The Last of the Mohicans

1920 "The story of a prince without a kingdom"
6.7| 1h13m| NR| en
Details

As Alice and Cora Munro attempt to find their father, a British officer in the French and Indian War, they are set upon by French soldiers and their cohorts, Huron tribesmen led by the evil Magua. Fighting to rescue the women are Chingachgook and his son Uncas, the last of the Mohican tribe, and their white ally, the frontiersman Natty Bumppo, known as Hawkeye.

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GamerTab That was an excellent one.
Libramedi Intense, gripping, stylish and poignant
Brightlyme i know i wasted 90 mins of my life.
Comwayon A Disappointing Continuation
FerdinandVonGalitzien The Last Of The Mohicans" is a great savage adventure film (quite reminiscent of the sort of thing that happens with this German Count each time he ventures beyond the Schloss grounds) based on the classic American novel by James Fenimore Cooper. This vibrant film is as beautiful artistically (the film's natural locations are magnificent) as it is efficient technically (cinematography, film narrative). It is a perfect example of the adventure film genre as well the western film genre.This German Count must say that such efficiency and dynamism are due to the work of the great French film director Herr Maurice Tourneur and his disciple, Herr Clarence Brown.The first, Herr Tourneur (whose work this German Count is very fond of), worked in a most varied assortment of artistic disciplines (decorator, book illustrator, theatrical actor and even assistant to the French sculptor August Rodin) before beginning his film career, an artistic heritage that is well reflected in his films, especially those of the silent period. He endows his films with high pictorial quality and exquisite visual beauty, as is the case with "The Last Of The Mohicans." The five years spent by Herr Clarence Brown as Herr Tourneur's assistant director were certainly decisive for his career. The influence of the French director, especially the aesthetic influences referenced above, is noteworthy and can be seen particularly with regard to the extensive work of Herr Brown with the great silent diva Damen Garbo.And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must put on and perfectly adjust his stylish wig, which couldn't be more unlike the ordinary scalps that are seen in this film.
Cineanalyst This film is well photographed, as are most of the films I've seen that are directed by Maurice Tourneur. The framing and composition of shots are apt, except occasionally when it is theatrical. Much of the action happens outside, which helps--freeing the camera and providing scenery. There are some nice lighting effects: use of low-key lighting, nighttime photography, the flickering light against a wall to represent candlelight and such. There are some silhouette shots, which seem to be a trademark in Tourneur's films. The tinting, too, adds to the film's beauty.Some moments show a resemblance to D.W. Griffith and Billy Bitzer's work, such as "The Battle at Elderbush Gulch" and "The Birth of a Nation". There are the iris shots and actor's approaching the camera, both of which were likely invented by Griffith and Bitzer. The battle scene at the fort is rather Griffith-like. Impressively innovative is the pan of the faces of Magua and Uncas and then them rushing towards the camera, as they begin fighting. The main pictorial schema for this film, and I think it's a good one, if not entirely original, is switching from distanced views to intimate shots, thus taking in the breadth of the scenic environment and concentrating on the story's action. This can be seen in the battle scenes, the cliff scene and pretty much every other important scene outside.I've referred to this as Tourneur's film, but that's doubtful. Clarence Brown, Tourneur's longtime assistant, directed most of the shooting, due to Tourneur being ill. In the early days without detailed shooting scripts, it's questionable as to how much of the film was the conception and design of Tourneur, but Brown having worked under him, the issue is probably moot. Perhaps, the poor use of the same set for fictionally different locations, made obvious by the successive cuts, in addition to other minor amateurish mistakes, can be blamed on inexperience.Of worse error are Caucasians playing Indians and the film's occasional condescension and racism, although the film can be commended for its generally respectful treatment. As well, intertitles do replace some action and acting in this film, as fellow commenter Sorsimus criticized. And, the story contrives three moments where dark hair faces the choice of replacing herself for yellow hair as Magua's captive. The film appears rather unpolished at times, as a result. These are rather minor, or commonplace, problems, though.This is a promising early film for Brown, at the peak of Tourneur's career. Tourneur, a pioneer of the medium, dealt with a variety of stories, so from there one can't characterize his body of work easily; it's in cinematography that a characteristic style of innovation and the use of the best of film grammar known can be seen. For Brown, his films would surpass the visual brilliance of his master, with films such as, say, "The Flesh and the Devil". Here, it seems he wisely worked from the style of Tourneur to create some very interesting photography.
BrentMDavids This review is not about the inaccuracies of the film, nor in the original novel; but, it is about the film music. A new edition of this film is available now with an entirely new film music score. The film itself has been remastered from a french nitrate master copy, by George Eastman House. The Slingshot and Miramax releases added a rather poor film score, with flute and synthesizer. A new version exists now, however, with an entirely new film score by a Mohican Composer, "The 1920 Classic Myth: The Last of the Mohicans" (2003) in 5.1 surround sound, re-scored for full orchestra, and American Indian instruments. Search for the newer version, and definitely check out this film!
Sorsimus Many of the best films ever made were made during the silent era. Titles such as Nosferatu, Sunrise and The Crowd are all stunning examples of how mature an art form silent cinema actually was.Literary adaptations made up most of the earliest cinema. As films were perceived as a cheap form of entertainment it seemed crazy to actually pay someone to write when you had hundreds of books to film.Last Of The Mohicans is (obviously) an adaptation. Sadly it is not a good film. Actually it makes me think whether it is a film at all. All of its storytelling happens in the captions. At times you get several captions following each other telling what the characters do. They are followed by panoramic shots of American nature not necessarily relating to the captions in any way. At best you get Images depicting what has just been expressed verbally in the last caption. Murnau made "Der Letzte Mann" without any captions and managed to tell a story ten times more complicated in a lucid and coherent fashion.All in all this is a very disappointing film that should be forgotten.