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Northwest Passage [VHS]
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Product Details/SpecificationsActor(s):
Spencer Tracy
Robert Young
Walter Brennan
Ruth Hussey
Nat Pendleton
Creators:
Bruno Frank (Writer)
Conrad Richter (Writer)
Elizabeth Hill (Writer)
Frances Marion (Writer)
Jack Singer (Writer)
Director(s):
Jack Conway King Vidor W.S. Van Dyke
Recording label: MGM (Warner) EAN: 9786301973243Binding: VHS TapeISBN: 6301973240Number of items: 1Format: Color, NTSC, Release Date: 1994-06-22Universal product code (UPC): 027616113238Audience rating: NR (Not Rated)Amazon.com
One is compelled to say, in these Politically Correct times, that Northwest Passage takes a distinctly "unenlightened" view of the 18th-century American colonists' Indian neighbors. Then again, everything about the world portrayed in this early-Technicolor production is harsh: the repressive policies of the Crown-backed Boston magistrates, the expectations Maj. Robert Rogers (Spencer Tracy) has for his guerrilla warrior band, the bloodthirsty war-making by the Abenagi Indians (reciprocated in kind by the colonials), the ferocity of flood-swollen wilderness rivers, and the breathtaking, unforgiving vastness of the virgin forest in which, surrounded by beauty, Rogers's Rangers very nearly starve to death. As an action film, Northwest Passage peaks early with a predawn, retaliatory raid on an Indian village--horrific choreography by the master filmmaker who made The Big Parade. But the grim march back from this mission is too harrowing to call anticlimactic. Robert Young and Walter Brennan costar. --Richard T. Jameson
Northwest Passage--DVD PLEASE!!!Review Date: 2010-07-15 Rating: 8 out of 10I recall vividly having to read Kenneth Robert's novel, NORTHWEST PASSAGE, in my High School History class with the usual adolescent ambivalence, that is until I saw the movie.......shortly thereafter I zipped thru this saga of an amazing historical figure, Major Robert Rogers and his daring exploits through the French & Indian war. In college I studied Cinema as a minor and it has been a passion I cannot satisfy to this day. Spencer Tracy, one of MGM's incredibly gifted actors, had the starring role of Major Rogers and delivered yet another impassioned performance despite the sweltering heat and humidity (the swamp scenes when Roger's Rangers were striking out for the Abanaki Indian stronghold) and drinking incessantly (he NEVER allowed his vice to interfere with a role, a consumate performer like Barrymore). Robert Young, fortunately cast as Langdon Towne, a Harvard Divinity dropout pursuing his dream of being a painter and united with the Rangers as a map maker following a civic dispute with the Local British Magistrate; and who can forget the great Walter Brennan as the faithful back woodsman Hunk Mariner....the three forming an uneasy but respectful alliance in a common goal: the annihilation of the Abanaki Tribe for their years of slaughter and mayhem (at the direction of the French Army in hopes of driving the British off the North American continent). `
This film was beautifully shot in several locales, taking advantage of the natural landscape, pristine lakes, turbulent rivers, spectacular forests--all representative of the bounty of Natural resources that made the "new world" so desirable for other countries (the real impetus for Native Americans to fight so valiantly if not visciously). This story is the quintissential adventure tale; the secret mission, an elite force of highly disciplined woodsmen and soldiers; the clash of idealism and realism in a violent historical conflict......unfortunately the film was not a box office success; despite a first-rate cast, director, script and cinematography; perhaps for this reason it is not available on DVD. There are VHS copies still available although I'm certain the quality is suspect. It is my hope that MGM will consider producing the DVD, I believe this is another of those wonderful films delving into Colonial America (see John Wayne in "Allegheny Uprising) and I am certain if you are a first-time viewer you too will enjoy this incredible film.
ReviewsWhere is the DVD?Review Date: 2010-07-03 Rating: 10 out of 10A great American film based on a great American author's book, about America's early history. A great actor in his greatest action film. A true story of war, savagery, and vengeance in Colonial New York. Roger's Rangers are considered the "father of the U.S. Army Green Berets". Merrill's Marauders 5307th in WWII Burma followed Roger's tactics.
Fine French and Indian War filmReview Date: 2010-04-26 Rating: 8 out of 10"Northwest Passage" zings with adrenalin from start to finish. This is mostly due to Spencer Tracey's enormous energy, but it's also the direction of King Vidor and the excellent Technicolor photography of Sidney Wagner and William Skall.
Spencer Tracey is ranked 9th among AFI's Greatest Male Stars. He won 2 Oscars ("Captains Courageous" in 1937 and "Boys Town" in 1938) and was nominated 7 more times. Personally I think his best performances were "Inherit the Wind" (1960) and "Judgment at Nuremberg" (1961). His acting method was - "Come to work on time, know your lines and don't bump into the other actors." Tracey plays Ranger head Rogers.
Robert Young made nearly 100 films from 1928 to 1954, when he moved to TV. He's best known to us as Jim Anderson from "Father Knows Best" (1954 - 60) and as Marcus Welby from "Marcus Welby" (1969 - 76), one of the few actors to have such longevity in TV. His memorable film performances include "Western Union" (1941), "Claudia" (1943) and "Crossfire" (1947). King Vidor said of Young - "Here is a superb actor without a single problem...Bob is completely on top of his profession." Young plays a young cartographer named Towne.
Walter Brennan won 3 Oscars for Best Supporting Actor ("Come and Get it" in 1936, "Kentucky" in 1938, and "The Westerner" in 1941) and was nominated for his work in "Sergeant York" (1941). We know him best for his Emmy nominated role in the TV series "The Real McCoys", and his film comedies ("The Over the Hill Gang") or as the grumpy side kick Stumpy in "Rio Bravo", but he was equally capable of playing the villain, as he showed in "The Westerner" (1940), "My Darling Clementine" (1946), and again In "How the West Was Won" (1962). Brennan plays Young's sidekick.
The troops contain some of the busiest and most talented character actors in Hollywood. Here's a partial look -
- Addison Richards appeared in more than 300 films between 1933 and 1964. He specialized mostly in drama (e.g., "Santa Fe Trail", "Men of Boy's Town") but could also do comedy (e.g., "My Little Chickadee", "Andy Hardy Meets Debutant"). In the 1960s he made a successful transition to TV and was a regular on many shows. Richards plays Lt. Crofton.
- Regis Toomey appeared in nearly 200 films from 1929 to 1987. He's best known for his recurring roles in Petticoat Junction (1968-9) as Dr. Stuart and "Burke's Law" (1963-5) as Detective Hart. He was in such classics as G-Men" (1935), "Union Pacific" (1939), "Confessions of a Nazi Spy" (1939), and "They Died with their Boots on" (1941). I remember him best for his role as the Operations Manager in "The High and the Mighty" (1954). He's the guy who says "So long, so long you ancient Pelican" as John Wayne lumbers away. In this film he plays Webster.
- Nat Pendleton appeared in over 100 films. He played a tough guy in Marx Brothers films ("Horse Feathers", "At the Circus") and with Abbott and Costello ("Buck Privates", "Buck Privates Come Home"). He's best remembered for his continuing role in the Dr. Kildare (1938-40) and Dr. Gillepsie films (1942-3) as Joe Wayman. In this film he plays Cap' Huff.
- Robert Barrat appeared in more than 100 films. He did 7 films with Jimmy Cagney (e.g., "The Mayor of Hell") and appeared in such classics as "The Life of Emile Zola" (1937), "Captain Blood" (1935), "Union Pacific" (1939), and "They Were Expendable" (1945). He's best remembered for his role as Chingachgook in "Last of the Mohicans" (1939).
King Vidor directed. Vidor was nominated for an Oscar in 1928 ("The Crowd"), 1929 ("Hallelujah"), 1931 ("The Champ"), 1938 ("Citadel") and 1956 ("War and Peace"). He never won. He is listed in the Guinness Book as having the longest career as a film director (67 years).
The full title of the film is "Northwest Passage: Part 1. Rogers Rangers". The best selling 1937 book by Kenneth Roberts (co-written by Booth Talkington) is basically a two part book, dealing with the actions covered in this film and having an entire topic dealing with the subsequent years involving Rogers, Towne and Elizabeth.
Though MGM announced its intention to produce the second part, it never happened - some people claim it was due to the costs and difficulties involved in the first film, while others argue that the second half is anti-British, and 1940 was not a good year to be making anti-British films. Others argue that it was Roberts dislike of the first film, which deviated substantially from the book in some importanty respects, that resulted in his refusal to cooperate with a sequel.
The film was nominated for Best (Color) Cinematography, but lost to "The Thief of Bagdad." Sidney Wagner was nominated again in 1944 for "Dragon Seed" and his partner William V Skall has 6 more nominations (e.g., "The Silver Chalice", "Quo Vadis", "Life with Father") and one win ("Joan of Arc") in 1948. Skall specialized in Technicolor while Wagner also worked in B&W.
All things considered, this is a terrific film. Acting, photography, and direction are all excellent, and the story is compelling. It is one of the very few films to deal with the French and Indian Wars, the only other notable film being "The Last of the Mohicans" which was filmed in 1920, 1932, and 1933 and again by Michael Mann in 1992 (the best version), and "The Pathfinder", a 1953 film with George Montgomery and Jay Silverheels.
