August 6 - Drums Along the Mohawk

This is a movie with a scene that happens today – August 6. I hope you enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK

Gil Martin and his wife Lana move to his farm on the frontier near Deerfield, New York after their marriage. Lana is frightened by the appearance of  Blue Back, an Indian who is a friend of her husband. The couple are soon working together on their farm  and attend a militia muster. A community field clearing at their farm is interrupted by the arrival of Blue Back, who gives warning of an Indian attack. The settlers flee to the fort, but the stress causes Lana to miscarry. The Martin’s farm is burned, so they go to work for  Mrs. McKlennar, a wealthy widow. The militia march off and fight and lose at the Battle of Oriskansy On August 6, 1777 [51:46 to 1:01:29] the militia, including a wounded Gil arrive back at their homes. Things return to normal and Lana and Gil have a son. Then the Indians attack again, with the settlers again taking refuge in the now named Fort Herkimer. After the first runner sent to get reinforcements is killed, Gil volunteers to go. He outruns several Indian braves who pursue him. Reinforcements reach the fort just as an Indian attack is about to overwhelm the defenders. The settlers learn the American Revolutionary War is over and the Unites States is now independent.

A pretty good film. The action scenes are pretty exciting and the film avoids slipping into the melodrama all too common in films of the era. On the whole this movie has stood the test of time and is well worth watching.

Although we are never told the name of the battle in the movie, in the novel Drums Along the Mohawk by Walter D. Edmunds (Little, Brown and Company, New York, 1964) we are told that “they had an action… fetch down Herkimer. He’s hurt bad” at page 212 and that “the death of Herkimer shook the people” at page 259. In Almost a Miracle by John Ferling (Oxford University Press, New York, 2007) at page 230 we are told that at Oriskansy on August 5, 1777 St. Leger ambushed Herkimer’s force, and Herkimer 10 days later died of the wounds he suffered in this battle, which lasted six hours. So the battle referenced must be Oriskansy and due to the distances involved the Americans would have reached home early the next morning.  

Producer - Darryl F. Zanuck

Director - John Ford

Awards – The film was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress(Oliver) and Best

                 Cinematography Oscars at the 12^th Academy Awards

Screenplay - Sonya Levien and Lamar Trotti

Runtime – 1 hour 43 minutes

Released - November 3, 1939

Starring –

Henry Fonda as Gilbert "Gil" Martin

Claudette Colbert as Magdelana "Lana" Martin

Edna May Oliver as Mrs. McKlennar

John Carradine as Caldwell

Ward Bond as Adam Hartman

Roger Imhof as Gen. Nicholas Herkimer

Arthur Shields as Rev. Rosenkrantz

Chief John Big Tree as Blue Back

Francis Ford as Joe Boleo

Jessie Ralph as Mrs. Weaver

Robert Lowery as John Weaver

Kay Linaker as Mrs. Demooth

Russell Simpson as Dr. Petry

Spencer Charters as Innkeeper