Runtime: 104 minutes
Directed by: John Ford
Starring: Henry Fonda, Claudette Colbert, Edna May Oliver, Eddie Collins, John Carradine
From: 20th Century Fox
If you ever wanted to see Claudette Colbert fire a musket...
Besides it being a wise idea on my part to see more of Colbert, Henry Fonda or John Ford and this just being added to the Criterion Channel for at least the next few months, it follows a young couple in New York State during the time of the American Revolutionary War. As today is the day where yahoos shoot off fireworks, binge drink and celebrate America's independence, there was no better time than now to discuss such a motion picture.
There are various ups and downs as the entire time period of the Revolution is covered while the focus is placed on the Martin family. Of course it was not ideal for Colbert to be “a hysterical woman” so often and even worse was the less than flattering way Native Americans were portrayed... perhaps it's not a surprise that later Ford would make movies which were apologies to Native Americans.
All that being said, this was overall a fun tale which had various ups and downs in the lives of the leads and the ancillary characters connected to them... from their neighbors to various militia members, a cranky old woman (Edna May Oliver, the highlight as she was the most memorable role) a parson that was a highlight himself and more. The movie had some laughs, drama, deaths, births, action, adventure, and even “the women” being forced to fight back... it was a good time. Of course Ford make two more highly regarded films in this year alone-Stagecoach & Young Mr. Lincoln-let alone all the classics that came out this year. But there was no regrets on viewing it this weekend. Lord knows the next film I'll review will have some REAL patriotic moments.
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