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Drums Along The Mohawk
Drums Along The Mohawk “A marriage between a farmer with a
  cabin in the middle of wild and untamed
  country and the daughter from a well-to-
  do Albany, New York, family just before
  the American War of Independence gets
  off to a rocky start but in treacherous
  and dangerous times the wife proves
  her worth in the 1939 Western Adventure
  classic Drums Along The Mohawk...”

WITH MISGIVINGS FOR THEIR MUCH-LOVED DAUGHTER, Magdelana "Lana" Borst (the enchanting Claudette Colbert), her wealthy parents (Robert Greig and Clara Blandick) give their blessings to her marriage to the handsome farmer Gilbert "Gil" Martin (heart-throb Henry Fonda) in their home town of Albany, New York.

It is 1776 and they set off in a covered wagon to Deerfield, in New York State's Mohawk Valley where Gil has a cabin and farmland; and after a shaky start when Lana is traumatised during a misunderstanding at the arrival of one of Gil's best friends, they settle down to married life.

“A thoroughly enjoyable
and exciting classic
Western with gutsy
heroines and handsome
heroes, some comic
moments, some
tragedies, prejudices,
Indians on the warpath
and an insight into
the early days of the
American fight
for Independence...”
Unused to the tough life of a frontierswoman, Lana nevertheless warms to Gil's friends and neighbours and helps him prepare the land for planting. She will have to adapt to the isolation, the flies — and very soon the Indians.

Very much in love, they adapt to their life and each other and Lana has just made her cabin homely when during a visit to the nearby fort at German Flats they hear that the farmers are likely to be drawn into a war with the English.

Following an unexpected attack by Indians, whom they understand will be fighting on the side of the English against independence, Lana and Gil take refuge with their neighbours at the fort, watching everything they own and their fields going up in smoke.

With no alternative other than to fight for America, Gil joins his friends and the army of farmers set off after the Indians and the English. But while he is away tragedy strikes and Gil deeply regrets bringing Lana to the valley.

Having lost everything, there seems to be only one way out, with the help of a feisty widow, Mrs McKlennar. But they are not out of danger yet because one thousand Indians are on their way to attack the fort…

Drums Along The Mohawk is a creditable early — now classic — Western adventure. A thoroughly enjoyable and exciting Western with gutsy heroines and handsome heroes, some comic moments, some tragedies, prejudices, Indians on the warpath and an insight into the early days of the American fight for Independence.

Drums Along The Mohawk also features: Eddie Collins as Christian Reall; John Carradine as Caldwell; Dorris Bowden as Mary Reall; Jessie Ralph as Mrs Weaver; Arthur Shields as Reverend Rosenkrantz; Robert Lowery as John Weaver; Roger Imhof as General Nicholas Herkimer; Francis Ford as Joe Boleo; Russell Simpson as Dr Petry; Beaulah Hall Jones as Daisy; Ward Bond as Adam Hartman; and Chief Big Tree as Blue Black.

Music is by Alfred Newman; Director of Photography is Bert Glennon, ASC and Ray Rennahan, ASC; Costumes are by Gwen Wakeling; Screenplay is by Lamar Trotti and Sonya Levien, based on the novel by Walter D Edmonds; Associate producer is Raymond Griffith; and Directed by John Ford.

* Drums Along The Mohawk is released in the UK on DVD, courtesy of Odyssey DVD, on 15 September 2014. Running Time: 104 Minutes | Year: 1939 | Catalogue Number: DVD OD573 | RRP: £9.99.

"Drums Along The Mohawk is a creditable early, now classic, Western adventure. A thoroughly enjoyable and exciting Western with gutsy heroines and handsome heroes, some comic moments, some tragedies, prejudices, Indians on the warpath and an insight into the early days of the American fight for Independence" — Maggie Woods

"One of the most beautiful and distinguished achievements of early colour ****" — Radio Times