What do you think about the movie? Let me know in the comments. Also, be sure to check out Craig and NBS History for the other half of the review! ua-cam.com/video/CuUG770sxiI/v-deo.html
I am struck by how many people love this movie as much as I do, and despite the film being almost 30 years old, it still packs such a wallop. It is truly a masterpiece, stunning cinematography, a powerful musical score, excellent casting, an outstanding period piece, all make for one of the greatest historical epics ever to be packed into 2 hours. The seven year war was a global conflict between the British and the French, which almost bankrupted both nations. It was also incredibly bloody, especially the war for the North American continent. The area around what is now known as Pittsburgh Pa, was a war zone with hundreds of British and French buried in graves known only to God. Last of the Mohicans captures the savagery of that conflict majestically and graphically.
I read the book when I was just a little chap. When I saw this film it was everything to me. Wez Studi as Magua, brilliant?This is my all time favourite film. If anyone reads this comment, look for Black Robe another brilliant film
Ive never seen it so i was been sceptical if it was gonna be antagonizing the natives tribes, but this show the complex and diverse kind of tribe to show that not all tribes are bad, but not all tribes good
One of my favorites , I shed tears for Chingatchcook when Uncas is killed. My favorite characters are : Russel Means portrayal of Chingatchcook, and Wes Studi as Magua. Their epic battle at toward the end took my breath away!!
@@reuterromain1054 Russel Means was born in SD, I remember when Marlon Brando and other Sioux indians protested at the capital in Pierre w/ him. I saw it !!
A former girl friend of mine said that she thought the Alice-Uncas romance was bigger than the more obvious "Hawkeye-Cora" storyline. All told with touches and glances. Great film making
I am 76 and I also still cry. Happened to be in the Smokies, near Linville Falls, NC, and the Upper Gorge when this awesome movie was being filmed, so for me, it is a visceral love.
The score is so good that one Amazon version that changed the music had horrible reviews online. It’s a great film about a topic that doesn’t receive nearly as much media attention as other events in North American history.
@@HistoryClarified If one listens closely it's the same melody reworked throughout the movie. This was brought up in film school my gf at the time attended. It's brilliant.
The scene where they are burning Duncan and he’s screaming in pain is still heartwrenching along with the scene where the elders son is killed by Magua still gets me. Just a powerful movie with powerful acting.
One of my favorite all time films. Have the soundtrack too and have listened to it many, many times. An underrated piece of music in my humble opinion. As for the movie itself, when one considers how badly Hollywood typically butchers history, this is a grand slam home run.
My 8th grade class took a field trip to the movies to see this film. I fell in love with history then & I still love it. This movie will always be special to me.
Fantastic cinematography and the 'villain' Magua played to perfection by Wes Studi. He's a human villain though-his family slaughtered to which the old chief points out has 'turned Magua's heart black'. Honestly I believe the French treated the Natives better than anyone else did, Spanish or British. Can't help but cheer at the end when Magua gets what's coming.
As a french canadian, this is true. But its partly because the french population was much lower, we were more dependant on natives for our survival. Once the Brits conquered New France, they went full on evil with natives. Canada's history is full of horror stories about how canadians mistreated the natives... even today.
You all seem to fall prey to historic romanticism based on your favorite European empire or native nation. A case of seeing history in reverse. All the groups in this era were playing each other for personal gain, fame and treasure (such as land) Cooper's novel exposes this fairly and the director of Miami Vice understood it. The Indians families were trying to get exclusive trade, rise as great warlords with reputation and screw over their rival native neighbors. The French troops, Yankee militia, French Canadians and British expeditionary troops were trying to do the very same thing. Rules of war (surrender and parole vs getting blood fame despite surrender) were different between the white and Indian cultures. Like in Hamlet the ethics of the time and societies seem alien to us, but frighteningly familiar too. This video presenter also seems quite out of touch with the novel or its context. I would assume he never read it or any of the leather stocking tales.
This is an actor for the ages. Great things were foretold for him by his father Cecil (Poet Laureate of England) on the day of his birth, and which he continues to fulfill. "This morsel of man I've held-- What potency it has, Though strengthless still and naked as A nut unshelled! Every newborn seems a reviving seed Or metaphor of the divine. Charged with the huge, weak power of grass To split rock."
French and English War. I am descended from Onondaga and Susquehannoc. From my brother Sewatis I leaned much about that war. The movie is beautiful. Thank you for sharing
Very cool, it's good to hold pride in & hear the perspectives from our ancestors. I have Lakota, Welsh, Scots-Irish & blood from a tribe somewhere in North/South Carolina Appalachia, possibly Cherokee. All we have is a 1st name so we don't which tribe. I wish we had family stories from back then passed down. All I know is there is still an island in Minnisota that was native land w/ my current last name. It was given to my ancestors when they married, female from Lakota & male from Wales. Hold onto those stories.
The relationships between the tribes, the French, and the English is incredibly complex. If you have Hulu, I recommend 'Barkskins", based on an Annie Proulx book. The depiction of these relationships and the alliances formed by the various tribes is amazing history.
Yes, excellent soundtrack. The Kiss, performed by Trevor Jones, is wonderful. (Go to UA-cam to see a very pretty woman playing it on violin in a festival).
Class act of a film by Michael Mann. Beautifull photography, many scenes are like a historical painting with great attention to detail, up to the posture and body language of European people in those days. Great musical score and a very compelling story. One of the best historical films ever made.
I've not been thinking about that before I saw this analysis video, but through repeating the same imagery I was able to discern what you're talking about regarding body posture. It's clearly visible that conscious choices were made regarding stances, and the positioning of arms and other bodyparts within the frame. The most obvious example for me is the standoff in Fort William Henry between the british officers/command and the civilian militia. Discussing the raids on civilian settlements, there's a clear dividing line between them. Some stand more straight, while others lean in to accentuate their points through body language. The movement and emotional investment captured in historical paintings was replicated here in movie format.
My favorite movie of all time. The setting is so fascinating to me and really instills a romantic sense of wonderment at the colonial frontier period. The Wild West was the appalachians and the Indian nations were powerful leagues who still ruled over vast territories
Thank you so much for your historical review. This is a movie I have watched a hundred times, no lie. It is my all time favorite movie. I love the storyline, the characters, actors and the beautiful scenery and haunting music. The unspoken words of love between Alice and Uncas make a beautiful yet sad love story. They did not have to utter a word. You could see the love between them when they looked at each other. They were always looking to see where the other one was. Their love for each other was so strong and true. Even after death their love remained. I am still affected the same way each and every time I watch the movie. I've never shed tears as much as I do watching THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS.
I agree with you about this film. I do have one problem with the film though. It is only loosely based on historical fact. The French didn't even try to protect the people of Ft. Henry after their surrender and many were killed. Only a handful made it out alive. It was a very brutal affair conducted by the Native Americans. Yes, they had self agency and used every bit of it to massacre men, women and children.
This film dances with Lawrence of Arabia as my favorite film of all time. I grew up on this film(I was born in 1998, but watched this film so many times since my birth to now). I am part Apache, so I also love how they portray the Natives as intelligent individuals. I also love how to pronounced Hawkeye’s family’s names correctly where many people fail to do this.
Born in 1998? Good lord your still a fetus! Ah just kidding but you make me feel old. I saw this movie in the theatre opening night. Such a great movie.
Books of James Fenimore Cooper were very popular in USSR. The last of Mohicans, Deerslayer, Pioneers, Prairie. I was reading those books in USSR in 82 when I was 8 years old. It was really bizarre when I came to US that pretty much no one heard about those books here.
@@andreyhohlov6423 That's so typical.of us Americans -- not only are many ignorant of most of our history, they don't know our great literature either. I would judge that's largely the fault of our inferior educational system for a long time, but most of us passively accept the situation. We need to know our history in order to not repeat our mistakes.
