Excellent, a Must See

Boring

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

This movie is definitely a good watch but it's also definitely not a movie that is without its disappointments. You can't really blame anyone involved with this movie for that, since this movie was a troubled production from pretty much the start on already, which is also the reason why the initially planned sequel never got made.It's a movie with an adventurous story but yet at the same time there is also very little interesting, action- and entertaining-wise happening. It's mostly being a traveling movie, in which there is lots of talking but just too little action and else to enjoy and to consider this an entertaining movie to watch. They should had really attempted to spice up things a bit more, by perhaps putting in stronger characters and tell the story from some more different perspectives. That way the story would at least had been more lively and interesting to watch. The movie now mostly feels like a very long sit, even though the movie is just over 2 hours long.But all these complaints don't mean that it's an horrible movie, by any means. It's still a good movie for what is is and you also have to keep in mind that this was an early '40's movie. Movies back in those days just weren't as fast paced and action packed as movies now days. They also certainly don't feature so much corny dialog as this movie does. It was quite laughable at times really and it made me cringe more than once.It's great that this movie got shot in full color. They make the wooded environments more vivid and also help the story to get more alive and involving to follow. Also definitely great to see Spencer Tracy in color, at a still relatively young age. Most big Hollywood leads from the good old days, like for instance Humphrey Bogart, never looked too well in color but Spencer Tracy is definitely an exception to this.Under the circumstances, it's not really a movie that did an awful lot wrong but it also at the same time didn't do much original or specular with its story either. This movie is definitely a good watch but it's just not a movie that I want to watch again, any time soon.7/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Exciting picture with open-air spectacular scenes starts depicting in a foreword : ¨This is a story of our early America..of the century of conflict with French and Indians .. when necessity made simple men, unknown to history, into giants in daring and endurance . It begins on Potmouth New Hampshire in 1759...¨ This Technicolor MGM classical describing the troop of Rogers' Rangers battling the hostile Indians and wilderness. The historical novel Northwest Passage (1937), by American author Kenneth Roberts, portrayed the events of Rogers' Rangers' raid on the Abenaki town of St. Francis. The first half of the novel was adapted in this film by Talbot Jennings and Laurence Stallings , being lavishly produced and uncomprimisingly directed by King Vidor . It actually intents to be the first of a two-part epic but the second half was never realized and the Northwest passage itself is never seen. The picture is packed with spectacular battles, heroism , heartbreaking scenes and blood-letting deeds . The main cast ans secondary support give good performances with special mention to Spencer Tracy , Walter Brennan and Robert Young. It contains marvelously photographed in glimmer Technicolor by Henry Jaffa and adequate musical score by Herbert Stothart. This is a winner for Spencer Tracy fans.The story is based on real events , these are the following : During 1759, the Rangers were involved in one of their most famous operations: they were ordered to destroy the Abenaki settlement of Saint-Francis in Quebec. It has been the base for raids and attacks of British settlements. Rogers led a force of 200 rangers from Crown Point deep into French territory. Following the October 3, 1759 attack and successful destruction of Saint-Francis, Rogers' force ran out of food during their retreat through the wilderness of northern Vermont. Once the Rangers reached a safe location along the Connecticut River at the abandoned Fort Wentworth, Rogers left them encamped. He returned a few days later with food, and relief forces from Fort at Number 4 now Charlestown, New Hampshire, the nearest English town.In the raid on Saint-Francis, Rogers claimed 200 enemies were killed, leaving 20 women and children to be taken prisoner, of whom he took five children prisoner and let the rest go . The French recorded that only 30 were killed, including 20 women and children. According to Francis Parkman Ranger casualties in the attack were 1 killed and 6 wounded; however in the retreat, 5 were captured from one band of Rangers and nearly all in another party of about 20 Rangers were killed or captured. One source alleges that of about 204 Rangers, allies and observers, only about 100 returned.

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).