Amazon.com: One is compelled to say, in these Politically Correct times, that Northwest Passage takes a distinctly "unenlightened" view of the 18th-century American colonists' Indian neighbors. Then again, everything about the world portrayed in this early-Technicolor production is harsh: the repressive policies of the Crown-backed Boston magistrates, the expectations Maj. Robert Rogers (Spencer Tracy) has for his guerrilla warrior band, the bloodthirsty war-making by the Abenagi Indians (reciprocated in kind by the colonials), the ferocity of flood-swollen wilderness rivers, and the breathtaking, unforgiving vastness of the virgin forest in which, surrounded by beauty, Rogers's Rangers very nearly starve to death. As an action film, Northwest Passage peaks early with a predawn, retaliatory raid on an Indian village--horrific choreography by the master filmmaker who made The Big Parade. But the grim march back from this mission is too harrowing to call anticlimactic. Robert Young and Walter Brennan costar. --Richard T. Jameson
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - the northwest passage
This film is still not on dvd, and it should be. This movie is really a guilty preasure, in that, it is all the things a movie should not be. Historically inacurrate, and all Hollywood from the get go. But, that was the way it was until audiances became too sufficiated for bad directing. Despite all that, I love this movie, because of those reasons. The truth would only paint Tracys character much differently, and we might end up hating the hero more then the indians. There are many lines in this film that are memorable. My favorite is when Tracy says "If she gives you any trouble, stick ... Read More
Rating: - DVD?
This is a great action movie! Why has it not been issued in DVD format? With as much junk that is being re-issued now, a movie of this caliber should be a no-brainer! Great story and cast.
Rating: - Northwest Passage - The Movie's Version.
I first saw this picture when I was 10 or 11 years old (shortly after it was released). I thought it was great. I had not, at that time, read Kenneth Roberts' book, so I didn't realize how much they had changed it in order to make the movie. After reading the book (shortly after seeing the movie), I enjoyed the book even more. Re-seeing the movie at intervals through the years I have not felt that it was diminished by the changes made for the movie.
My "DVD and Movie Guide" (Martin and Porter) rates it three-and-a-half stars, but I feel it is better than that. The combination of the ... Read More
Rating: - A great gritty movie!
This is a highly realistic, action packed film that delivers. Tracy is great, Walter Brennan is terricif and Robert Young was never better. The action is superb, the cinematography excellent and the story compelling. A must see gem!
Rating: - Yes, Northwest Passage Is P.I. with a big however. We
must not judge this movie on our terms. It is what it is. It involves three distinct eras. The movie takes place, in the 1750's. It was made in 1940 & we are viewing it today more than 60 years after that. The colonists, Americans, were subservient to British rule of law. Colonist in turn, hated most Indians & treated them as less than human, a nuisance to be eliminated. It appears that the movie got Major Robert Rodger correct. He was a bloodthirsty butcher of Indians. Why? Because they fought back. What choice was there? Anyway, did Spencer Tracy ever make a bad movie? He is superb. ... Read More
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