Sometimes these raids occurred in really miserable conditions. In February in 1704 French and their Indian allies committed a massacre killing forty seven villagers and abducting one hundred and twelve women and children. They were marched three hundred miles in the dead of winter to Montreal. Slightly less than half were ransomed back to relatives. Some were murdered on the march, some succumbed to weather conditions and the rest were adopted into Indian families. You can learn a lot more details if you can get a copy of Rev. John Williams account titled The Redeemed Captive. Unfortunately he never got his daughter Eunice back.
Michael Mann is a very underrated Director storyteller. Manhunter , Heat, Last of the Mohicans, Collateral, Ali, public enemy & Miami Vice. All superbly re-watchable.
actually some colonial era diaries from the vermont settlements do reflect the refusal of the british to allow a militia to be released from service at and around Fort william henry in what is now lake george NY area, some make mention of some stealing away in the night to go back to defend their farms
Actually, I was far more turned on by watching his indian brother Uncas (Eric Schweig) Absolutely breathtaking in this film. And I know I'm far from the only woman that felt that way.
@@HistoryClarified Girty is a very interesting character. He's often called a "white renegade" in America, but he's most famous for remaining loyal to the British in the Revolution, so he's more of an "obstinate loyalist" than anything else, despite his unusual lifestyle. He was also said to be in the raiding party at the Battle of Blue Licks, where Israel Boone was killed in combat. It's possible he fired the shot that killed one of Daniel Boone's sons. Either way, he's vilified here in the US, but he's lionized up in Canada, where he fled after the war.
@@HistoryClarified Also for fun look up the English sailor taken as a slave by Canadian Westcoast Indian Nootka tribe, was given a wife and eventually escaped. I forget his name.
Before I saw this movie, I would get goosebumps every time I heard this song, but when I saw it, it heightened my enjoyment of the song and of the movie. I have always enjoyed pow wows but this put a historical note to my enjoyment of everything. I love the music. What score.
One of my favourite movies of all time! Beautiful score, the scenery in the scenes were breathtaking and the actors performed their roles with such a level of expertise I could feel the emotions they portrayed in each scene.
100% agree. I noticed and appreciated the same thing. Especially the ‘throw away’ line about setting “aside their law when and where they will,.... and I will not live under that yoke.”
Was the influence that Daniel Boone had on James Fenimore Cooper to write the book to begin mentioned in this video? Boone's wife Rebecca Bryan is one of my early American ancestors. One of Daniel and Rebecca's daughters was kidnapped along with two other girls when their canoe drifted to a shore of a river that Boone knew Indians patrolled. Three Shawnee and two Cherokee led the girls north. Daniel and a few men traveled over 50 miles in 2 days tracking them and eventually rescued all 3 girls. Obviously Cooper needed more characters and a larger story for his novel, but I'd love to see the actual story portrayed in film.
James Fennimore Cooper was a Sea Captain. I think Naval, who retired after a lifetime at sea. His wife after a lifetime of him being gone for long stretches. Now had to deal with him underfoot daily. Trying to reorder long established, household customs, making a nuisance of himself. In short driving her crazy. One day ( the story goes ) at breakfast he was reading something, and said. "oh that's awful, I could do better". His wife desperate, to get him out of her hair. Seized on that as a lifeline.. His wife encouraged even nagged him to prove it. So it is thanks to effort of that worthy woman to maintain a semblance of domestic harmony. We have these wonderful books..
This review never mentioned Boone. That's all I was trying to point out. It covered many historical topics but not the true inspiration for the story. And it's no surprise that white people lived amongst Native Americans. Cynthia Ann Parker is a good example of this.
@Skye Dragon7 I should probably learn more about him. Ever since I found out his wife was distant relative, I've been interested in learning more. I thought it was cool to tell my daughter that one of those female characters in the movie is related to her.
My great-great-great grandfather and his wife were married by Daniel Boone's brother, Squire Boone, during one of the Boone trips bringing settlers across the Cumberland Gap. They only made it halfway to Boonesborough before dropping out of the caravan to start their own farm, where I still live. The Boones made good money on these trips, and there's no doubt they used the notoriety of Daniel for early viral advertising. That's how men like Boone, Kenton, and even Girty first became larger than life.
One of my all-time favorite movies. Beautifully done music and scenery that immerses you into the times, and a fabulous story. The siege of the fort through the night was amazing.
One of if not my favorite movie AND book. i listen the the soundtrack regularly. all these years later and Daniel Lewis’ Hawkeye is still one of the best heroes in film.
One of my all-time favorite films. It actually was my #1 until *_Gladiator_* took its place. [1] Great Story/Plot, [2] Great Casting, [3] Great Acting, [4] The Score is unbelievably brilliant, and [5] Film still #HoldsUp today. Other than some personal nit-picky things, I thought the film fully respected and encapsulated the source material (A huge pet-peeve of mine) by James Fenimore.
This is one of the great Michael Mann film; I think he gets everything right here, as the beauty of the art matches the in-depth research into the history of the period to deliver a compelling experience that one can watch without niggling questions about historical accuracy. There's a 3 part "The Making of..." here on UA-cam, which even goes into such minutiae as his sources for the war paint designs on the Native Americans in this film, which are seen in paintings by artists contemporaneous with the events in the film. This is a classic film; Mann has had a sterling career.
The last scene not a word said yet so much event narrative. That's fantastic acting. All to a music score that brings it together. It will never be beaten.
Overall my all time favorite movie. The music, photography . The reviewer left out how painstakingly accurate the clothing, weapons, and Indians. UNBELIEVABLE sound track. The end is especially good, the suicide of Alice is one of the most intense moments in movie history. Five stars.
Of course people and culture's interbred and intersected just like this movie portrayed. It's only when large governments get involved (and racism) that it doesn't happen. People tend to forget that whites where not the only slave holders in history. Throughout history EVERY race has been bought, sold, enslaved, captured and traded. This is why most Eastern Europeans have Mongolian blood in them and don't even realize it. Genghis Khan got around if you know what I mean. Unfortunately today's modern day world doesn't focus enough on true history but just certain points of "politically correct" history which in the end is NEVER history. Life in 1750 was NOT easy for 99.99% of the world's population our history books tend to forget those people and focus on the aristocrats of the time instead. People today tend to paint large groups as "bad" back then when it really was just a small group of individuals, most people (like in this movie) were just trying to survive. The times of slavery, early America and westward expansion were so much more complex than just white man = BAD. If one looks throughout ALL of history they will find the same themes. One side always comes out on top and the side that loses often always suffers. This is why movies like this are very important, and the old saying, "If you don't learn from history you are doomed to repeat it," still ring true today. Unfortunately history has repeated itself all too often and we do not learn from the past. I moved to Upstate NY (Ithaca) back in 2005 and this area is beautiful. So much different than the cities of the East coast. I often hike along one of the many gorges or waterfalls and think of this movie. It's eerie to sit there and think just 200 or so years ago this very movie could have been unfolding nearby. It was refreshing to watch your review take into account real history.
Cooper subtitled his novel, A Historical Narrative of 1757 and correctly portrayed the massacre that would take place at the end of the story and, while a bit wrong at the end of the movie, certainly does a great job of bringing that instances to the fore.
Only a few minor mistakes I notes 1. Hawkeye shouldn't be walking with his weapon muzzle down. This would ensure that the load could fall out if not properly rammed. 2. Major Heyword notes that if they are captured they would spend time in prison hulks in Hudson bay. That would have been impossible as Hudson bay was in British hands guarded by Fort Prince of Wales which was still being built was still a fortified position held by the British
Hawkeye aka Natty Bumppo, aka "Leatherstocking", aka "The Pathfinder", aka "the trapper", aka "Deerslayer", "La Longue Carabine", etc. carries a rifle not a musket. A "patched" rifle ball will not roll out of a barrel.
I shoot black powder. Once the load is rammed home the only way you can get it out is shoot it or use the coarse screw on the end of the ram rod, twist it into the ball and only with a great deal of effort, pull the ball and patch out. Usually the ball is totally destroyed doing this.
Having worked at a recreation of a 1700's cherokee village, I can say the style(s) of dress in the film is as accurate as we could find. We tried our best to be historically correct, and the film depicts the same time period. It's as close to the truth in this since as we could discover doing our own research.
