Drums Along The Mohawk

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Drums along the Mohawk, A review

John Ford (1939)

By Azadeh Ghahghaei

Institute for North American and European Studies, University of Tehran

Having a review over the historical films in American cinema, one may see that assorted films have been made portraying the crucial periods in American history. American Civil War and American Revolution constitute indispensable portion of this history. Among the films that are with respect to history important is Drums along the Mohawk directed by John Ford in 1939. John Ford directed three films in 1939; Stagecoach, Young Mr. Lincoln and Drums along the Mohawk and Drums along the Mohawk was one of the most successful ones as it was Ford’s initial color film. This film was written by Lamar Trotti, Sonya Levien based on a novel of it is kind. It is categorized differently by dissimilar Movie selective information bases as Adventure, War, drama, Western and Action. It was nominated for two Academic awards including Best Supporting Actress and Best Cinematography.

John Ford’s great depiction of American Revolution in the film starts with a scene of a newly-wed couple, Gilbert martin and Lana, being married in the church and saying goodbye to their families. They left the life and ease in Albany and headed for Ohio where they would have been supposed to deal with a harsh life. They moved to their cabin in Mohawk valley while it was a great alter for Lana as her surrounding in her own house was gentler and her new life with Gil needs a harsh physical work. Lana accustoms herself well with the circumstance and soon gives Gil a hand in their farming. Their cabin is located in a valley that is attacked by British, Tories and the Indians being seduced by Tories. Several raids by Indians burn their farmhouse in the primary days of their life. Gil and Lana along with other happy settlers of the valley are forced to move to fort where they could see Indians waste their farms and cabins. Feeling anxious Lana lost a baby that she had on the way. A seeming angry but kind widow, Mrs. McKlennar, shelters Gil and Lana in return she uses Gil as a field hand. Hard life in frontier teaches Lana to be strong and adjust to any unpredictable situation, moreover, she gives birth to a baby that brings pleasure for a while to their home. Gilbert joins the militia fighting with both Indians and British according to General Washington’s order. He returns wounded and earns a good harvest in Mrs. McKlennar’s farm but smooth life does not last long as Indians once again attack them but this time they raid the widow’s cabin and burn her farm. A lot of savage war take place amidst two sides of the front and at last with the support of all strength Americans win and announce their independence from Britain by rising the flag of he American Union.

As cited above, John Ford was the conductor of the Movie who is “one of the biggest American managing directors who made a name as conductor of Westerns”. Out of 125 movies and TV shows that he directed 65 were Westerns. Among the characters of the movie, three are more dominant; namely Gilbert Martin by Henry Fonda, Lana Borst Martin by Claudette Colbert and last but not the least was Mrs. McKlennar played by Edna may Oliver. Oliver was nominated for an Oscar Award for Best Supporting Actress playing this role. The art of the artists enables Ford to “demonstrate heroism and the rugged individual”. Gil and Lana mainly symbolize the warm supporting family environs in America at that time.

There are respective themes that may be discussed here regarding the movies but the leading theme of the movie was the strength of religion. White Anglo-Saxon Protestant emigrating from Britain carries a religious prophecy; they have Christianized Indians, tamed them and taught then how to behave. Through the film, in galore occasions Americans call each other Christians, that means they are more identified with their religion rather that their ethnicity or family background. In one scene when Gil and Lana for the initial time entered their cabin, the only Indian living with them called Gil “Good Christian”. Church as a symbol of religiosity plays a very indispensable role in the film. People love to attend church and pray. More interestingly is that even the political issues like war and ordinary Washington orders are all declared by the priest.

One of the issues that come along this religious obligation by Americans is the depiction of Indians as savage, unskilled and Lunatics. During the fights and war scenes, one could see just Indians fighting, killing, burning and murdering. Lana entering her cabin is unusually scared by the sight of an Indian. Indians treat an old lady wildly and burn her house, Indians think one could tame his husband by a stick, Indians may be bribed easily, Indians may not acquire Language well and at last Indians are half-naked, all of these generate a meaning toward Indians. There is no info represented in regards to Indians except their involvement with British. “To be reasonable to Ford, his interest in the film is not in the particulars of history, in particular cultural history. He’s mesmerized in the reputation of the humans he saw as those who engendered the United States as a country. Still, I think this aspect is a failing in the film. It’s a little too one-sided.” Through this film, a moral humanity has been labeled to Whites. Interestingly sufficient in the movie no White, whether British or American, were dealt with crime, murder or savagery. Another racial group that may be discussed are Blacks with their very minor role in the movies. There are few places that Blacks may be observed; as a soldier, slave and a maiden in Mrs. McKlennar’s house working as a servant.

