Rotten Tomatoes
Suggestions will appear as you start typing. Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Drums Along the Mohawk

Play trailer Poster for Drums Along the Mohawk 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 Stream Now

Where to Watch

Drums Along the Mohawk

Critics Reviews

View More
Jeremiah Kipp Slant Magazine May 17, 2005
2/4
A lesser effort from Ford. Go to Full Review Ellie Lucas From the Front Row Aug 7, 2019
4/4
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. Go to Full Review Jeremy Heilman MovieMartyr.com Aug 16, 2012
73/100
Duty leads to detachment, as is typical in Ford, and there are sterling examples here of resolute stoicism triumphing over hysteria. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Dec 11, 2007
B
Visually very pleasing. Go to Full Review Paul Brenner Filmcritic.com Oct 19, 2007
4/5
a revelation Go to Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid Aug 22, 2005
It was Ford's first film in color and contains at least a handful of his most beautifully composed moments. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
bruce F @bruce999 Aug 14, 2026 If Claudette C. would not be so annoying, in her screams , i might like this movie. Another actress might of made it into a 4.5 star movie. Since , if someone moves to an area, where indians live, guess what ? you are gonna see indians. likely the script is the real blame on this one... can't just blame an actress. See more Nov 13, 2023 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. See more georgan g @RT98616417 Nov 13, 2021 I understand this was made in 1939, but it is so sexist & racist that it was hard to watch. See more Steve D @RT35616104 Jul 23, 2020 weak western with some old fashioned ideas. See more Jul 7, 2020 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. See more s r @ScottR Mar 2, 2020 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. See more Read all reviews
Drums Along the Mohawk

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

John Ford

Director

Claudette Colbert

'Lana' Magdelana

Henry Fonda

Gilbert Martin

John Carradine

Caldwell

Edna May Oliver

Mrs. McKlennar

Eddie Collins

Christian Reall

More Like This

View All
Young Mr. Lincoln 100% 81% Young Mr. Lincoln Watchlist In Old Chicago 67% 52% In Old Chicago Watchlist The Prisoner of Shark Island 89% 69% The Prisoner of Shark Island Watchlist Desiree 20% 68% Desiree Watchlist The Barbarian and the Geisha 40% 43% The Barbarian and the Geisha Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Drums Along the Mohawk

Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) View more photos

Movie Info

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
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings