Based on the true-life exploits of early American colonial frontiersman, Robert Rogers, who served in the British army during both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution, he formed his famous green-liveried Rogers' Raiders, trained for raiding and close combat behind enemy lines. The film deals principally with his celebrated expedition far behind enemy lines against the Abenaki Indians at Saint-Francis in Quebec and the forced marches to and from there.
Spencer Tracy is ideally cast as the grizzled but inspirational Rogers who Robert Young, an aspiring artist who has recently flunked his Harvard scholarship for the ministry and his rebellious, mischievous confederate, Walter Brennan, happen upon whilst on the run from likely imprisonment. Recruited on the promise of nothing more than hard work, soldier's ratiions and a noble cause, they fall in with Rogers and his sometimes not so merry men in their great campaign.
Tracy, who once claimed that movie acting wouldn't tax an embryo, here throws himself full-bodied into the action, whether that be taking the lead in starting a human chain of his men to get them over a rapid rolling river, marching for miles on an empty stomach or killing those pesky Abenaki Indians.
About that, political sensitivities in 1940 being a lot less heightened than they are now, today's viewer of course being mindful of the treatment of indigenous natives has to accept the historical context of the events depicted even if it means we see Rogers and his men slaughter in time-honoured Hollywood fashion, dozens of the "enemy Indians", although there is a scene where we see him stop his massacring, fire-raising men from murdering women and children, although only with the rider that alive they would make good servants.
Be that as it may, this was still a highly entertaining blockbuster entertainment. Director King Vidor marshals the big outdoor scenes ably as well as stopping the action for the appropriate stirring speeches, usually by Tracy. He doesn't shy away either from the rigours of conflict with more than one of the Raiders exhibiting what we call today battle fatigue or post traumatic stress. Tracy is excellent as Rogers, making the big decisions for his men's welfare but always leading by example and keeping his eyes on the prize of getting the job done. Young I was less convinced by as the sensitive, lovelorn recruit who toughens up under orders but Brennan as ever is enjoyable as his querulous sidekick.
A favourite movie of my old dad's who's never given me a bum steer yet, this is a colourful, action-filled Golden Age feature impossible, for more reasons than one, to replicate today.
Spencer Tracy is ideally cast as the grizzled but inspirational Rogers who Robert Young, an aspiring artist who has recently flunked his Harvard scholarship for the ministry and his rebellious, mischievous confederate, Walter Brennan, happen upon whilst on the run from likely imprisonment. Recruited on the promise of nothing more than hard work, soldier's ratiions and a noble cause, they fall in with Rogers and his sometimes not so merry men in their great campaign.
Tracy, who once claimed that movie acting wouldn't tax an embryo, here throws himself full-bodied into the action, whether that be taking the lead in starting a human chain of his men to get them over a rapid rolling river, marching for miles on an empty stomach or killing those pesky Abenaki Indians.
About that, political sensitivities in 1940 being a lot less heightened than they are now, today's viewer of course being mindful of the treatment of indigenous natives has to accept the historical context of the events depicted even if it means we see Rogers and his men slaughter in time-honoured Hollywood fashion, dozens of the "enemy Indians", although there is a scene where we see him stop his massacring, fire-raising men from murdering women and children, although only with the rider that alive they would make good servants.
Be that as it may, this was still a highly entertaining blockbuster entertainment. Director King Vidor marshals the big outdoor scenes ably as well as stopping the action for the appropriate stirring speeches, usually by Tracy. He doesn't shy away either from the rigours of conflict with more than one of the Raiders exhibiting what we call today battle fatigue or post traumatic stress. Tracy is excellent as Rogers, making the big decisions for his men's welfare but always leading by example and keeping his eyes on the prize of getting the job done. Young I was less convinced by as the sensitive, lovelorn recruit who toughens up under orders but Brennan as ever is enjoyable as his querulous sidekick.
A favourite movie of my old dad's who's never given me a bum steer yet, this is a colourful, action-filled Golden Age feature impossible, for more reasons than one, to replicate today.