I co-reviewed this with NBS History (now the Pacific War Channel) and he digs a lot into this sort of thing. I think you would love his video (I link it in mine!)
I also worked there as an extra while tours came through. My cousin and I both had to use the leftover costumes as we were just fill inns for a few days. Honestly my clothing looked more caveman then Cherokee Indian. My brother and I also worked picking river Cain for the new villages huts.
Excellent review. One caveat: Try to watch the *theatrical release*, not the *director's cut*. The DC adds back more military discussion and cuts important scenes framing the developing relationship between Nathaniel and Cora, among other details. I honestly feel that the theatrical release is the superior version. Enjoy!
I have yet to find a movie that could compete in this era. It is an amazing movie I'm from England so anything to do with the colonies fascinates me. Alice is my favourite character she hardly speaks a word but in her death scene she doesn't need to.
I think the thing that I like most about the movie is the headlong collision of the British view of life, and the world, and how people should behave, and be "controlled" by their "betters", against the wild, unbridled, passion and intensity of "real life" in America of the time. Against people (the Native Americans, the Colonists) who rejected the idea that the British, or the French or anyone else were their "betters", and refused to be "controlled". And then, laid against that is the passionate love story of Hawkye and Cora, Uncas and Alice, and the love between Hawkeye and his Father and Brother, and the searing hate that consumed Magua. The "big picture" of the geopolitical struggle vs. the very personal feelings of the characters.
Watching this in isolation and was confused about the plot, this helps A TON and makes me want to go explore more early forts and settlements in the NC area. Unfortunately most just civil war stuff, but there are still some places with artifacts and info. Very very cool.
North Carolina was the filming location, but the story takes place in what is now upstate New York on Lake George. Fort William Henry has been reconstructed and can be visited. I would highly recommend Fort Ligonier which is about 40 miles East of Pittsburgh Pa. The Fort has been reconstructed on the foundation of the original Fort and is outfitted like the original. George Washington was stationed there when he was a young lieutenant in the British Army during the French Indian war. The Fort is spectacular to see, plus Ligonier has a superb museum. It is a place you can spend a whole day at. If you are interested in this period of history, Ligonier is a must.
For NC visit the areas of The Regulator Wars (early 1770s little known conflicts near Trion, NC). Visit Fort Loudoun in Vonore, TN (1760s English post in Cherokee Country). Fort Donaldson in Old Fort on I-40 (1770s fort) Then you get to the two NPS parks commemorating the Revolution battles and the Over Mountain trail.
I know that looking back on things that the British or the Europeans in general might be seen as racist the reality wasn't always that clear. There was a certain amount of acculturation among the British with their Indian allies. Samuel Johnson, who was a major figure in the French and Indian War was very adapt at working with the Iroquois Nation, even taking an Indian wife. Chief Joseph Brant - who I believe was an in-law of Johnson, was a member of the Masons and during the American Revolution held a captain's rank. There is even a painting of a British officer who was elected to be a chief of the Ojibawa tribe around the Niagara and he's depicted wearing what was assumed to be Native American costume.
A lot of work like the books I quote has been done to examine borderlands and creolization. It’s a growing field, but I think one that hasn’t made its way to the general public yet for the most part.
one of the early scenes it shows a native man bathing himself in smoke and smudging , great little detail. my family has been smudging before bed since i was a little girl. still do too!
If you haven’t watched the other review I linked, he talks about more of those sorts of details, the inspiration for the language in the films and whatnot as well.
While racial sensitivities weren't part of the social zeitgeist of the time, it is important to remember that James Fennimore Cooper was writing from a period most closer to the setting than our own.
@@jimilove7773 Meaning that it was easier for him to describe things as they actually were and that if he did not, more people could have called him on it because they had had first hand knowledge of the situation. This meant that it would have been difficult for Cooper to have gotten away with writing either stereotypes of noble savages or stereotypes of subhuman cretins. Lots of people who were his readers would have actually encountered unassimilated native peoples within their own cultural context, and so had their own anecdotal experiences good and bad. Indeed, there would have been a considerable number of frontier families who were what we now call multi-racial households. In short, he had to write complex characters or their would not have been suspension of disbelief, at least within his target audience of fellow Americans. As such, instead of depicting the native culture as uniformly bad or good, he depicts individuals variously vicious or honorable. The further the society gets away from the realities of a culture and the fewer people who have direct experience, the easier it is to present a one sided account and have it be believed. So, you get for example, the Native Americans simplistic motiveless barbarians of 1930's cinema on one hand, or as popular fashions change the sanitized Noble Savage version of the cinematic release of 'Dances With Wolves' in the 1990's on the other.
I love how everyone is patting themselves on the back and pretending broken treaties, land stealing, and the horrors of residential schools never happened. No just sneer at all that as ~political correctness~.
I have a love/hate relationship with this movie. I loved the score, the cinematography, and the acting was superb. Yet, the final scene with Uncas is so deeply seared into my mind, it still haunts me whenever I think of it. There has never been a scene that has moved me so deeply and filled me with such despair. So much- that it ruined the film for me. The way in which this scene was filmed was disturbingly realistic. Mann was brilliant in the way he accomplished this. No dialogue, no sentimental music, just a quick sequence of events. Brutally, matter of fact in its delivery- it was an absolute gut punch. Couple that with Alice's final scene for one of the most heartbreaking few minutes in film history.
M Brewer; Well, yeah; this was the 18th century, in the middle of war, what did you expect? Weren't you moved and given a sense of foreshadowing what might be to come by the earlier deaths of the Camerons and their children? And were you completely unmoved by Magua's story about the death of HIS family? That too was a tragedy. A lot of this movie was about the perfidy of the English, or didn't that register for you? By the way, I believe Mann's choices were correct, "...a relatively quick sequence of events. Brutally, matter of fact in its delivery- it was an absolute gut punch", you wrote. Would you rather he had lingered on the violence and thus fetishized it?
And it was done against the back drop of those magnificent vistas to show how fleeting our time here is vs. the majesty and power of nature. How we all struggle and how quickly it can change. And, of course, the tragedy of lost opportunity - so many lives wasted. It was done to specifically evoke that emotion. I’m with you. Amazing movie but that ending is rough to get through.
Dude, it's called Last of the Mohicans for a reason. There are only two left, Chingachgook and his son, Uncas. If Chingachgook is the one who dies, Uncas can still have children and the tribe will endure. So inherent in the title we know that Uncas is going to die. In the book, Cora is the one who is killed along with Uncas, although not in the manner depicted in the movie. Yes, it is heartbreaking, as it is supposed to be.
I saw this movie in the IMAX theater in 1993 I felt like I was in the movie. The IMAX surround sound was intense and the score was so proper you can have the one without the other. It's still one of my favorite movies.
I have always loved this film. Watching the making of it, and the attention to detail and Michaels approach has sparked a deeper, enlightened enjoyment !
I remember seeing an interview with Wes Studi where he mentions he read for the role of Uncas but really wanted Magua because is a much more interesting character.
I am from South Glens Falls just south of the fort. I loved this movie never having seen any of the previous adaptations. The Gael is my favorite score in the movie. When I'm in the area visiting family I visit the sites outlined in the film. Once you get past the over commercialized areas it's absolutely beautiful.
Your explanation of historical background of the film brought up memories of my childhood in border regions between Malaysia and Thailand. That particular region was under the sway of Buddhist Siamese Crown in Krung-Thep (Bangkok) but ruled by local Islamic Sultans. Until British Navy sent gunships up Chao Praya River and threatened to destroy Siamese Royal Palace. And then seized the border region in 1909. British interference with local affairs and imposition of taxes lead to insurrections. And eventually British Army surrounded and pacified the stronghold of about 3,000 local armed men headed by a leader of Arab extraction from Yemen. The languages of the region; (Takbai) Thai, Chinese Hokkien, Kelantanese/Yawi, were Creolised by each other, and by the dominant Yawi/Kelantanese over the centuries.
Brilliant film. Fairly historically accurate too, which makes a change. Watched it several times, will do again too, never tire of it. Haunting music. Good review. Well done.
