Northwest Passage (1940)

So much average

Overrated

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

I've been watching this movie occasionally since 1950, whenever it was on. It has all the attributes of a classic, scenery, music and strong acting not to mention the display of core American values and early American hardiness. It still fascinates me to think of New York as the edge of the frontier. The story is accentuated by the fact I have visited the Hudson River area up to Fort Ticonderoga and the difference between this area and New York City is simply beyond comparison. If I have any criticism of this movie it is my wish the movie name had been more appropriate to the story and the related historic expedition. It is a great movie in the tradition of all great movies, simply entertaining! What A Great Movie!

Many people who speculate that a sequel to this movie was never made because of the animosity between the director and Spencer Tracy ought to also read author Kenneth Roberts' comments about it. He was horrified at the movie. He probably refused to release the rights to Book II because of his disgust. I have come to like the movie, but when I first saw it, I crashed in disappointment.Perhaps the greatest character in historical fiction, Cap Huff, is reduced to a nondescript tavern keeper. I dragged a friend to see this movie, because I had read the book 10 times, and told him what to expect. Within minutes, I was apologizing to him.The romance between Langdon Towne and Elizebeth Browne in the book was tortuous. She was a manipulative shrew, and, in real life, married Rogers! Towne was grateful that Rogers has saved him from her.It is Sgt. Ogden who gets shot through the abdomen in the book (and in real life --- Roberts' novels were always amazing in their detailed research), but it is Towne who gets shot in the movie. Hunk Marriner was mortally wounded in the gunpowder explosion (accurately portrayed in the movie), but Brennan's terrific portrayal has a different destiny for Hunk.Go easy on "old men" being with the Rangers. They WERE in the Rangers. They were tough as Brazil nuts in those days, wiry and durable. Jesse Beacham is well done in the movie.At times, the movie is "spot-on" with the book, but as noted above, sometimes not. It was all too much for Kenneth Roberts. In the end, his disdain for Hollywood may be the real reason a sequel was never made.

