Customer Reviews

Last of the Mohicans [VHS]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Last of the Mohicans is a very fine silent adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's Classic novel. The film distils a long novel into its fairly short running time, but remains faithful to the essence of Cooper's story. The main change is that the role of Hawkeye is relegated to one of secondary importance. The emphasis of the film is on the romance between Uncas and Cora Munro and the scheming of the evil Magua to have Cora for himself.

The performances in the film are naturalistic and full of feeling. Wallace Beery as Magua makes a fine villain, while Barbara Bedford is a stunning Cora, brave, beautiful and feisty. But what makes this film work so well is the use of location, the glorious scenery and the thrilling action. Some of this action is surprisingly violent, especially an attack by drunken Hurons on a group of refugees. This attack includes a shocking scene of an infant torn from her mother's arms and thrown skyward to its death. Although the Hurons are shown in a poor light, the film on the whole, as is the case with Cooper's novel, is sympathetic towards the Native American characters. Uncas is portrayed as a far superior man to Cora's original British suitor. Her being attracted to Uncas is shown to be natural and indeed commonplace. This must have seemed a daring approach for a film made in 1920, a time when interracial romance was considered taboo.

This is a very well produced DVD. The print quality is first class with almost no apparent damage. The colour-tinted images are sharp and clear and some of the scenes are dazzling in their beauty. The film is accompanied by a score which fits in well with the action and adds to the mood of the whole viewing experience.

Having recently revisited this title as part of the available films of Maurice Tourneur on commercial DVD (the others are ALIAS JIMMY VALENTINE, THE BLUE BIRD, A GIRL'S FOLLY, LORNA DOONE, VICTORY, and THE WISHING RING), I am again reminded of what a remarkable director he was and what a remarkable achievement this film is. Of all the existing versions this one is by far and away the most faithful to the James Fennimore Cooper original (the Daniel Day-Lewis version strays the farthest).

The film was beautifully photographed on mostly natural locations (Yosemite Valley) and features fine understated performances from all the principal players especially Barbara Bedford as Cora (Boris Karloff is briefly seen as an Indian who throws a baby up in the air). The film is co-credited to Tourneur and Clarence Brown (Garbo's favorite director and maker of THE YEARLING). Tourneur was injured during the filming and Brown shot most of it. In a magnanimous gesture Tourneur wanted Brown to receive full credit but Brown refused saying that he only followed what Tourneur had already laid out and that he learned his craft from him.

The print used here is from the George Eastman House and it is beautiful with subtle tints and proper framing. The title cards are new as is the electronic music score. While the score is perfectly suitable it really needs a chamber ensemble or small orchestra to fully bring it to life but this is a small quibble. The DVD is officially out-of-print but is worth tracking down as one of the very best silent examples of transferring a classic book to the screen. That comes as no surprise for if you check Tourneur's available titles, all but one are taken from literary sources.

I have to honestly say that I did not even know there was a silent version of this film. I actually ordered it because I like the story and thought it would be interesting to see a silent version. Viewing this version was- breathtaking to say the least. The video transfer of this film is remarkably good which helps but more importantly the story itself and the acting I found incredibly interesting. Unlike the Dnaiel Day-Lewis version, which is excellent in its own right- this version has Hawkeye as a Minor Character. It focuses on the affection between Uncus (one of the 2 last of the Mohicans) and the General's Dauhter Cora (played by Madeline Stowe in the modern version). It must have been somewhat unsettling back in 1920 to even hint at a relationship between a Native American man and a Caucasian woman. This movie only hints at this relationship but I found it to be very believable and a refreshing point of view tastefully done. Another major plus of this movie was the actress who played Cora. If you view this movie it will be difficult to not think about this woman. I've seldom seen an actress or an actor emote so much simply by facial expression. Wallace Beery portrays Magua, the "bad" guy, menacingly well and, early in the film, you can see a very young Boris Karloff as an Indian raider. If you enjoy the story of Last of the Mohicans and if you have had the pleasure of seeing any silent film masterpiece you will thoroughly enjoy this DVD.

The movie is an excellent depiction of James Fenimore Cooper's nove. The filming is beautifully done and for the most part true to Cooper's story line. Overall the movie follows the original book's plot better than any of the subsequent movie efforts including the 1990's version with Daniel Day Lewis as Hawkeye. The only other filmed version more true to the book is the 1970's Masterpiece Theater production. The filming of the massacre at Fort William Henry is a film masterpiece considering that it was produced in 1920. The realism is frightening in its rendition. Overall this is an excellent movie.

Maurice Tourneur was one of the greatest visual stylists of the cinema and this film show his artistry.James Fenimore's Cooper book is a marvelous adventure-classic and Tourneur (followed by his substitute Clarence Brown) enriched the story with breathtaking setups.

This is truly one of the best silent dramas - beautifully performed and filmed. If you are a silent film purist, the Slingshot DVD will surely cause the hair on your neck to stand up. The score is excellent, but of a modern style and totally out of character. The titles (even the opening credits) have all been replaced by a modern style. The original film portion would rate 5 stars, but the slash and burn reconstruction detracts. If Image Entertainment ever puts this out, go for it instead.