Ft. William Henry was built on the south shore of Lake George which is 50 miles north of Albany. That was the frontier in which this movie took place. A lot of it is still pristine today. As a student at SUNY Albany we used go to Thacher Park and walk the old Indian Ladder Trail along the Helderberg Escarpment which always reminded me of that trail used for the chase scene at the end of the movie.
I was raised on a dead end road that ended at the Hudson River in South Glens Falls.... the bridge between So. Glens Falls and Glens Falls is the Fenimore Bridge...there is a small cave near the falls called Cooper's Cave.... both obviously named for James Fenimore Cooper.... Played in the woods where some of this would have taken place.... was a great place to be a kid in the 60s and 70s...
@@brucerhodes8197 Very cool. What's Glens Falls, like 10 miles south of Lake George?Caught the Dead a few times in Glens Falls, they loved playing in the Civic Center. That whole part of NYS from Lake George up to Plattsburgh is just awesome.
@@hvymettle it' s probably a little less, but I'd round it off to about 10 miles... Glens Falls had some good concerts, but I spent most of my youth attending concerts at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC)...which was about 20 min south... that entire area of upstate NY is awesome, the Adirondacks are breathtaking...
Love the movie and appreciate your input to take a deeper dive into the subject matter. So refreshing this movie actually hits close to the mark, and isn't some fanciful tripe made up so it would be interesting. For me this movie is moving and impactful. All of the leads did amazing work. Special props to Wes Studi as Magua, who is consistently mentioned as a "scene stealer". As great as many of the performances were, Wes Studi truly gave no quarter playing Magua.
One of my favorites of all time first because its historically accurate alliances and betrayals were common , the cinematography was beautifully done, the acting was superb, the story heartbreaking. The music still gives me goosebumps the end where they are grieving the past but speaking of the future is thought provoking.
I've seen this movie many times throughout my childhood it is imprinted in my memory and the soundtrack is one I listen to occasionally. I only have a problem w the dialogue and love story being too rushed btw the main characters, also Uncas should have had more screen time.
Another great historical review man. I haven't watched the movie, and know little about the French-Indian War, so I'll definitely read more about it and check out the movie.
Thanks for the kind words! I enjoyed the film and the chance to make the review. It was nice to explore a historical topic that doesn't get nearly the love that other conflicts do. It was also fun working with NBS History since he could focus on the nitty gritty and I could zoom out and do the big picture and overarching narrative.
One of the greatest movies of all time. One of the most historically accurate (at least the Directors Cut) that I have seen. Countless small details are interwoven to create this look into a period of multilateral conflict.
I seem to have this ending mixed up with another film where the father is dying and he tells his son or companion that he had dreamed of this mountaintop scene often throughout his life and if he had know this would be where he would die he wouldn’t have feared death all of his life. Any clues which movie that was?
Extraordinary storyline; fantastic camera editing of great fighting scenes, and perfect harmony between music and camera depicting of the scenery, waterfalls, mountain forest and so... Plus the Incredibles actors and director.
This (along with Moby Dick) was my favorite book as a child. I was fascinated by the time period and setting. When the movie came out, it was a rare cinematic experience that lived up to it novel counter part. Thanks for the review.
In 1993 or 4 my Wife and Son and I visited Chimney Rock Park in North Carolina where the end part of the movie was filmed.Absolutely breathtaking scenery and views.You are able to hike those trails and walk out onto one of the chimneys.It's well worth the trip.Also the park is privately owned so at that time very few places to eat down in the valley.
its been my favorite movie for a long time. i love this one! nothing about it is less than excellent. The acting, costumes, action, score, cinematography and narrative are fantastic here.
One of my favorite films of all time. DD Lewis is phenomenal, and then there is Madelyn Stowe, who's beauty an emotion give additional purpose to Hawkeye and his cause. Just a beautiful film, visually and historically.
One of the best movies EVER - for all different reasons. Fabulous music. Acting. Love story interwoven skillfully into the action. Edge of your seat fight scenes. Drama. Believable emotions. Gorgeous scenery and costuming. I have to watch it again periodically - even though I know it all by heart !
I have always thought of this rendition as a tribute to the earlier film efforts of translating James Fenimore Cooper's novel rather than interpretation of the actual literary source. Still, it was a career breakout for Wes Studi and atypically heroic role for Day-Lewis, who usually gravitates to more conflicted portrayals of questionable character(s). The actual French-Indian conflict is simplified to eighth grade level comprehension(if that).
What do you think about the movie? Let me know in the comments. Also, be sure to check out Craig and NBS History for the other half of the review! ua-cam.com/video/CuUG770sxiI/v-deo.html
History Clarified I got lost 👎🏻
@@hotpepper5125 Got lost with the movie or the review? What part of it did you find confusing or hard to follow?
History Clarified the whole thing
one of the best movies ever
History Clarified just an awesome movie from beginning to end! Wish they’re were more movie like it!
I am struck by how many people love this movie as much as I do, and despite the film being almost 30 years old, it still packs such a wallop. It is truly a masterpiece, stunning cinematography, a powerful musical score, excellent casting, an outstanding period piece, all make for one of the greatest historical epics ever to be packed into 2 hours.
The seven year war was a global conflict between the British and the French, which almost bankrupted both nations. It was also incredibly bloody, especially the war for the North American continent. The area around what is now known as Pittsburgh Pa, was a war zone with hundreds of British and French buried in graves known only to God. Last of the Mohicans captures the savagery of that conflict majestically and graphically.
Timeless.
very well said. I concur.
I read the book when I was just a little chap. When I saw this film it was everything to me. Wez Studi as Magua, brilliant?This is my all time favourite film. If anyone reads this comment, look for Black Robe another brilliant film
@olentangy74, very well said.
@@squamish4244 Thanks man, I'll check that out, take care.
As a Native American myself. I absolutely loved the movie and your historical take. 👍👍
I'm glad to hear about of the representation. I've found I can't watch old westerns with whites representing Natives.
Ive never seen it so i was been sceptical if it was gonna be antagonizing the natives tribes, but this show the complex and diverse kind of tribe to show that not all tribes are bad, but not all tribes good
Same. 🫶
One of my favorites , I shed tears for Chingatchcook when Uncas is killed.
My favorite characters are : Russel Means portrayal of Chingatchcook, and Wes Studi as Magua. Their epic battle at toward the end took my breath away!!
he died a good death
They where great. Wes Studi is an amazing actor.
@@u.s.paratroops4633 Today Wes Studi is alive and well and Russell died in 2011 of throat-cancer. R.I.P. Russell Means.
@@reuterromain1054 Russel Means was born in SD, I remember when Marlon Brando and other Sioux indians protested at the capital in Pierre w/ him. I saw it !!
Alice and Uncas. I'm almost seventy. I still cry.
Me too!
And me
Did you notice the slight smile she gives just before jumping? That is some seriously good acting.
A former girl friend of mine said that she thought the Alice-Uncas romance was bigger than the more obvious "Hawkeye-Cora" storyline. All told with touches and glances. Great film making
I am 76 and I also still cry. Happened to be in the Smokies, near Linville Falls, NC, and the Upper Gorge when this awesome movie was being filmed, so for me, it is a visceral love.
Such a great movie! The music still gives me goosebumbs.
The score is so good that one Amazon version that changed the music had horrible reviews online. It’s a great film about a topic that doesn’t receive nearly as much media attention as other events in North American history.
@@HistoryClarified Serves them right. What were they thinking changing the music?!
Saw the title and thought for sure there's gotta be a comment about the amazing score. Thank you.
@@HistoryClarified If one listens closely it's the same melody reworked throughout the movie. This was brought up in film school my gf at the time attended. It's brilliant.
Music took me away. Thanks for noting super important aspect.
"Stay alive, no matter what occurs! I will find you!"
How you going to stay alive when you ambushed what planet you on land at life was stolen
The best line in any movie considering love
Not in the book. Loved the movie!
"I have a particular set of skills"
The scene where they are burning Duncan and he’s screaming in pain is still heartwrenching along with the scene where the elders son is killed by Magua still gets me. Just a powerful movie with powerful acting.