A buddy of ours stopped by not long ago. Knowing that the little Lady,Deanna (nee Jones)and myself are film buffs, his conversation began, "I saw that Spencer Tracy, NORTHWEST PASSAGE, the other day. It was colorized this time!", he stated. "No, Randy," we both said, "it was filmed in color, Technicolor." Well, old Randy may have had his facts wrong about color film.But he sure picked the right movie to discuss. NORTHWEST PASSAGE (MGM, 1940)has to be on anyone's top film list. It's based on Kenneth Roberts' novel of pre-Revolutionary American Colonies, of what History calls The French & Indian Wars.Now, the reference does refer to an armed conflict between The French and some Indian Nation(s); but rather a series of Conflicts of The French and Allied Indian Tribes against the British-American settlers, particularly those who were pushing westward from the Eastern Seaboard to places like Western Pennsylvania and New York, and Ohio.WARNING!!!! POLITICAL INCORRECTNESS AHEAD!!! LIBERALS and other POLLY ANNA TYPES BEWARE!!!! (Well, we warned you!) The attacks on settlers was horrifying with the hatchet chopping of prisoners, the rape, torture & killing of the women. Please, we've heard all of the stories about the "Noble Savage". They are mainly a pile of pure Sophomoric B.S., and no more true now than they were in the settlers' times.The 'Political Correct'types take offense at our being honest about the culture and behaviour of the Tribes toward the European settlers. But stop and consider this. What about the Tribes' treatment of their neighboring tribes? They were as brutal to enemy tribes as to the settlers. The French & Indian Wars were not examples of racially pure combatants, or a "us versus them" conflict. There were different tribes of Red Men align allied with either side.Now, as to the film, NORTHWEST PASSAGE, we need only look at the cast and see what talent old Louis B. Mayer and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer invested so much of their best talents in it.The duties of directing this Historical Celluloid Novel would go to a man of experience and style. Director King Vidor was that guy of style and substance, but also he was a man of great experience and versatility. His films ranged from Westerns, Comedies, Romances, Crime Drama and even Social Commentary. He worked for the 'big boys'(as in this film's Studio, MGM) and done his own Independents.The Players list features Stars Spencer Tracy (Major Rogers), Robert Young (tenderfoot, Langdon Towne), Walter Brennan ('Hunk' Marriner), Ruth Hussey(Elizabeth)all as the main characters. The supporting cast is equally stellar in its own way and does its job in making the film an all time great. Names like Nat Pendleton, Donald MacBride, Addison Richards, Regis Toomey, Montagu Love, Verna Felton, Edward Gargan, Truman Bradley, Eddie Parker and a cast of thousands (litterally) just blended in forming a great and multi faceted canvas for Mr. Vidor's visual, celluloid masterpiece of a "painting".The historically based story involves the activities of Major Robert Rogers(Spence), a Major and Commanding Officer of a Colonial Milita group known as "Rogers' Rangers"*. The Major has been charged with the task of raiding a full compliment of men to bring his Rangers to a status of being well beyond full strength. They are to proceed west across Lake Champlain in Up State New York via whaling boat, then by foot up north to French Territory in present day Quebec. There his force has a mission with a twofold purpose. They are to deliver a strike against the Abanoki Indians to kill as many of their warriors as possible. This is in retribution to raids by the French supported Indfian Tribe which massacred so many women and children the previous year. The raid is also a preemptive one, which will keep the 18th Century Terrorists busy in their own land and less enthusiastic about the scalping of women and the braining of babies.The story moves along from Newe England to the wilderness. The portrayals of Rogers by Spencer Tracy is powerful, poignant, funny, tough and tender. Robert Young(as fugitive recruit, Langdon Towne) is cultured, educated and tough, even tougher than he had thought, because of this expedition.The decision to take the Movie on location to the Pacific Northwest where deep woods and beautiful waterways were found to be abundant. The use of the wooded land that did a fine job as a setting for the wilderness, which is now parts of New York State, Pennsylvania, Ohio and the Province of Quebec.And the tension that was conveyed as it would be for a clandestinely moving, night traveling force. here is one scene involving French Soldiers and their Indian allies moving along the water way, with the Rangers perched high on a hill overlooking their passage. It'll give you goosebumps, honest Injun! From beginning to end, the film is a work of true beauty and a fine example of just how great of an Art the Cinema truly can be.Give it as many Stars as is permitted! If you have seen it, get it and keep a copy in your collection. As 'Hunk' Marriner would say, "If ya ain't seen it yet,shame on ya! Now, go 'n' do it right away, now!" * We feel sort of short changed as the opening read "NORTHWEST PASSAGE: BOOK I, ROGERS' RANGERS". And indeed, there are reports that a sequel was planned, but never materialized. There was a TV Series of NORTHWEST PASSAGE (1958-59)on NBC, which was a production of MGM Television.It starred Keith Larsen (Major Robert Rogers), Buddy Ebsen('Hunk' Marriner) and Don Burnett (Langdon Towne).

Roger's Rangers became the inspiration for the formation of the modern Army's Rangers units.Revived in World War II to accomplish missions that no one in their right-mind would even consider, they lead the way in numerous extremely hazardous operations. Probably the most famous was the assault up the sheer cliff faces of Pont du Hoc during the invasion of Festung Europe on June 6th 1944. They took 50% casualties in that operation.This movie, NORTHWEST PASSAGE, depicts the ill-fated operation by the first American Rangers. It demonstrates their ingenuity, determination and fortitude in the face of every possible adversity one can expect in time of war.I went through the Army's Ranger Course in 1980. It was a demanding year of my life and I have to admit, after seeing this movie, quite by accident several years later, I was reminded of everything that the training regime put me through. I was especially impressed with how Roger's men had to suffer from the deprivations of no logistical support to provide subsistence. I swear....it was a sorry water moccasin (snake) that crossed my patrol's path in Florida. You'd hear the word, whispered, "Snake." Followed immediately by the sound of several machetes being pulled from sheaths and a short 'splash'.When we finished the last operation, the night assault on Santa Rosa Island, we were as jubilant as Roger's men were when they were 'relieved' by the British column. And we celebrated, about the same way....FOOOOOoooOD!