Drums Along the Mohawk

Play trailer

Drums Along the Mohawk

Released Nov 3, 1939

1h 43m

History

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

11 Reviews

60%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

The year is 1776, and newlyweds Gilbert (Henry Fonda) and Lana Martin (Claudette Colbert) have decided to take up a rural lifestyle. However, following the onset of the American Revolutionary War, the couple's quiet life in the Mohawk Valley is interrupted by violent attacks from Native Americans and Tories. The Martins refuse to succumb to the difficulties of their new life, though, as Lana takes on the responsibility of raising a child while Gilbert joins the colonists' militia.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Jeremiah Kipp

Slant Magazine

A lesser effort from Ford.

Rated: 2/4

May 17, 2005

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

While Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz are often regarded as the standard bearers of Technicolor photography, it's hard to fathom why Drums Along the Mohawk isn't mentioned right alongside them.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 7, 2019

Full Review

Jeremy Heilman

MovieMartyr.com

Duty leads to detachment, as is typical in Ford, and there are sterling examples here of resolute stoicism triumphing over hysteria.

Rated: 73/100

Aug 16, 2012

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Visually very pleasing.

Rated: B

Dec 11, 2007

Full Review

Paul Brenner

Filmcritic.com

a revelation

Rated: 4/5

Oct 19, 2007

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

It was Ford's first film in color and contains at least a handful of his most beautifully composed moments.

Aug 22, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert did an outstanding job and his movie. Yes I highly recommend it. It was really good James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas, November 14, 2023.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/15/23

Full Review

georgan g

I understand this was made in 1939, but it is so sexist & racist that it was hard to watch.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Steve D

weak western with some old fashioned ideas.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Corny yes, but great Upstate NY history. The British actually successfully ambushed the Americans but the Indians deserted after the battle. The real attack on Fort Stanwix was very short with few casualties.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

s r

Saw this for Ford and the for the historical take on the time period. It was reasonably good, but the hollywood stereotypes distracted from making this a truly good film that will last.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Maybe the best movie about the American Revolution, at least the fronter war, ever made. Colbert and Fonda are amazing, plus a great supporting cast, especially Edna May Oliver and the usual John Ford Regulars. The most amazng scene maybe is Gil describing the battle he was just in as Lana cares for his wounds.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

John Ford

Director

Claudette Colbert

'Lana' Magdelana

Henry Fonda

Gilbert Martin

John Carradine

Caldwell

Edna May Oliver

Mrs. McKlennar

Eddie Collins

Christian Reall

Young Mr. Lincoln

100%

81%

Young Mr. Lincoln

Watchlist

In Old Chicago

67%

52%

In Old Chicago

Watchlist

The Prisoner of Shark Island

89%

70%

The Prisoner of Shark Island

Watchlist

Desiree

20%

69%

Desiree

Watchlist

The Barbarian and the Geisha

40%

43%

The Barbarian and the Geisha

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

The year is 1776, and newlyweds Gilbert (Henry Fonda) and Lana Martin (Claudette Colbert) have decided to take up a rural lifestyle. However, following the onset of the American Revolutionary War, the couple's quiet life in the Mohawk Valley is interrupted by violent attacks from Native Americans and Tories. The Martins refuse to succumb to the difficulties of their new life, though, as Lana takes on the responsibility of raising a child while Gilbert joins the colonists' militia.

Director: John Ford
Producer: Darryl F Zanuck
Screenwriter: Lamar Trotti, Sonya Levien
Distributor: Key Video, 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 3, 1939, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 43m

Most Popular at Home Now