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Northwest Passage

Original title: 'Northwest Passage' (Book I -- Rogers' Rangers)
  • 19401940
  • PassedPassed
  • 2h 6m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Spencer Tracy and Robert Young in 'Northwest Passage' (Book I -- Rogers' Rangers) (1940)
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37 Photos
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • History
Langdon Towne and Hunk Marriner join Major Rogers' Rangers as they wipe out an Indian village. They set out for Fort Wentworth, but when they arrive they find no soldiers and none of the sup... Read allLangdon Towne and Hunk Marriner join Major Rogers' Rangers as they wipe out an Indian village. They set out for Fort Wentworth, but when they arrive they find no soldiers and none of the supplies they expected.Langdon Towne and Hunk Marriner join Major Rogers' Rangers as they wipe out an Indian village. They set out for Fort Wentworth, but when they arrive they find no soldiers and none of the supplies they expected.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • King Vidor
    • Jack Conway(uncredited)
    • W.S. Van Dyke(background shots)
  • Writers
    • Laurence Stallings(screenplay)
    • Talbot Jennings(screenplay)
    • Kenneth Roberts(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Spencer Tracy
    • Robert Young
    • Walter Brennan
Top credits
  • Directors
    • King Vidor
    • Jack Conway(uncredited)
    • W.S. Van Dyke(background shots)
  • Writers
    • Laurence Stallings(screenplay)
    • Talbot Jennings(screenplay)
    • Kenneth Roberts(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Spencer Tracy
    • Robert Young
    • Walter Brennan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 57User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Northwest Passage: Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:00
    Northwest Passage: Official Trailer

    Photos37

    Spencer Tracy, Robert Young, and Ruth Hussey in 'Northwest Passage' (Book I -- Rogers' Rangers) (1940)
    Spencer Tracy and Robert Young in 'Northwest Passage' (Book I -- Rogers' Rangers) (1940)
    Spencer Tracy and Robert Young in 'Northwest Passage' (Book I -- Rogers' Rangers) (1940)
    Spencer Tracy, Robert Young, and Ruth Hussey in 'Northwest Passage' (Book I -- Rogers' Rangers) (1940)
    Walter Brennan and Robert Young in 'Northwest Passage' (Book I -- Rogers' Rangers) (1940)
    Spencer Tracy, Walter Brennan, and Robert Young in 'Northwest Passage' (Book I -- Rogers' Rangers) (1940)
    Spencer Tracy and Robert Young in 'Northwest Passage' (Book I -- Rogers' Rangers) (1940)
    Robert Young and Ruth Hussey in 'Northwest Passage' (Book I -- Rogers' Rangers) (1940)
    Spencer Tracy, Walter Brennan, Robert Young, and Donald MacBride in 'Northwest Passage' (Book I -- Rogers' Rangers) (1940)
    Robert Young and Ruth Hussey in 'Northwest Passage' (Book I -- Rogers' Rangers) (1940)
    Robert Young and Ruth Hussey in 'Northwest Passage' (Book I -- Rogers' Rangers) (1940)
    Ruth Hussey in 'Northwest Passage' (Book I -- Rogers' Rangers) (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Spencer Tracy
    Spencer Tracy
    • Maj. Richard Rogersas Maj. Richard Rogers
    Robert Young
    Robert Young
    • Langdon Towneas Langdon Towne
    Walter Brennan
    Walter Brennan
    • 'Hunk' Marrineras 'Hunk' Marriner
    Ruth Hussey
    Ruth Hussey
    • Elizabeth Browneas Elizabeth Browne
    Nat Pendleton
    Nat Pendleton
    • 'Cap' Huffas 'Cap' Huff
    Louis Hector
    • Rev. Browneas Rev. Browne
    Robert Barrat
    Robert Barrat
    • Humphrey Towneas Humphrey Towne
    Lumsden Hare
    Lumsden Hare
    • Lord Amherstas Lord Amherst
    Donald MacBride
    Donald MacBride
    • Sgt. McNottas Sgt. McNott
    Isabel Jewell
    Isabel Jewell
    • Jennie Coitas Jennie Coit
    Douglas Walton
    Douglas Walton
    • Lt. Averyas Lt. Avery
    Addison Richards
    Addison Richards
    • Lt. Croftonas Lt. Crofton
    Hugh Sothern
    Hugh Sothern
    • Jesse Beachamas Jesse Beacham
    Regis Toomey
    Regis Toomey
    • Websteras Webster
    Montagu Love
    Montagu Love
    • Wiseman Clagettas Wiseman Clagett
    Lester Matthews
    Lester Matthews
    • Sam Livermoreas Sam Livermore
    Truman Bradley
    Truman Bradley
    • Capt. Ogdenas Capt. Ogden
    C.E. Anderson
    C.E. Anderson
    • Rangeras Ranger
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • King Vidor
      • Jack Conway(uncredited)
      • W.S. Van Dyke(background shots) (uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Laurence Stallings(screenplay)
      • Talbot Jennings(screenplay)
      • Kenneth Roberts(based on the novel by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, George Washington refused Rogers' request to command troops. Washington suspected that after Rogers' long stay in Britain prior to the outbreak of hostilities that he might be a spy. Washington's fears proved correct, as an infuriated Rogers formed a group called the "Queen's Rangers" (later the "King's Rangers") and fought on the side of the Canadians against the Revolutionary forces. Canada's "Queen York Rangers" claim to be a direct descendant of Rogers' irregular militia.
    • Goofs
      Rogers' Rangers did not portage their whaleboats over a ridge during the St. Francis raid. This actually happened two years prior when the Rangers portaged their boats from Lake George to Wood Creek in order to avoid French outposts around Fort Ticonderoga (Carillon).
    • Quotes