Yes I saw the last 20 mins of the movie it grabbed me and broke me
One of my favorite all time films. Have the soundtrack too and have listened to it many, many times. An underrated piece of music in my humble opinion. As for the movie itself, when one considers how badly Hollywood typically butchers history, this is a grand slam home run.
I know there is part where there is a song being sung in my Cherokee language.
After reading glowing comments I'll stop being embarrassed that I viewed this film probably 35 times.
Don't feel bad!! I've watched about that many times as well!! Not gonna lie. I mostly watched it because of Uncas. Utterly beautiful in this film.
It’s one of the all time greats.
Only 35 ?!? Rookie.....................................
My 8th grade class took a field trip to the movies to see this film. I fell in love with history then & I still love it. This movie will always be special to me.
We watch it every year in 8th grade. It's half the curriculum I think!
Fantastic cinematography and the 'villain' Magua played to perfection by Wes Studi. He's a human villain though-his family slaughtered to which the old chief points out has 'turned Magua's heart black'. Honestly I believe the French treated the Natives better than anyone else did, Spanish or British. Can't help but cheer at the end when Magua gets what's coming.
As a french canadian, this is true. But its partly because the french population was much lower, we were more dependant on natives for our survival. Once the Brits conquered New France, they went full on evil with natives. Canada's history is full of horror stories about how canadians mistreated the natives... even today.
Let's not forget Russell Means either, a true Native American Icon.
You all seem to fall prey to historic romanticism based on your favorite European empire or native nation. A case of seeing history in reverse.
All the groups in this era were playing each other for personal gain, fame and treasure (such as land)
Cooper's novel exposes this fairly and the director of Miami Vice understood it. The Indians families were trying to get exclusive trade, rise as great warlords with reputation and screw over their rival native neighbors. The French troops, Yankee militia, French Canadians and British expeditionary troops were trying to do the very same thing.
Rules of war (surrender and parole vs getting blood fame despite surrender) were different between the white and Indian cultures.
Like in Hamlet the ethics of the time and societies seem alien to us, but frighteningly familiar too.
This video presenter also seems quite out of touch with the novel or its context. I would assume he never read it or any of the leather stocking tales.
I believe the Portuguese treated indigenous people reasonably well in Brazil and Africa, don’t forget they had a large empire as well
@@smgeraldo Best to just not mention Belgium I think!
Daniel Day Lewis’s greatest performance!
And "his left foot".
I thought he was amazing as Bill the Butcher in Gangs of New York.
This is an actor for the ages. Great things were foretold for him by his father Cecil (Poet Laureate of England) on the day of his birth, and which he continues to fulfill.
"This morsel of man I've held--
What potency it has,
Though strengthless still and naked as
A nut unshelled!
Every newborn seems a reviving seed
Or metaphor of the divine.
Charged with the huge, weak power of grass
To split rock."
Hard to choose - they're all outstanding.
i wouldn't say that today. But in the early 90's... perhaps.
Still holds up after all these years.
French and English War. I am descended from Onondaga and Susquehannoc. From my brother Sewatis I leaned much about that war.
The movie is beautiful. Thank you for sharing
I would love to hear your stories.
@@roymerritt348 I'm at work but would like very much to share
Very cool, it's good to hold pride in & hear the perspectives from our ancestors. I have Lakota, Welsh, Scots-Irish & blood from a tribe somewhere in North/South Carolina Appalachia, possibly Cherokee. All we have is a 1st name so we don't which tribe. I wish we had family stories from back then passed down. All I know is there is still an island in Minnisota that was native land w/ my current last name. It was given to my ancestors when they married, female from Lakota & male from Wales. Hold onto those stories.
The relationships between the tribes, the French, and the English is incredibly complex. If you have Hulu, I recommend 'Barkskins", based on an Annie Proulx book. The depiction of these relationships and the alliances formed by the various tribes is amazing history.
The soundtrack was so good, my friends made CDs and had it on loop in car.
Yes, excellent soundtrack. The Kiss, performed by Trevor Jones, is wonderful. (Go to UA-cam to see a very pretty woman playing it on violin in a festival).
Class act of a film by Michael Mann.
Beautifull photography, many scenes are like a historical painting with great attention to detail, up to the posture and body language of European people in those days.
Great musical score and a very compelling story.
One of the best historical films ever made.
I've not been thinking about that before I saw this analysis video, but through repeating the same imagery I was able to discern what you're talking about regarding body posture. It's clearly visible that conscious choices were made regarding stances, and the positioning of arms and other bodyparts within the frame. The most obvious example for me is the standoff in Fort William Henry between the british officers/command and the civilian militia. Discussing the raids on civilian settlements, there's a clear dividing line between them. Some stand more straight, while others lean in to accentuate their points through body language. The movement and emotional investment captured in historical paintings was replicated here in movie format.
I thought it an outstanding movie, and still get goosebumps when seeing it. Too bad there is not more films and stories like these, our own history!
I have seen this movie so many times. I love the era, the action, the actors, and who doesn't love the score.
My favorite movie of all time. The setting is so fascinating to me and really instills a romantic sense of wonderment at the colonial frontier period. The Wild West was the appalachians and the Indian nations were powerful leagues who still ruled over vast territories
Actually the Adirondacks, not the Appalachians. And no, the Adirondacks are not part of the Appalachians.
@Herman Greenfield If you actually listened to the video, he said it was in the Appalachians.
Thanks for your gratuitous ill informed sarcasm.
Thank you so much for your historical review. This is a movie I have watched a hundred times, no lie. It is my all time favorite movie. I love the storyline, the characters, actors and the beautiful scenery and haunting music. The unspoken words of love between Alice and Uncas make a beautiful yet sad love story. They did not have to utter a word. You could see the love between them when they looked at each other. They were always looking to see where the other one was. Their love for each other was so strong and true. Even after death their love remained. I am still affected the same way each and every time I watch the movie. I've never shed tears as much as I do watching THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS.
From beginning to end and in every aspect, this movie exemplifies passion!
I agree with you about this film. I do have one problem with the film though. It is only loosely based on historical fact. The French didn't even try to protect the people of Ft. Henry after their surrender and many were killed. Only a handful made it out alive. It was a very brutal affair conducted by the Native Americans. Yes, they had self agency and used every bit of it to massacre men, women and children.
This film dances with Lawrence of Arabia as my favorite film of all time. I grew up on this film(I was born in 1998, but watched this film so many times since my birth to now). I am part Apache, so I also love how they portray the Natives as intelligent individuals. I also love how to pronounced Hawkeye’s family’s names correctly where many people fail to do this.
Born in 1998? Good lord your still a fetus! Ah just kidding but you make me feel old. I saw this movie in the theatre opening night. Such a great movie.
Books of James Fenimore Cooper were very popular in USSR. The last of Mohicans, Deerslayer, Pioneers, Prairie. I was reading those books in USSR in 82 when I was 8 years old. It was really bizarre when I came to US that pretty much no one heard about those books here.
@@andreyhohlov6423 That's so typical.of us Americans -- not only are many ignorant of most of our history, they don't know our great literature either. I would judge that's largely the fault of our inferior educational system for a long time, but most of us passively accept the situation. We need to know our history in order to not repeat our mistakes.
mine too, the soundtracks of each make the visual scenes magnificent
Sometimes these raids occurred in really miserable conditions. In February in 1704 French and their Indian allies committed a massacre killing forty seven villagers and abducting one hundred and twelve women and children. They were marched three hundred miles in the dead of winter to Montreal. Slightly less than half were ransomed back to relatives. Some were murdered on the march, some succumbed to weather conditions and the rest were adopted into Indian families. You can learn a lot more details if you can get a copy of Rev. John Williams account titled The Redeemed Captive. Unfortunately he never got his daughter Eunice back.
Michael Mann is a very underrated Director storyteller. Manhunter , Heat, Last of the Mohicans, Collateral, Ali, public enemy & Miami Vice. All superbly re-watchable.
Agreed ...and Thief
And Blow Out with John Travolta. VERY underrated movie.
