The Last of the Mohicans

(1992) Colour–122 minutes; Michael Mann, director.

Entertaining movie very loosely-based on James Fennimore Cooper’s novel of the same name.  (The screenplay by Christopher Crowe and director Michael Mann relied heavily on Philip Dunne’s 1936 script which starred Randolph Scott.)  Although the film attempts to graphically and accurately depict the violence of frontier warfare in the mid-eighteenth century, it is viewed through the lens of 1990’s sensibilities.  I get frustrated when movie characters get “modified” in order to make them more relevant or appealing to present-day audiences.  A case in point:  Natty Bumppo (“Hawkeye”) is depicted in the novel as a very humble, self-effacing frontiersman who adheres to his own sense of frontier morality.  As a result, he is a very appealing character.  Hollywood reworks his character, turning him into a swaggering, swashbuckling hero that I find most unattractive. [R-rated, for graphic violence]

1776

(1972) Colour–141 minutes; Peter H. Hunt, director.

Entertaining musical purporting to chronicle the events preceding the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress in July 1776.  From what I understand, the character development and much of the dialogue is rooted-in the letters and journals of our founding-fathers.  Since musicals are largely out-of-vogue at the moment, some of the songs will probably come-off as being kind of cheesy for adolescent audiences.  Even so, it can be an effective way to make accessible for students the acrimonious debate behind our foundational document.  Some of the secondary characters may have been somewhat unfairly depicted:  John Dickinson, who authored the influential pamphlet Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania  and was the “father of the Articles of Confederation“, comes across as more of a pro-British sycophant than I think was really the case, and the distinguished jurist Judge James Wilson is made-out to be something of a vacillating buffoon.  [G-rated]

Johnny Tremain

(1957) Colour–80 minutes; Robert Stevenson, director.

I have not seen this movie in years, so I do not feel qualified to write a review.  Film critic Leonard Maltin has this to say:  “Excellent Disney, film, from Esther Forbes’ novel about a young boy who gets involved in the Revolutionary War; sprinkles fiction with fact to bring history to life.”  (Leonard Maltin’s 2000 Movie & Video Guide, page 711.)  [Since the movie is based on a novel, the opportunity might present itself for some cross-curricular/inter-disciplinary co-ordination between English and Social Science teachers to examine the period in-depth.]

The Crossing

(2000) Colour–90(?) minutes; Robert Harmon, director.

Made-for-TV docudrama telling the story of George Washington’s epic night-time crossing of the Delaware River and the subsequent dawn-attack on the Hessians garrisoning Trenton, New Jersey.  The details of the crossing and the battle are accurate enough, but the movie is somewhat slow-moving at times.  Jeff Daniels gives a convincing performance as General Washington, however adolescent audiences will be distracted by the fact that “he was one of the dudes in ‘Dumb and Dumber’.”  A good, if lesser-known, supporting-cast delivers solid performances.  I particularly liked Sebastian Roché, who portrayed Colonel John Glover, the Massachusetts fisherman charged with the responsibility for effecting a night-time river crossing.  [Unrated]

The Devil’s Disciple

(1959-British) B&W–82 minutes; Guy Hamilton, director.

Delightful screen adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s play of the same name.  The story is set against the backdrop of British General “Gentlemanly Johnny” Burgoyne’s invasion from Canada in 1777 which was designed to divide the American Colonies and isolate the Rebellion in New England.  The irreverent way Shaw tells the story, America did not win its independence so much as the British managed to lose the Colonies through bumbling.  Actors Burt Lancaster, Laurence Olivier, and Kirk Douglas are at the top of their form, aided by Shaw’s sparkling dialogue.  This film has been – and always will be – one of my all-time favorites.  [Unrated]

Drums Along the Mohawk

(1939) Colour–103 minutes;  John Ford, director.

Solid drama based on Walter Edmonds’ novel of the same name.  The story follows the trials and tribulations of a young newlywed couple as they homestead along the Mohawk River near German Flats in upper-New York during the 1770s.  Although the film may be a little slow for contemporary audiences (i.e. no flashy special effects or frequent descents into fast-paced violence), it does a good job of capturing the flavour of Colonial life.  At the very least, the scenes depicting frontier activities such as clearing the land, militia musters, and Indian raids can provide visual reinforcement for student-learning.  This movie was released two years after Japan had invaded China, just as World War II was erupting in Europe.  Considering the context, patriotic audiences at the time would have viewed it as an allegory of the threat posed by authoritarianism (i.e. fascism) to the American way-of-life.  This is one of my favorite films from my childhood. [Unrated]

The Patriot

(2000) Colour–165 minutes;  Roland Emmerich, director.

Entertaining - but historically inaccurate - movie purporting to tell the story behind the Battle of Cowpens 17th January 1781.  Mel Gibson's character Benjamin Martin is very loosely based on (inspired by?) Francis Marion, better known as the Swamp Fox.  A ripping good yarn, Hollywood evidently could not stomach relating the story factually for fear that it might come across as glorifying a slave-owning southerner.  As a result, in order to salve the consciences of guilt-ridden liberals (and Mel Gibson fans), the main character manifests late-twentieth century politically correct attitudes:  Benjamin Martin manages to run a plantation in South Carolina where he employs only free black who he pays well - and is evidently able to sustain civil relations with- and the  respect of- his slave-owning neighbors, even though he is undermining their "peculiar institution"!  It is possible to enjoy this movie, but you really have to apply the suspension of disbelief (or be woefully ignorant of American history).  [R-rated, for graphic violence]