DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK

US, 1939, 103 minutes, Colour.
Claudette Colbert, Henry Fonda, Edna May Oliver, Eddie Collins, John Carradine, Arthur Shields, Ward Bond, Russell Simpson.
Directed by John Ford.

Drums Along the Mohawk is a different kind of western for John Ford. During the 1930s he made a number of standard westerns and then, in 1939 also, directed Stagecoach. This was a breakthrough film for him and also for westerns.

However, this is a film about the American war of revolution. Henry Fonda plays a farmer who brings his young bride to his farm. The British are controlling Indians – and the Indians attack the farm and destroy it. However, not dispirited, the young farmer and his wife continue to build and re-establish their lives.

Claudette Colbert and Henry Fonda are a strong team. Henry Fonda would be Ford’s Young Mr Lincoln and also star after the war in My Darling Clementine and Fort Apache. Edna May Oliver, Lady Catherine de Burgh in Pride and Prejudice, was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress. John Ford regulars like John Carradine, Arthur Shields, Ward Bond and Russell Simpson established their place in Ford films with Drums Along the Mohawk.


1. Was this an enjoyable film? As a piece of Americana? The atmosphere of the West?

2. How much a film of the 1940s was this? In style, outlook, technique, the use of colour, as a film of John Ford's vision of American pioneering days?

3. How interestingly did this 18th century eastern pioneering film compare with 19th century westerns? What were the same features? where did they differ? The emphasis on pioneers, the east and New York? A different frontier from the west? A different style of person, morals and manners, law?

4. What insight into American history did this film give? The portrayal of the American pioneering heritage? The role of pioneers and settlers, their suffering, their encounter with the British, the formation of the union, American patriotism, the encounter with the Indians?

5. How attractive a couple were Gil and Lana? Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert in the forties as typical American hero and heroine? The filling out of the background especially the marriage, the journey from Albany, the role of pioneering, the house and the land, the presence of the Indians, friendly and hostile? The hard work, the threat of attacks, the burning of the house? The impact of these on Lana and Gil? The presentation of births, life in the forts, the soldiering of the ordinary man, men and women going into service, the desire to build again, fighting, peace? What was the total experience of life that Gil and Lana had?

6. The quality of Gil and Lana as man and woman? The quality of their marriage and love, the disappointment of the miscarriage? the joys of birth, the building of family, the importance of house, work, the influence of friends, etc.? Marriage and family as a solid basis of America's heritage?

7. What was the quality of the experience of these pioneers? What formative influences did it have?

8. The role of Mrs Mc Clennan? Her own personal style, pioneering stock, arrogance yet softness, her memories of her husband and his pioneering role, the help that she gave to Gil and Lana, affection, her role in the sieges, the dramatic impact and the emotion of her death? Her contribution to the overall mood and enjoyment of the film?

9. Comment on the portrayal of the people, of the forts their ordinariness, their wanting to survive, preserve their heritage , banding together, amateurs in fighting, yet helping one another?

10. The charactarisation of the preacher, his influence on the people, his religious reliance on God, the visualising of his communication with God, the effect of religion on the people, his role in the sieges, the impact of killing people?

11. The function of Blueback in the film? the initial frightening of Lana? A friendly Indian, contrasting with the others?

12. What comment was being made on the British at the time of the wars of Independence? Caldwell and the patch on his eye? As a spy? The alliance of the British with the Indians? The cruelty of the attacks of the Indians?

13. How vividly did the film portray the dangers of this pioneer life? The reality of the sieges, especially the Indians coming through windows etc.?

14. The visualising of the battles, the recruiting of ordinary farmers, the wounding and the suffering?

15. The climax of Gil's run for reinforcements? The overtones of Paul Revere’s ride? A picture of American heroism? How genuine? How important?

16. What were the highlights of this film? What values did it mainly propose?