@@shawnn7502 Blow Out was directed by Brian De Palma. I'd actually put The Insider as one of Mann's best films.
...and Madeline Stowe was hot like the Sun in this movie.
She was scalding hot. Maybe the prettiest woman on film.
Unbelievably stunning !
Though in Twelve Monkeys she is perhaps even better. What an actress! What a woman!
Madeline lives down the road from me. I often see her. She's awesome--!!!
@@cammacgregor9354 Seriously? Ok then say hello from me 😉
One of the best movies I’ve ever seen
actually some colonial era diaries from the vermont settlements do reflect the refusal of the british to allow a militia to be released from service at and around Fort william henry in what is now lake george NY area, some make mention of some stealing away in the night to go back to defend their farms
Dave B Wow.great comment.
Saw this on a date. Who knew watching DDL running through the woods for two hours is such a turn on for women?
I never really thought about that, but i get it
Absolutely. Completely exhausting!
Very enjoyable as an action adventure, but also the most romantic movie I have ever seen.
Actually, I was far more turned on by watching his indian brother Uncas (Eric Schweig) Absolutely breathtaking in this film. And I know I'm far from the only woman that felt that way.
Seeing a time when men behave like men and not little boys is no doubt arousing to real women.
Had a excellent time doing this history review with History Clarified!
An example being Simon Girty a man of Irish and English descent who was raised by Indians
I’ll have to do some research on him. Thank you for the comment.
History Clarified yeah even Wikipedia has a fairly accurate biography
@@HistoryClarified Girty is a very interesting character. He's often called a "white renegade" in America, but he's most famous for remaining loyal to the British in the Revolution, so he's more of an "obstinate loyalist" than anything else, despite his unusual lifestyle. He was also said to be in the raiding party at the Battle of Blue Licks, where Israel Boone was killed in combat. It's possible he fired the shot that killed one of Daniel Boone's sons. Either way, he's vilified here in the US, but he's lionized up in Canada, where he fled after the war.
@@HistoryClarified Also for fun look up the English sailor taken as a slave by Canadian Westcoast Indian Nootka tribe, was given a wife and eventually escaped. I forget his name.
Before I saw this movie, I would get goosebumps every time I heard this song, but when I saw it, it heightened my enjoyment of the song and of the movie. I have always enjoyed pow wows but this put a historical note to my enjoyment of everything. I love the music. What score.
One of my favourite movies of all time! Beautiful score, the scenery in the scenes were breathtaking and the actors performed their roles with such a level of expertise I could feel the emotions they portrayed in each scene.
Brilliant movie. The full package, scenery, cinematography, music, acting and wonderful story.
100% agree. I noticed and appreciated the same thing. Especially the ‘throw away’ line about setting “aside their law when and where they will,.... and I will not live under that yoke.”
Was the influence that Daniel Boone had on James Fenimore Cooper to write the book to begin mentioned in this video? Boone's wife Rebecca Bryan is one of my early American ancestors. One of Daniel and Rebecca's daughters was kidnapped along with two other girls when their canoe drifted to a shore of a river that Boone knew Indians patrolled. Three Shawnee and two Cherokee led the girls north. Daniel and a few men traveled over 50 miles in 2 days tracking them and eventually rescued all 3 girls. Obviously Cooper needed more characters and a larger story for his novel, but I'd love to see the actual story portrayed in film.
James Fennimore Cooper was a Sea Captain. I think Naval, who retired after a lifetime at sea. His wife after a lifetime of him being gone for long stretches. Now had to deal with him underfoot daily. Trying to reorder long established, household customs, making a nuisance of himself. In short driving her crazy. One day ( the story goes ) at breakfast he was reading something, and said. "oh that's awful, I could do better". His wife desperate, to get him out of her hair. Seized on that as a lifeline.. His wife encouraged even nagged him to prove it. So it is thanks to effort of that worthy woman to maintain a semblance of domestic harmony. We have these wonderful books..
This review never mentioned Boone. That's all I was trying to point out. It covered many historical topics but not the true inspiration for the story. And it's no surprise that white people lived amongst Native Americans. Cynthia Ann Parker is a good example of this.
@Skye Dragon7 I should probably learn more about him. Ever since I found out his wife was distant relative, I've been interested in learning more. I thought it was cool to tell my daughter that one of those female characters in the movie is related to her.
@@JeepersCreepers2013 It's nice to think there is a connection there, however tenuous.
My great-great-great grandfather and his wife were married by Daniel Boone's brother, Squire Boone, during one of the Boone trips bringing settlers across the Cumberland Gap. They only made it halfway to Boonesborough before dropping out of the caravan to start their own farm, where I still live. The Boones made good money on these trips, and there's no doubt they used the notoriety of Daniel for early viral advertising. That's how men like Boone, Kenton, and even Girty first became larger than life.
One of my all-time favorite movies. Beautifully done music and scenery that immerses you into the times, and a fabulous story. The siege of the fort through the night was amazing.
1 of the best scenes in movie history when he tells her to "stay alive, i will find you" then leaps through water fall
One of if not my favorite movie AND book. i listen the the soundtrack regularly. all these years later and Daniel Lewis’ Hawkeye is still one of the best heroes in film.
One of my all-time favorite films. It actually was my #1 until *_Gladiator_* took its place. [1] Great Story/Plot, [2] Great Casting, [3] Great Acting, [4] The Score is unbelievably brilliant, and [5] Film still #HoldsUp today. Other than some personal nit-picky things, I thought the film fully respected and encapsulated the source material (A huge pet-peeve of mine) by James Fenimore.
This is one of the great Michael Mann film; I think he gets everything right here, as the beauty of the art matches the in-depth research into the history of the period to deliver a compelling experience that one can watch without niggling questions about historical accuracy. There's a 3 part "The Making of..." here on UA-cam, which even goes into such minutiae as his sources for the war paint designs on the Native Americans in this film, which are seen in paintings by artists contemporaneous with the events in the film. This is a classic film; Mann has had a sterling career.
One of the Greatest Films of all time.
Madeline Stowe! Amazing.
Russell Means! Epic.
DDL! Commanding performance.
Love this movie!
This is an excellent movie and captures the feeling of the time time very well. I think that Wes Studi, pretty much, steals the movie.
Still one of my favorite movies.
Perfect cast, epic and beautiful music, breathtaking scenery and realistic story telling.
I still cry.
It is also called the French and Indian War in Canada.
calling it the 7 years war in Canada and the US makes no seance as it lasted 9 years
@Jessica Hicking Then I should probably say hi.
@@Tommy-5684 lol
The last scene not a word said yet so much event narrative. That's fantastic acting. All to a music score that brings it together. It will never be beaten.
I own this movie on BlueRay. The scenes are really terrific and follow my earlier readings of this era. Thanks for the comments.
Wes Studii, as Magua, certainly played the best Indian role of all time and he's also within the top 100 movie roles period.
Will always be one of my favorite movies. Excellent all around!
Overall my all time favorite movie. The music, photography . The reviewer left out how painstakingly accurate the clothing, weapons, and Indians. UNBELIEVABLE sound track. The end is especially good, the suicide of Alice is one of the most intense moments in movie history. Five stars.
Of course people and culture's interbred and intersected just like this movie portrayed. It's only when large governments get involved (and racism) that it doesn't happen. People tend to forget that whites where not the only slave holders in history. Throughout history EVERY race has been bought, sold, enslaved, captured and traded. This is why most Eastern Europeans have Mongolian blood in them and don't even realize it. Genghis Khan got around if you know what I mean. Unfortunately today's modern day world doesn't focus enough on true history but just certain points of "politically correct" history which in the end is NEVER history. Life in 1750 was NOT easy for 99.99% of the world's population our history books tend to forget those people and focus on the aristocrats of the time instead. People today tend to paint large groups as "bad" back then when it really was just a small group of individuals, most people (like in this movie) were just trying to survive. The times of slavery, early America and westward expansion were so much more complex than just white man = BAD. If one looks throughout ALL of history they will find the same themes. One side always comes out on top and the side that loses often always suffers. This is why movies like this are very important, and the old saying, "If you don't learn from history you are doomed to repeat it," still ring true today. Unfortunately history has repeated itself all too often and we do not learn from the past.
