECUTIVE PRODUCER DARRYL F. ZANUCK
    20th. CENTURY FOX



    Information From IMDb


    Plot Summary
    Gilbert 'Gil' Martin, a civilized man from the East coast colonies, finds himself a loving bride,
    Magdelana 'Lana', and takes her West to start a homestead in the Mohawk Valley (in Upstate New York).
    Gil joins the minutemen, but when the Indians it's named after attack the rebellious colonists,
    instigated by the British, their home and belongings go up in flames, Lana looses their baby.
    Destitute they move and find a wealthy old widow, who is happy to put them up in her fine estate
    in exchange for help from both of them, but the horrors of war catch up, even the fort isn't guaranteed safe...
    Written by KGF Vissers


    Full Cast
    Claudette Colbert ... Magdalena 'Lana' Martin
    Henry Fonda ... Gilbert 'Gil' Martin
    Edna May Oliver ... Sarah McKlennar
    Eddie Collins ... Christian Reall
    John Carradine ... Caldwell
    Dorris Bowdon ... Mary Reall
    Jessie Ralph ... Mrs. Weaver
    Arthur Shields ... Rev. 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
    Si Jenks ... Jacob Small
    Jack Pennick ... Amos Hartman (as J. Ronald Pennick)
    Arthur Aylesworth ... George Weaver
    Chief John Big Tree ... Blue Back (as Chief Big Tree)
    Charles Tannen ... Dr. Robert Johnson
    Paul McVey ... Capt. Mark Demooth
    Tiny Jones ... Mrs. Reall (as Elizabeth Jones)
    Beulah Hall Jones ... Daisy
    Edwin Maxwell ... Rev. Daniel Gros
    Robert Greig ... Mr. Borst - Lana's Father
    Clara Blandick ... Mrs. Borst - Lana's Mother
    Frank Baker ... Commander of Colonial Troops (uncredited)
    Noble Johnson ... Native American (uncredited)
    Mae Marsh ... Pioneer Woman (uncredited)
    Lionel Pape ... General (uncredited)
    Tom Tyler ... Capt. Morgan (uncredited)
    Clarence Wilson ... Paymaster (uncredited)


    Writing Credits
    Walter D. Edmonds (novel)
    Lamar Trotti (writer) and
    Sonya Levien (writer)
    William Faulkner uncredited


    Original Music
    Alfred Newman


    Trivia
    John Ford's first film in color.


    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.


    * Revealing mistakes: When the Indians first attack the settlers during the land clearing,
    the first Indian to shoot at the fleeing settlers fires a musket shot and then falls down as
    though shot before anyone returns fire.


    Filming locations
    Duck Creek, Kanab, Utah, USA
    Kanab, Utah, USA
    Wasatch Range, Utah, USA

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 11 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • Drums Along the Mohawk is a 1939 historical Technicolor film based upon
    a 1936 novel of the same name by American author, Walter D. Edmonds.
    The film was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck and directed by John Ford.
    Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert portray settlers on the New York frontier
    during the American Revolution.
    The couple suffer British, Tory, and Indian attacks on their farm
    before the Revolution ends and peace is restored.
    The film—Ford's first color feature—was well received,
    was nominated for two Academy Awards and became a major box office success,
    grossing over US$1 million in its first year.
    This was also the first time Claudette Colbert would be filmed in color.
    While filming Claudette Colbert had actually worried
    she might have not looked as good in color as she did in black and white



    I liked this film,, and it seemed so different.
    It was of course, John Ford's first film in colour,
    and how striking it was!
    Henry Fonda, played a great and inspiring part,
    and made a great partnership with Claudette Colbert.
    As with any Ford movie, a few of the stock company
    here as well,
    Ward Bond, Jack Pennick, John Carridine,
    Mae Marsh, and Arthur Shields.
    A trial and tribulation story of the folks,
    who would be be pestered by colonists,
    and if that was not enough, Indians!

    Quote

    Released one week prior to the release of the Claire Trevor-John Wayne film Allegheny Uprising,
    set in the same time period of history, Drums Along the Mohawk was the better received of the two.

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 4 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • Been a long time since I saw this one but as I recall it's a good un.

    Greetings from North of the 49th

  • I agree, this is a great movie, and is one of my most favorite Henry Fonda movies next to: The Grape of Wrath. John Ford did an excellent job in making this movie and the color was-WOW. Now that I have it on DvD, everytime I watch this movie, I also have to watch: Unconquered w/ Gary Cooper-as a companion feature.

    Es Ist Verboten Mit Gefangenen In Einzelhaft Zu Sprechen..

  • I agree, this is a great movie, and is one of my most favorite Henry Fonda movies next to: The Grape of Wrath. John Ford did an excellent job in making this movie and the color was-WOW. Now that I have it on DvD, everytime I watch this movie, I also have to watch: Unconquered w/ Gary Cooper-as a companion feature.



    Drums Along The Mohawk by John Ford and Unconquered by Cecil B DeMille. It doesn't get much better. Though, the former is about the American Revolution, the latter about the French-Indian War.

  • Hi WaynamoJim, completely agree and yep, know which wars they represented. I think I favor Unconquered more since I like Gary Cooper a bit more than Henry Fonda.

    Es Ist Verboten Mit Gefangenen In Einzelhaft Zu Sprechen..

  • ringo kid!
    I also highly recommend another Ford film made in 39.
    Drums Along the Mohawk... also with Henry Fonda,Claudette Colbert,John Carradine and Ward Bond.

    ''baby sister i was born game and intend to go out that way.''

  • IVE SEEN DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK ABOUT 50 TIMES.ANOTHER GREAT FILM.ITS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE AS WELL.ONE OF THE GREAT MANY SCENES IS Fonda pursued by Indians for a long chase over woodlands, finally wearing out his pursuers who collapse from sheer exhaustion.

  • Another great entry in the John Ford canon. Agreed, the chase scene is fantastic and the ransack of the homestead.
    I've always thought the Carradine role as very undefined and never Clearly explained.

    "Pour yourself some backbone and shut up!"

  • Just seen again, good fun.


    Looking back at it these days, it's like
    one long western period costume drama


    However well played by Fonda and Corbett
    and a special treat with the addition of
    a John Ford favourite Chief John Big Tree

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England