      [repeated line]

      Maj. Robert Rogers: I'll see you at sundown, Harvard.

    • Connections
      Featured in Land of Liberty (1939)
    • Soundtracks
      America, My Country Tis of Thee
      (1832) (uncredited)

      Music by Lowell Mason, based on the Music by Henry Carey from "God Save the King" (1744)

      In the score during the opening credits

      Reprised in the score near the end

    User reviews57

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Bloody and spectacular raid by Rogers' Rangers against Indians in hostile territory
    Exciting picture with open-air spectacular scenes starts depicting in a foreword : ¨This is a story of our early America..of the century of conflict with French and Indians .. when necessity made simple men, unknown to history, into giants in daring and endurance . It begins on Potmouth New Hampshire in 1759...¨ This Technicolor MGM classical describing the troop of Rogers' Rangers battling the hostile Indians and wilderness. The historical novel Northwest Passage (1937), by American author Kenneth Roberts, portrayed the events of Rogers' Rangers' raid on the Abenaki town of St. Francis. The first half of the novel was adapted in this film by Talbot Jennings and Laurence Stallings , being lavishly produced and uncomprimisingly directed by King Vidor . It actually intents to be the first of a two-part epic but the second half was never realized and the Northwest passage itself is never seen. The picture is packed with spectacular battles, heroism , heartbreaking scenes and blood-letting deeds . The main cast ans secondary support give good performances with special mention to Spencer Tracy , Walter Brennan and Robert Young. It contains marvelously photographed in glimmer Technicolor by Henry Jaffa and adequate musical score by Herbert Stothart. This is a winner for Spencer Tracy fans.

    The story is based on real events , these are the following : During 1759, the Rangers were involved in one of their most famous operations: they were ordered to destroy the Abenaki settlement of Saint-Francis in Quebec. It has been the base for raids and attacks of British settlements. Rogers led a force of 200 rangers from Crown Point deep into French territory. Following the October 3, 1759 attack and successful destruction of Saint-Francis, Rogers' force ran out of food during their retreat through the wilderness of northern Vermont. Once the Rangers reached a safe location along the Connecticut River at the abandoned Fort Wentworth, Rogers left them encamped. He returned a few days later with food, and relief forces from Fort at Number 4 now Charlestown, New Hampshire, the nearest English town.In the raid on Saint-Francis, Rogers claimed 200 enemies were killed, leaving 20 women and children to be taken prisoner, of whom he took five children prisoner and let the rest go . The French recorded that only 30 were killed, including 20 women and children. According to Francis Parkman Ranger casualties in the attack were 1 killed and 6 wounded; however in the retreat, 5 were captured from one band of Rangers and nearly all in another party of about 20 Rangers were killed or captured. One source alleges that of about 204 Rangers, allies and observers, only about 100 returned.
    helpful•14
    2
    • ma-cortes
    • May 19, 2010

    FAQ3

    • Where can I read more about what really happened?
    • Why was the St. Francis Raid launched?
    • What are some other source materials?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 23, 1940 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nordwest-Passage
    • Filming locations
      • Payette Lake, McCall, Idaho, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,677,762 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 6 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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