MovieChat Forums > Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) Discussion > Good movie

Good movie

posted 17 years ago by robschmidt
12 replies | jump to latest

I give it an 8.0 of 10 for its anti-war message and its not-totally-bad portrayal of Indians. For more on the subject, see the review at http://www.bluecorncomics.com/2007/06/review-of-drums-along-mohawk.html.

[–] Xcalat3 17 years ago

agreed

I Worship The Goddess Amber Tamblyn

[–] ka_th77 16 years ago

Not bad portrayal of the Natives? How is it not bad? They are shown as bloodthirsty savages for the most part. The only good one was an Anglicized idiot who encouraged spousal abuse. And it isn't anti-war. At the end, he doesnt become all embittered and jaded. They all stare up admiringly at the new flag and look forward to their newfound freedom. It is blatant American propaganda, not surprising since it was made during the depression.

[–] stephenguenther 16 years ago

it was made in the late 1930's. The depression was in the 1920's.

[–] ka_th77 16 years ago

It was released in 1939, meaning it was written, developed and shot in the mid-1930's. The depression lasted from 1929-1939 when the war started. Therefore, it was made during the depression.

[–] midwestmike9 15 years ago

stephen, I realize you made your post nearly 10 months ago and will probably never see this, but...the US stock market crash occurred on October 29, 1929. The resulting world wide economic depression lasted roughly ten years until the outbreak of WWII.

"I'm just a big, hairy American winning machine."

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Errington_92 13 years ago

They all stare up admiringly at the new flag and look forward to their newfound freedom. It is blatant American propaganda

I can understand your point but I don't think this film was made in order to convey American propaganda to the audience. Rather than the flag scene showing a national achievement, the scene symbolised the achievements that Gil, Lana and the others had gained individually through hard work, making their community a better place.

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not".

[–] Sillyhuron 15 years ago

Regarding the spousal abuse - that is historically accurate. Iroquois society is matrilineal - you come from your mother's house. (I dated a Mohawk girl for a while & I still remember "Mom" asking when we were getting married & when the babies were coming). By the time of the Revolution, Christians had spread the patrilineal (fathers) P.O.V. , and a lot of female clan elders were being executed for "witchcraft". Blueback is a Christian, and his advice about bad wives - "beat her"! He even gives Henry Fonda a stick! Was he an idiot? I can only imagine what kind of new worldview Christianity gave to "the people".

[–] Death_to_Pan_and_Scan 16 years ago

John Ford made a lot of really great films...unfortunately this isn't one of them. It's probably my least favorite Ford film I've seen so far and my least favorite of the 2 dozen or so notable films that people always mention from 1939, THE big year of the movies for Hollywood.

Though obviously those of us here in America were not on their side, I'd have to say that the enemy (as depicted in the film) are demonized cardboard cut-outs and the one token 'good christian' indian plays like a bad racial stereotype. The flag worship scene is blatant propaganda as mentioned by another poster here. Ford made so many iconic American films that I wonder what went wrong here. After this it's no shock he didn't make another color film for a decade.

5/10

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If you're watching 'Fullscreen' DVDs, you aren't getting the whole picture.

[–] McQualude 16 years ago

I found this film to be a little dull and definitely old fashioned. Many of its problems have been pointed out but ultimately none of the characters are very interesting except for the old lady and she as much a caricature as the rest. I didn't feel the Indians were portrayed in any unrealistic fashion.

|Men of broader intellect know that there is no sharp distinction betwixt the real and the unreal.|

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Jason_Radley 12 years ago

This was anti-English propaganda.