Drums Along the Mohawk1939Drums Along the Mohawk
1939
Newlyweds Gil and Lana Martin build a farm in New York's Mohawk Valley in 1776. As the Revolution comes to the frontier, Tory-led raids force the settlers to fight for their homes.
For children old enough to talk it through: sustained intensity, or language or sexual content that Common Sense Media rates 7–9.
Why it’s here
A young marriage tested and strengthened on the Revolutionary frontier. It honors ordinary settlers who paid for America's freedom, and it was John Ford's first color film.
Context notes
For parents, before you press play.
Frontier war violence includes burning farms, Lana's miscarriage, and wounded and dying men; the violence is shown as costly, not glamorous. Native Americans are shown either as childlike or as savage raiders, a dated stereotype parents will want to explain.
Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)
Discussion questions
When the credits end, go around the room. Each person gives the film a score out of ten and says why.
- How did Lana change from the start of the story?
- What did the settlers give up to stay on their land?
- How did the film show Blue Back? Is that fair?
- What did the flag mean to the settlers at the end?
Content advisory
Movieguide (via WebSearch): considerable war violence, including burning homes, wounded and dying troops, and a man shot to spare him from being burned alive; brief drunkenness; a miscarriage; no foul language.
Trailer
Best edition
The disc comes first.
Drums Along the Mohawk Blu-ray (Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT)
Blu-ray · September 10, 2013
Coming later
Where to stream
Streaming services are not listed yet. When they are, this note stays secondary to the disc.