I moved to Upstate NY (Ithaca) back in 2005 and this area is beautiful. So much different than the cities of the East coast. I often hike along one of the many gorges or waterfalls and think of this movie. It's eerie to sit there and think just 200 or so years ago this very movie could have been unfolding nearby.
It was refreshing to watch your review take into account real history.
Peter Laughton that's why it was written as, "200 or so years.....".
Cooper subtitled his novel, A Historical Narrative of 1757 and correctly portrayed the massacre that would take place at the end of the story and, while a bit wrong at the end of the movie, certainly does a great job of bringing that instances to the fore.
Only a few minor mistakes I notes
1. Hawkeye shouldn't be walking with his weapon muzzle down. This would ensure that the load could fall out if not properly rammed.
2. Major Heyword notes that if they are captured they would spend time in prison hulks in Hudson bay. That would have been impossible as Hudson bay was in British hands guarded by Fort Prince of Wales which was still being built was still a fortified position held by the British
Good points.
Hawkeye aka Natty Bumppo, aka "Leatherstocking", aka "The Pathfinder", aka "the trapper", aka "Deerslayer", "La Longue Carabine", etc. carries a rifle not a musket. A "patched" rifle ball will not roll out of a barrel.
I shoot black powder. Once the load is rammed home the only way you can get it out is shoot it or use the coarse screw on the end of the ram rod, twist it into the ball and only with a great deal of effort, pull the ball and patch out. Usually the ball is totally destroyed doing this.
Having worked at a recreation of a 1700's cherokee village, I can say the style(s) of dress in the film is as accurate as we could find. We tried our best to be historically correct, and the film depicts the same time period. It's as close to the truth in this since as we could discover doing our own research.
I co-reviewed this with NBS History (now the Pacific War Channel) and he digs a lot into this sort of thing. I think you would love his video (I link it in mine!)
I also worked there as an extra while tours came through. My cousin and I both had to use the leftover costumes as we were just fill inns for a few days.
Honestly my clothing looked more caveman then Cherokee Indian. My brother and I also worked picking river Cain for the new villages huts.
Excellent review. One caveat: Try to watch the *theatrical release*, not the *director's cut*. The DC adds back more military discussion and cuts important scenes framing the developing relationship between Nathaniel and Cora, among other details. I honestly feel that the theatrical release is the superior version. Enjoy!
One of the Top 3 in theatre experiences that I’ve ever had. Thank you Dale Dye, too for helping get it accurate and real.
I have yet to find a movie that could compete in this era. It is an amazing movie I'm from England so anything to do with the colonies fascinates me. Alice is my favourite character she hardly speaks a word but in her death scene she doesn't need to.
Second only to "Barry Lyndon" in my book.
I think the thing that I like most about the movie is the headlong collision of the British view of life, and the world, and how people should behave, and be "controlled" by their "betters", against the wild, unbridled, passion and intensity of "real life" in America of the time. Against people (the Native Americans, the Colonists) who rejected the idea that the British, or the French or anyone else were their "betters", and refused to be "controlled". And then, laid against that is the passionate love story of Hawkye and Cora, Uncas and Alice, and the love between Hawkeye and his Father and Brother, and the searing hate that consumed Magua. The "big picture" of the geopolitical struggle vs. the very personal feelings of the characters.
Watching this in isolation and was confused about the plot, this helps A TON and makes me want to go explore more early forts and settlements in the NC area. Unfortunately most just civil war stuff, but there are still some places with artifacts and info. Very very cool.
North Carolina was the filming location, but the story takes place in what is now upstate New York on Lake George. Fort William Henry has been reconstructed and can be visited.
I would highly recommend Fort Ligonier which is about 40 miles East of Pittsburgh Pa. The Fort has been reconstructed on the foundation of the original Fort and is outfitted like the original. George Washington was stationed there when he was a young lieutenant in the British Army during the French Indian war. The Fort is spectacular to see, plus Ligonier has a superb museum. It is a place you can spend a whole day at. If you are interested in this period of history, Ligonier is a must.
For NC visit the areas of The Regulator Wars (early 1770s little known conflicts near Trion, NC). Visit Fort Loudoun in Vonore, TN (1760s English post in Cherokee Country). Fort Donaldson in Old Fort on I-40 (1770s fort)
Then you get to the two NPS parks commemorating the Revolution battles and the Over Mountain trail.
Love your review! Great job and this is one of my favourite movies of all-times for many of the reasons mentioned in your video!
I know that looking back on things that the British or the Europeans in general might be seen as racist the reality wasn't always that clear. There was a certain amount of acculturation among the British with their Indian allies. Samuel Johnson, who was a major figure in the French and Indian War was very adapt at working with the Iroquois Nation, even taking an Indian wife. Chief Joseph Brant - who I believe was an in-law of Johnson, was a member of the Masons and during the American Revolution held a captain's rank. There is even a painting of a British officer who was elected to be a chief of the Ojibawa tribe around the Niagara and he's depicted wearing what was assumed to be Native American costume.
A lot of work like the books I quote has been done to examine borderlands and creolization. It’s a growing field, but I think one that hasn’t made its way to the general public yet for the most part.
one of the early scenes it shows a native man bathing himself in smoke and smudging , great little detail.
my family has been smudging before bed since i was a little girl. still do too!
If you haven’t watched the other review I linked, he talks about more of those sorts of details, the inspiration for the language in the films and whatnot as well.
While racial sensitivities weren't part of the social zeitgeist of the time, it is important to remember that James Fennimore Cooper was writing from a period most closer to the setting than our own.
Please explain.
@@jimilove7773 Meaning that it was easier for him to describe things as they actually were and that if he did not, more people could have called him on it because they had had first hand knowledge of the situation.
This meant that it would have been difficult for Cooper to have gotten away with writing either stereotypes of noble savages or stereotypes of subhuman cretins. Lots of people who were his readers would have actually encountered unassimilated native peoples within their own cultural context, and so had their own anecdotal experiences good and bad. Indeed, there would have been a considerable number of frontier families who were what we now call multi-racial households. In short, he had to write complex characters or their would not have been suspension of disbelief, at least within his target audience of fellow Americans. As such, instead of depicting the native culture as uniformly bad or good, he depicts individuals variously vicious or honorable.
The further the society gets away from the realities of a culture and the fewer people who have direct experience, the easier it is to present a one sided account and have it be believed. So, you get for example, the Native Americans simplistic motiveless barbarians of 1930's cinema on one hand, or as popular fashions change the sanitized Noble Savage version of the cinematic release of 'Dances With Wolves' in the 1990's on the other.
@@celebrim1 Agreed 100 % thanks for your time for such a well written response.
Put succinctly: political correctness had yet to raise it's ugly head.
I love how everyone is patting themselves on the back and pretending broken treaties, land stealing, and the horrors of residential schools never happened. No just sneer at all that as ~political correctness~.
On of my all time favorites. The end scenes alone are worth it.
I have a love/hate relationship with this movie. I loved the score, the cinematography, and the acting was superb. Yet, the final scene with Uncas is so deeply seared into my mind, it still haunts me whenever I think of it.
There has never been a scene that has moved me so deeply and filled me with such despair. So much- that it ruined the film for me. The way in which this scene was filmed was disturbingly realistic. Mann was brilliant in the way he accomplished this. No dialogue, no sentimental music, just a quick sequence of events. Brutally, matter of fact in its delivery- it was an absolute gut punch. Couple that with Alice's final scene for one of the most heartbreaking few minutes in film history.
M Brewer; Well, yeah; this was the 18th century, in the middle of war, what did you expect? Weren't you moved and given a sense of foreshadowing what might be to come by the earlier deaths of the Camerons and their children?
And were you completely unmoved by Magua's story about the death of HIS family? That too was a tragedy. A lot of this movie was about the perfidy of the English, or didn't that register for you? By the way, I believe Mann's choices were correct, "...a relatively quick sequence of events. Brutally, matter of fact in its delivery- it was an absolute gut punch", you wrote. Would you rather he had lingered on the violence and thus fetishized it?
