Review of Northwest Passage (1940) by Dave B — 30 May 2008
I've seen this classic film at least 20 times, possibly 25 times. It's not only Man vs. Man but especially Man vs. Nature in this account of a colonial raid on an Indian village in Canada during the French and Indian War. The Abenakis have been preying on the colonials for years, and now it's payback time.
The stars are Spencer Tracy, Walter Brennan and Robert Young, whose performance here makes up for the soppiness of his later turns withe "Father Knows Best" and "Marcus Welby, M.D.".
The music by Oscar-winner (not for "Northwest Passage") Herbert Stothart is superb and stirring.
Favorite quotes:
Maj. Robert Rogers (Tracy): " See you at sundown, Harvard.".
Hunk Marriner (Brennan): "I've been.".
I saw "Northwest Passage" at least 10 times before watching a screening in at the University of Wisonsin in Madison in 1973 and discovering the movie is in deep and glorious Technicolor. My head almost exploded that night. It's a true classic.
This review of Northwest Passage (1940) was written by Dave B on 30 May 2008.
Northwest Passage has generally received positive reviews.
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