Self- sacrifice and heroism were bolded in the deep layers of the movie. Lana’s reputation reminds each viewers of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind; the happy, well-born girl in a well-off family that struggles in life and work and sacrifices herself. Lana along the story learns to adjust herself to the difficult new environment. Lana gradually get pride and enjoyment in harvesting crops, she asks her husband to go to war, she heal her husband’s wound kindly when he is back from the battle. Generally, the role women play in this movie was great, exceptionally Lana and Mrs. McKlennar. Women fight with Indians along with their husbands and aid them to prepare farms.

Beyond major issues that are discussed, there come minor elements of American identity in the movie. Americans will not tolerate being oppressed by other countries specifically by British and if it happens again like the Fascism or Nazism in Europe, Americans will once again stand up and assert their freedom. The American reputation of the optimisti feeling that all is going to turn out well was injected in to the movie, even it is setting. Most of the scenes were bright and it conveys a sense of hope to future; once Gil asks Lana not to look back and be hopeful to tomorrow. The conception of flag as an crucial factor of American identity was the ending message of the film; the love and respect they give to their flag is shown properly. It is necessary to mention that American flag was raised in the height and not on the ground.

To conclude the discussion of these movies, I have to mention that American sense of exceptionalism as the superior being in well staged in the film both in terms of religion and morality. Misrepresentation or less-representation of other minority groups proves this claim.

Lawless frontier. Indian attacks. Settlers protecting themselves the only way they recognise how-with guns and courage. In the years before the Revolutionary War, the East was as wild as the West would be one hundred years later. Henry Fonda delivers one of his most unforgettable performances ever as a young frontier leader protecting his family in the backwoods of New York state. Claudette Colbert so-stars as his spirited wife. With a fine supporting cast that also includes Edna May Oliver and John Carradine, this is one of John Ford’s most stimulating historical dramas.

Nineteen thirty-nine is often times proposed as the movies’ halcyon year, and three reasons why were directed by John Ford: Stagecoach, Young Mr. Lincoln, and Drums Along the Mohawk. In that exalted company Drums… would have to be accounted “merely superb”–even if it’s the best film ever made regarding the American Revolution and, oh, only with regards to eighth-best picture of it is year.

Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert play newlyweds in New York’s Mohawk Valley at the time of the Revolutionary War. That war is more a distant rumor than a direct concern of persons with cabins to raise, crops to harvest, and firstborn on the way. When it comes to their valley, in the form of hitherto-peaceable Indians whipped up by a gaunt Tory with an eyepatch (John Carradine), life changes as even though with the passing of a cloud shadow.

In this, his original color film, Ford invented indelible images of the dawning of America: a lone wagon making it is way through acres of long grass rippling in the wind; the Indians, at the onset of their introductory raid, seeming to materialize out of the mist, out of the very trunks of trees; a ragged line of farmers with flintlocks passing along a split-rail fence, then settling into a column, an army, marching toward a distant horizon. (Utah’s Wasatch mountain country stands in persuasively for upstate New York in pioneer days.) Edna May Oliver scored a best-supporting-actress Oscar nomination as a memorably crusty frontier widow, while Ward Bond–oddly omitted from the opening credits–claimed a place of honor in the John Ford Stock Company playing Fonda’s best friend. –Richard T. Jameson

Most helpful customer reviews

72 of 76 people found the following review helpful.
A Revolutionary War classic
By T O’Brien
Drums Along the Mohawk is a very good movie about a period in American history that not many movies have been made about. Set during the Revolutionary War, the story is about two newlyweds and their new life in the Mohawk Valley. The couple is trying to establish themselves with a home and farm of their own, but are interrupted when the British and the Mohawk Indian tribe begin to raid all along the valley. The settlers must deal with the raiding Indians while also trying to survive. There is plenty here for fans of Henry Fonda also. The action scenes are excellent, especially the attack on the fort. However, it is also very effective when the characters talk about a battle and how horrible it was rather than the viewer actually seeing it. An enjoyable film that is still very good!

Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert play Gil and Lana Martin, the newlywed couple struggling to survive. Both are very good and believable as husband and wife. This was a good period for Fonda when he made The Grapes of Wrath around this time. There is an excellent supporting cast, most notably Ward Bond as Adam, Gil’s friend and neighbor, Edna Mae Oliver as the widow Mrs. McLenard, who puts up Gil and Lana when their house is destroyed. She has some incredibly funny scenes especially when some marauding Indians invade her house, but she refuses to leave even as they drag her out on her bed. This is an excellent movie with a great cast and excellent story. Do not miss this Revolutionary War classic!

108 of 117 people found the following review helpful.
Still the best movie about the American Revolution ever made
By Lawrance M. Bernabo
There are relatively few movies about the American Revolution. I think this is due to the fact that the American side lost most of the battles of that war. The battle at Saratoga, the surprise attack at Trenton, and the siege of Yorktown are part of the short list of American victories, and except for the occasion television movie or mini-series, they are rarely touched upon. Consequently, “Drums Along the Mohawk” remains the best of American movie about the revolution even though it was made before World War I and even though the redcoats are not really involved in the fight.

“Drums Along the Mohawk” does not start off as a movie about the American Revolution. Instead it begins as a movie about settling the frontier, which, at that point, was upstate New York. The focus is on a pioneer couple, newlyweds, Gilbert (Henry Fonda) and Magdalena (Claudette Colbert), called Lana. Martin is a farmer who brings his bride to the Mohawk Valley where their home is burned out by Indians allied with the British. The couple are taken in by neighbors after that happens and Martin joins the militia, but the settlers are going to need more men than that to fight the Indians and save the fort from attack.

Based on a novel by Walter D. Edmonds the screenplay for “Drums Along the Mohawk” is by Sonya Levien and Lamar Trotti, although William Faulkner worked on it without receiving credit as well. Edmonds’ history novels were all set in upstate New York and “Drums Along the Mohawk” is about the warfare between the settlers and the Six Nations of the Iroquois allied with the British. The Battle of Oriskany in 1777, fought in a forest, was a American victory although their commander General Nicholas Herkimer (Ralph Imhof) died of his wounds in one of the moving scenes of the film.

This was the third film that John Ford made in 1939, following “Stagecoach” with John Wayne and “Young Mr. Lincoln” with Fonda; his next film would be “The Grapes of Wrath.” Colbert and Fonda are the stars, but they are upstaged by several members of the supporting case, such as Edna May Oliver as Mrs. McKlennar and Arthur Shields as the Reverend Rosenkrantz. The old lady has such an iron will that she can make Indians take her bed out, with her in it, while they are burning down her home, and the reverend has a memorable scene in which he eases the suffering of a tortured settler. Fonda is young and earnest, while Colbert comes to terms with what it means to be living on the American frontier in troubled times.

More than anything else “Drums Along the Mohwawk” is about people coming to the realization that they are Americans, an interpretation more than amply justified by the film’s final scene. These are not the Sons of Liberty living in Boston and dealing with the King’s troops and all those burdensome taxes. These are small families living out on the frontier for whom the idea of the United States of America was as odd as a flag with thirteen red and white stripes with a circle of white stars on a blue field. Perhaps it is because it takes place off the main stage that “Drums Along the Mohawk” manages to hit the right notes.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful.
John Ford and the American Revolution
By Scott T. Rivers
Based on Walter D. Edmonds’ historical novel, “Drums Along the Mohawk” (1939) remains among the few memorable films about the American Revolution. Director John Ford’s first Technicolor production benefits immeasurably from the Oscar-nominated cinematography of Bert Glennon and Ray Rennahan. Though episodic and slow moving in its narrative structure, Ford doesn’t shy away from the brutal savagery of frontier life. Henry Fonda and Edna May Oliver deliver standout portrayals, thus compensating for a miscast Claudette Colbert – the weak link in an otherwise excellent ensemble. Not top-drawer Ford, but entertaining nonetheless.