An Outstanding Classic FilmReview Date: 2009-09-04 Rating: 10 out of 10The movie, Northwest Passage, depicts the exploits of Major Robert Rogers and his Rangers during the French and Indian War. The events and characters portrayed in the film are based on the novel of the same name, authored by Kenneth Roberts. Roberts in turn was inspired by the real life Rogers. Northwest Passage, after some initial character exposition, relates the tale of a raid on the village of St. Francis, located in Canada, near the southern shore of the St. Lawrence River. During the war, St. Francis, inhabited by the Abenaki Indians, was allied with the French and served as a base of operations for attacking British targets, both military and civilian. It was Rogers' task to eliminate this threat. Rogers and his men were primarily New England backwoodsmen, the special forces of their day; tough, savvy in the art of woodcraft, legendary for their daring, and endurance. They were particularly adept at gorilla warfare, or as the French called it, petite guerre, meaning small war.
Northwest Passage, in my opinion, is a classic movie (yes, it does need to be put on DVD) that skillfully blends actual historic figures and events with characters novelized by Roberts, such as Langdon Towne, and Hunk Mariner. Spencer Tracy is brilliant in the starring role of the fabled Major. Rogers was a natural leader of men, gifted with the rare talent of keeping his men motivated during the bleakest of situations or circumstances. Tracy's portrayal exudes these qualities as he guides his Rangers on their long trek to St. Francis and back, through spruce bogs, raging rivers, the pursuit of French and Indians, hunger and finally starvation. Robert Young as Towne, turns in an exceptional performance, portraying an aspiring artist sacked from Harvard College, but now coming to terms with the violence and brutality that characterized the French and Indian War. Walter Brennan, as was his forte, excels in the supporting role of Mariner, a man on the run for speaking his mind, a man who was able to wisecrack his way through the same brutal conditions experienced by Towne and the rest of Rogers' Rangers.
Northwest Passage, in a fairly accurate way, depicts the severe conditions that Rogers and his men faced on their journey back from St. Francis. However, the actual truth is only touched at the surface. The fact is that food along the way was practically nonexistent. Lt. Crofton's bundle, containing the head of an Abenaki Indian, only hints at the true story of the cannibalism that took place in order to stave off starvation and death. I do give the movie credit for even addressing this issue in a 1940 film. The supporting cast, those actors who play the men of Rogers' Rangers, give a credible overall performance, portraying individuals who suffered from hunger and privation, keeping death at arms length, while somehow finding an inner strength to go on, with only the smallest glimmer of hope. Regis Toomey, who portrays Ranger Webster, displayed in an effective, but understated way, characteristics that were evident in Rangers; a certain loyalty, determination and stoicism, and the willingness to mix it up for a cause they believed in, or for a friend and fellow Ranger.
One aspect of the film that I thought was lacking in credibility, centered on the portrayals of the Stockbridge Indians, and the British General Jeffery Amherst. I believe that the Stockbridge allies of Rogers were not given their proper due. As for Amherst, he was portrayed more as a smiling buffer between Rogers and Sir William Johnson (the King's Superintendent of Indian Affairs), than as the outstanding military officer that he was. Neither of these portrayals significantly detracts from the movie in general, but better handling of these parts most likely would have made the movie even better.
Another wonderful aspect of this film is the scenery. I believe that the beautiful outdoor footage was filmed somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. The location used for shooting was highly reminiscent of the actual historic ground covered by Rogers in upstate New York, as well as the countryside and Lake Champlain region of Vermont. The scenic views in the movie, as in real life, are quite spectacular.
As I noted earlier, Northwest Passage is a classic and a film that I have enjoyed watching and re-watching for many years. It is a film that combines actual events, with good acting, good writing and good direction. It is a film that portrays a period in American history not always viewed in its proper perspective. It is a film that can be watched and enjoyed for a variety of reasons. I highly recommend this movie.
One of the Best, for that Period in HollywoodReview Date: 2009-07-19 Rating: 10 out of 10They simply do not make movies like this any more. If they do, they're premised as Fantasy, the more recent Pirate Movies with Johnny Depp - all camp & slapstick. Period pieces where people fight for their freedoms seem to be taboo in Hollywood ever since the late 1980's. Sad to see the best part be left behind.
An absolutely great movie starring one of the best Actors ever.
Spencer Tracy had a way of being just as good as John Wayne in these types of films. He was also just as good as Cary Grant or Jimmy Stewart in the late 30's and early 40's style genre they did. Tracy got to work with some of the greatest actresses in Hollywood, period.
I've searched high and low for this Film on DVD, for some time, and had no luck until just now. I just found a link where they swear this is a Hollywood release DVD - then goes on to claim all others are copies. The price isn't bad considering many of the best movies ever aren't being copied over to this format, for some reason.
[...]
Maybe Amazon.com can get in contact with this person and work something out. The other shame is AMC on Cable will no longer show those old greats. You now have to purchase extra Cable-TV packages to get Turner Classic Movies instead.
Good luck
Fan of the Great Old Movies
Running time: 126 minutesTheatrical release date: 1940-02-23
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