Although all-but rendered a trivia question these days because of Boris Karloff's appearance among Magua's exceptionally bloodthirsty Hurons, this 1920 silent adaptation is well worth a look.

Rather than Harry Lorraine's Hawkeye, for once the emphasis is on Uncas and Cora's doomed love affair, which is portrayed in a surprisingly non-judgemental fashion for its day. In a film filled with surprisingly restrained performances (even Wallace Beery doesn't go over the top as Magua) Barbara Bedford is so incredibly impressive that you wonder how it was that her career filtered out into uncredited bit parts and walk-ons, and the film is certainly worthy of her performance. Maurice Tourneur and future 30s A-list director Clarence Brown work wonders as co-directors: there's little camera movement, but some highly effective editing that keeps things moving along briskly while there's an interesting use of shifting light and shadows in some scenes. It's also surprisingly violent - the massacre scene is still shockingly brutal, with even babes in arms not immune from the vivid carnage.

The Slingshot DVD offers a pretty good print from the George Eastman House collection, with various tinted sequences restored to something like their original glory. Only the synthesizer score and new title cards are a bit of a letdown, but not enough to be a real problem.

I couldn't believe it when I first saw this film. Uncas, the American Indian - not Hawkeye - is the protagonist?! The white love interest is attracted to him?! And this was made in 1920?!! (However, it seems that depiction of inter-racial couples were more likely in silent films which predated the 1930 introduction of the Hayes Code that ruled the next few decades and included anti-miscegenation rules.)

[edit July 2010]
I finally read a synopsis of Cooper's novel and was surprised to find out that the pairing of Cora and Uncas came directly from the book. It was perhaps made palatable by Cora being a quarter Black (which I don't recall being mentioned in the movie).
[end edit]

Of course, the Indian is played by very white-looking Albert Roscoe. But, it's the thought that counts. Especially when that thought is expressed by pretty, goth-looking (with her shadowed eyes and wild hair) Barbara Bedford. She was about 17-years-old at the time, but she gives a beautifully understated performance, altho her intense eyes convey plenty.

It took me a while to recognize the actor playing Magua, the bad Indian. It was Wallace Beery, looking more like an African warrior. He's a terrific bad guy, tho.

One of early cinema's innovators, Tourneur (and fill-in director Clarence Brown) make frequent use of vignetting (frames), silhouettes, long shots, and daring lighting (such as the flickering lighting of a fireplace). So, this is a visual treat. Even the tinting in this film is effective.

It's a 1 hr 12 minute movie, so expect most of the novel to be glossed over. But the action scenes are engaging. Well...the Indian massacre of the surrendering British soldiers and civilians leaving Ft William Henry (a historical fact) went on a little long (in dramatic terms for this short movie).

It's a silent film, so many people won't be interested. While it's not dramatically nor technically perfect, if you're American Indian, like me, and/or you like new movie experiences, you might find this a fascinating curiosity.

James Fenimore Cooper's 1826 classic novel, LAST OF THE MOHICANS is a pure example of historical romanticism. Directors Maurice Tourneur and Clarence Brown brings the classic American novel alive with this 1920 silent film adaptation. With great vividness and photographic craftsmanship, viewers have the opportunity to see Hollywood's take on the French and Indian War.

Within the same lines as D.W. Griffith's BIRTH OF A NATION and other early American film classics that depict America's historical past, LAST OF THE MOHICANS reflects and laments on a time that has long gone by. For those who have studied or read American history, Hollywood films tend to posses inaccuracies and misinterpretations of historical events in order to recapture or glorify a period for the present day moviegoer. In spite of the filmmakers staying loyal to Cooper's narrative, sadly, they depict and magnify the savage aspects about Native Americans and only show a small inkling of the alliances made between colonists and indians within their dying civilization. In addition, one sees the subtle romance between White woman, Cora Munro (Barbara Bedford) and Mohican Indian, Uncas (Alan Roscoe) that is dramatically shown throughout the film.

The most impressive part about the film is its cinematography and restoration and preservation done by the International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House. The distinct color tints, depth of field of the landscape, and the period costumes are exceptional minus the pale over-powdered faces of the actors. Tourneur and Brown shot the picturesque mountainous scenes in California's backcountry - Big Bear Lake, San Bernadino County National Forest and the legendary Yosemite National Park - absolutely breathtaking scenes that are captured during the conclusion of the film where antagonist, Magua (Wallace Beery), stands atop a cliff viewing the vast untouched landscape.

If there existed a list of top films with a historical slant, LAST OF THE MOHICANS would be on the list. The film is a pure example of imaginative film-making as well as how history is depicted through the Hollywood perspective.

This review is not speaking to the historical and writer's inaccuracies about the Mohican People, but is speaking to the added music score. A new edition of this film is available now with an entirely new film music score. The film itself has been remastered from a french nitrate master, by George Eastman House. The Slingshot and Miramax releases added a rather poor film score, with flute and synthesizer. A new version exists now, however, with an entirely new film score by a Mohican Composer, "The 1920 Classic Myth: The Last of the Mohicans" (2003) in 5.1 surround sound, re-scored for full orchestra, and American Indian instruments. Search for it, and definitely check out this film!