Alex da Silva In the C18th, during the Colonial Wars, Robert Taylor (Langdon) would, quite rightly, rather be a painter than a soldier. However, he is a rather foolish loudmouth of a drunk and just manages to avoid getting press-ganged before he goes on the run with Walter Brennan (Hunk). They come across Spencer Tracy (Rogers) in the wilderness and get drunk on rum. The next morning, they awake and they have been press-ganged into Rogers' Rangers. It's an army outfit that is embarking on a mission to wipe out an Indian village. We follow the troops across harsh terrain as they reach their destination and then make their escape.The film goes on for too long. Once it has finished and you ask yourself what happened, well…….. not very much. The landscapes and technicolour are the best thing about the film, and Tracy is very good as the self-styled leader who promotes a focus on the end result. Although, given his previous harsh decisions, decisions made for survival of the overall unit, it's a bit unrealistic how he helps the injured Taylor. No way, I'm afraid.It's a shame that more wasn't made of actually seeing the enemy. We get a tense moment at the beginning when enemy boats drift past the troops hiding on the shore, and there is a nice (all too short) sequence as the Rangers canoe past the enemy camp at night with a fire burning in the background. Another standout is the crossing of some rapids as the soldiers form a human chain. We needed more tension and a feeling that the enemy are there right behind them, and we needed this by actually seeing the enemy. As it is, we are just told that they are undoubtedly somewhere looking for them. At over two hours, the film needed more than just the one battle sequence.There are some unrealistic characters, eg, the soldier who keeps and feeds off something rather strange after the massacre and God knows why Ruth Hussey is given such high billing. She's not in the goddam film long enough to even justify a credit! The best line is dished out by Tracy to Brennan as he tells him that he looks better at the end than when he joined. And it's true. Overall, the nice locations and colour don't make up for lack of action.

sscalici A bit overdone, but nonetheless very entertaining historical biography of Ranger Robert Rogers, a colonial-born British loyalist who fought the upstate NY-Montreal Indians. The movie is set way before the Revolutionay War. The movie is a rather brutal depiction of the climatic battle with the St. Francis Indian village, where no prisoners were taken. This is Spencer Tracy at the beginning of his stardom, and a young Robert Young as his prissy-cum-fighter first aide. As far as I've researched, the movie was historically correct, although the title, Northwest Passage, has nothing to do with the movie plot itself...it refers to where Roger's Rangers go at the END of the flick.

John T. Ryan 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).

cbpelto Roger's Rangers became the inspiration for the formation of the modern Army's Rangers units.Revived in World War II to accomplish missions that no one in their right-mind would even consider, they lead the way in numerous extremely hazardous operations. Probably the most famous was the assault up the sheer cliff faces of Pont du Hoc during the invasion of Festung Europe on June 6th 1944. They took 50% casualties in that operation.This movie, NORTHWEST PASSAGE, depicts the ill-fated operation by the first American Rangers. It demonstrates their ingenuity, determination and fortitude in the face of every possible adversity one can expect in time of war.I went through the Army's Ranger Course in 1980. It was a demanding year of my life and I have to admit, after seeing this movie, quite by accident several years later, I was reminded of everything that the training regime put me through. I was especially impressed with how Roger's men had to suffer from the deprivations of no logistical support to provide subsistence. I swear....it was a sorry water moccasin (snake) that crossed my patrol's path in Florida. You'd hear the word, whispered, "Snake." Followed immediately by the sound of several machetes being pulled from sheaths and a short 'splash'.When we finished the last operation, the night assault on Santa Rosa Island, we were as jubilant as Roger's men were when they were 'relieved' by the British column. And we celebrated, about the same way....FOOOOOoooOD!