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'Northwest Passage' (Book I -- Rogers' Rangers) (1940)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
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Release Date:
23 February 1940 (USA)
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Tagline:
The Big Picture that was made in our own Pacific Northwest more
Plot:
Langdon Towne and Hunk Marriner join Major Rogers' Rangers as they wipe out an Indian village. They set out for Fort Wentworth...
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Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
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User Comments:
One of King Vidor's best!
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Spencer Tracy | ... | Major Rogers | |
| Robert Young | ... | Langdon Towne | |
| Walter Brennan | ... | 'Hunk' Marriner | |
| Ruth Hussey | ... | Elizabeth Browne | |
| Nat Pendleton | ... | 'Cap' Huff | |
| Louis Hector | ... | Reverend Browne | |
| Robert Barrat | ... | Humphrey Towne | |
| Lumsden Hare | ... | Lord Amherst | |
| Donald MacBride | ... | Sergeant McNott | |
| Isabel Jewell | ... | Jennie Coit | |
| Douglas Walton | ... | Lieutenant Avery | |
| Addison Richards | ... | Lieutenant Crofton | |
| Hugh Sothern | ... | Jesse Beacham | |
| Regis Toomey | ... | Webster | |
| Montagu Love | ... | Wiseman Clagett |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Northwest Passage (USA) (short title)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
126 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:
Norway:16 |
USA:Approved (PCA #5725) |
USA:Passed (National Board of Review) |
USA:TV-G (TV rating) |
Finland:S |
Sweden:15 |
USA:Not Rated (video rating)
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Subtitled "Book One: Rogers' Rangers", King Vidor intended to complete the story in a second film which ultimately was never made. This explains why the characters in the film never actually make it to the Northwest Passage, as that was supposed to be covered in the sequel.
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Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: During the attack on St. Francis, some of the bayonets on the Ranger's rifles can be seen wobbling, indicating they are made of rubber.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
Title Card: This is a story of our early America... of the century of conflict with the French and Indians... when necessity made simple men, unknown to history, into giants in daring and endurance. It begins in Portsmouth New Hampshire, in 1759...
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Title Card: This is a story of our early America... of the century of conflict with the French and Indians... when necessity made simple men, unknown to history, into giants in daring and endurance. It begins in Portsmouth New Hampshire, in 1759...
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Movie Connections:
Spin off "Northwest Passage" (1958)
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Soundtrack:
America, My Country Tis of Thee
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FAQ
Where can I read more about what really happened?Why was the St. Francis Raid launched?
What are some other source materials?
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Northwest Passage is based on a novel of the same name by Kenneth Roberts, in fact it is an adaptation of its first part The Roger's Rangers, the second part was also originally planned to be filmed by King Vidor, but MGM dropped the project fearing the costs involved. As a consequence only the first part of the novel was brought to the screen where passage through the northwest never actually happens but only is talked about.
The story is centred on Major Robert Rogers (Spencer Tracy) and his rangers who take a dangerous and adventurous journey through the territory controlled by the Indians and the French troops in 18th century America in order to destroy a hostile Indian village from where English settlements are constantly being attacked.
Right in the beginning the rangers are joined by right out of Harvard idealistic young cartographer Langdon Towne (Robert Young) who is dreaming of becoming a great painter `like Velasquez or Rubens' and is enthusiastic about the journey because of possibility it offers to paint portraits of Indians and landscapes in contrast with the other rangers who are mainly driven by yearning of revenge for relatives murdered during Indian raids.
Northwest Passage is possibly the best and the most visually impressive King Vidor's adventure film. Breathtakingly beautiful landscapes shown here certainly stand out as the most wonderful even among King Vidor's work who was well known for beautiful Technicolor exteriors in his movies. A beautiful film, definitely worth watching. 8/10