It's the American revolutionary war. Gilbert Martin (Henry Fonda) takes his newly married wife Lana Borst (Claudette Colbert) from a wealthy Albany family to a small farm in remote upstate New York. They face political intrigue. Lana gets hysterical upon meeting friendly Oneida convert Blue Back (Chief John Big Tree). Gilbert joins the local militia. The British has recruited Mohawk warriors to go to war.

I can abide by the drunken, stupid savage Indian stereotype. I can abide by the We treat them well comment. I can abide by Colbert's silly hysteria and her melodramatic acting. I can abide by a lot. I will not abide by the well-built frontier homes. They have second floors. They have porches and giant windows. Worst of all, they're made of stone. None of that is realistic. The final battle at the fort is mostly killing cannon fodder Indians. When they are able to kill an old woman, it is the most melodramatic death in cinema history. Nevertheless, it is good for its time. The color cinematography is amazing. John Ford's directing is great. The combination of Fonda and Colbert is good. It is old fashion but it couldn't be anything else.

I really liked this film. I think the biggest reason is that so few Hollywood films are about early American history and many of those that were made are so boring. This isn't the case with this film. You get a very good sense of the type people who settled the American West (when this would have been western PA, TN and OH). As always, Henry Fonda does a great job of playing the average guy placed in extraordinary situations and Claudette Colbert is surprisingly good as well (I was VERY used to seeing her in chic evening dresses--this was a nice change). Historically speaking it's a decent film, though I am sure American Indians would take offense to their rather one-dimensional portrayal (which was the norm in those days),but at least they weren't as stupidly stereotypical as they were in some movies.

DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK is a full-colour, full-blooded settler western made by the iconic John Ford. It's one of the favourites movies I've seen from him. The story sees a youthful and handsome Henry Fonda playing a settler who must protect his family against various frontier challenges, from political revolt and turmoil to attacks by local Native Americans. DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK is a well-paced production with superlative production values and real depth to the story. Fonda is excellent as the protagonist driven to the edge while the likes of John Carradine prove up to the challenge in support. For a film made in 1939, this one feels surprisingly modern, with a tough edge that really pays off.