And it was done against the back drop of those magnificent vistas to show how fleeting our time here is vs. the majesty and power of nature. How we all struggle and how quickly it can change.
And, of course, the tragedy of lost opportunity - so many lives wasted.
It was done to specifically evoke that emotion.
I’m with you. Amazing movie but that ending is rough to get through.
Art is sometimes a gut punch, holding up a mirror to reality, as Shakespeare said in Hamlet.
Dude, it's called Last of the Mohicans for a reason. There are only two left, Chingachgook and his son, Uncas. If Chingachgook is the one who dies, Uncas can still have children and the tribe will endure. So inherent in the title we know that Uncas is going to die. In the book, Cora is the one who is killed along with Uncas, although not in the manner depicted in the movie. Yes, it is heartbreaking, as it is supposed to be.
M Brewer : man up !
I saw this movie in the IMAX theater in 1993 I felt like I was in the movie. The IMAX surround sound was intense and the score was so proper you can have the one without the other. It's still one of my favorite movies.
I have always loved this film. Watching the making of it, and the attention to detail and Michaels approach has sparked a deeper, enlightened enjoyment !
Great movie.
Good story, good acting and it looks amazing.
And the soundtrack alone is reason enough to watch the thing.
I would give it 10 out of 10.
I remember seeing an interview with Wes Studi where he mentions he read for the role of Uncas but really wanted Magua because is a much more interesting character.
Why was this film not an Academy Award winner?
I am from South Glens Falls just south of the fort. I loved this movie never having seen any of the previous adaptations. The Gael is my favorite score in the movie. When I'm in the area visiting family I visit the sites outlined in the film. Once you get past the over commercialized areas it's absolutely beautiful.
Your explanation of historical background of the film brought up memories of my childhood in border regions between Malaysia and Thailand. That particular region was under the sway of Buddhist Siamese Crown in Krung-Thep (Bangkok) but ruled by local Islamic Sultans. Until British Navy sent gunships up Chao Praya River and threatened to destroy Siamese Royal Palace. And then seized the border region in 1909. British interference with local affairs and imposition of taxes lead to insurrections. And eventually British Army surrounded and pacified the stronghold of about 3,000 local armed men headed by a leader of Arab extraction from Yemen.
The languages of the region; (Takbai) Thai, Chinese Hokkien, Kelantanese/Yawi, were Creolised by each other, and by the dominant Yawi/Kelantanese over the centuries.
...very good....perhaps review "Black Robe".....the best movie on the subject matter.
Brilliant film. Fairly historically accurate too, which makes a change. Watched it several times, will do again too, never tire of it. Haunting music. Good review. Well done.
I read a book called Bloody Mohawk that is about life along the Mohawk before the 7 years war. It was a great book
Anyone know the technical name of the buckskin shirt/ jacket/robe that Daniel Day Lewis wears through out the film?
Hawkeye's name is Nathaniel Bumppo. Cora Munro is a quadroon whereas her half-sister Alice Munro is white.
In the books; not in the film.
Ft. William Henry was built on the south shore of Lake George which is 50 miles north of Albany. That was the frontier in which this movie took place. A lot of it is still pristine today. As a student at SUNY Albany we used go to Thacher Park and walk the old Indian Ladder Trail along the Helderberg Escarpment which always reminded me of that trail used for the chase scene at the end of the movie.
I was raised on a dead end road that ended at the Hudson River in South Glens Falls.... the bridge between So. Glens Falls and Glens Falls is the Fenimore Bridge...there is a small cave near the falls called Cooper's Cave.... both obviously named for James Fenimore Cooper.... Played in the woods where some of this would have taken place.... was a great place to be a kid in the 60s and 70s...
@@brucerhodes8197 Very cool. What's Glens Falls, like 10 miles south of Lake George?Caught the Dead a few times in Glens Falls, they loved playing in the Civic Center. That whole part of NYS from Lake George up to Plattsburgh is just awesome.
@@hvymettle it' s probably a little less, but I'd round it off to about 10 miles... Glens Falls had some good concerts, but I spent most of my youth attending concerts at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC)...which was about 20 min south... that entire area of upstate NY is awesome, the Adirondacks are breathtaking...
I think this is a wonderful film and the acting is wonderful also. I love the soundtrack of this as well.
Love the movie and appreciate your input to take a deeper dive into the subject matter. So refreshing this movie actually hits close to the mark, and isn't some fanciful tripe made up so it would be interesting. For me this movie is moving and impactful. All of the leads did amazing work. Special props to Wes Studi as Magua, who is consistently mentioned as a "scene stealer". As great as many of the performances were, Wes Studi truly gave no quarter playing Magua.
One of my favorites of all time first because its historically accurate alliances and betrayals were common , the cinematography was beautifully done, the acting was superb, the story heartbreaking. The music still gives me goosebumps the end where they are grieving the past but speaking of the future is thought provoking.
I've seen this movie many times throughout my childhood it is imprinted in my memory and the soundtrack is one I listen to occasionally. I only have a problem w the dialogue and love story being too rushed btw the main characters, also Uncas should have had more screen time.
Another great historical review man. I haven't watched the movie, and know little about the French-Indian War, so I'll definitely read more about it and check out the movie.
Thanks for the kind words! I enjoyed the film and the chance to make the review. It was nice to explore a historical topic that doesn't get nearly the love that other conflicts do. It was also fun working with NBS History since he could focus on the nitty gritty and I could zoom out and do the big picture and overarching narrative.
One of the greatest movies of all time. One of the most historically accurate (at least the Directors Cut) that I have seen. Countless small details are interwoven to create this look into a period of multilateral conflict.
nicely done...appreciated the reference to Ann Hyde's book -- it's a gem...thanks
I seem to have this ending mixed up with another film where the father is dying and he tells his son or companion that he had dreamed of this mountaintop scene often throughout his life and if he had know this would be where he would die he wouldn’t have feared death all of his life. Any clues which movie that was?
One of the best films ever made. EVER!
Extraordinary storyline; fantastic camera editing of great fighting scenes, and perfect harmony between music and camera depicting of the scenery, waterfalls, mountain forest and so...
Plus the Incredibles actors and director.
This (along with Moby Dick) was my favorite book as a child. I was fascinated by the time period and setting. When the movie came out, it was a rare cinematic experience that lived up to it novel counter part. Thanks for the review.
Not only a great film but also the best soundtrack of any movie :-)
Has been and always will be my favorite movie. I saw this when I was a kid and still get chills if I hear the soundtrack.
This movie hits the gut in so many ways.
In 1993 or 4 my Wife and Son and I visited Chimney Rock Park in North Carolina where the end part of the movie was filmed.Absolutely breathtaking scenery and views.You are able to hike those trails and walk out onto one of the chimneys.It's well worth the trip.Also the park is privately owned so at that time very few places to eat down in the valley.
its been my favorite movie for a long time. i love this one! nothing about it is less than excellent. The acting, costumes, action, score, cinematography and narrative are fantastic here.
One of my favorite films of all time. DD Lewis is phenomenal, and then there is Madelyn Stowe, who's beauty an emotion give additional purpose to Hawkeye and his cause. Just a beautiful film, visually and historically.
One of my favorite movies. I wish I could find the original theater release. All I can find is the directors cut on dvd.
One of the best movies EVER - for all different reasons. Fabulous music. Acting. Love story interwoven skillfully into the action. Edge of your seat fight scenes. Drama. Believable emotions. Gorgeous scenery and costuming. I have to watch it again periodically - even though I know it all by heart !
I have always thought of this rendition as a tribute to the earlier film efforts of translating James Fenimore Cooper's novel rather than interpretation of the actual literary source. Still, it was a career breakout for Wes Studi and atypically heroic role for Day-Lewis, who usually gravitates to more conflicted portrayals of questionable character(s). The actual French-Indian conflict is simplified to eighth grade level comprehension(if that).
This video, like the rest of this channel, deserves so much more love.