| The Last of the Mohicans | |
|---|---|
Theatrical Poster |
|
| Directed by | Michael Mann |
| Produced by | Michael Mann Hunt Lowry James G. Robinson |
| Written by | Michael Mann Christopher Crowe |
| Starring | Daniel Day-Lewis Madeleine Stowe Wes Studi Russell Means Eric Schweig Steven Waddington Jodhi May |
| Music by | Randy Edelman Trevor Jones Daniel Lanois Howard Shore |
| Cinematography | Dante Spinotti |
| Editing by | Dov Hoenig Arthur Schmidt |
| Studio | Morgan Creek Productions |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
| Release date(s) | September 25, 1992 |
| Running time | 117 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English French Mohawk |
| Budget | $40 million |
| Box office | $75,505,856 (United States)[1] |
The Last of the Mohicans is a 1992 historical epic film set in 1757 during the French and Indian War and produced by Morgan Creek Pictures. It was directed by Michael Mann and based on James Fenimore Cooper's novel of the same name, although it owes more to George B. Seitz's 1936 film adaptation than the source novel. The main cast includes Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Russell Means, Wes Studi, Eric Schweig, Steven Waddington, and Jodhi May.
The soundtrack features music by Trevor Jones and Randy Edelman, and the song "I Will Find You" by Clannad. The main theme of the film is taken from the tune "The Gael" by Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean.
Contents |
In 1757, Chingachgook (Russell Means), his son Uncas (Eric Schweig), and Nathaniel Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis), his adopted white son, visit the Cameron household. Jack Winthrop (Edward Blatchford) tells Hawkeye that he is gathering volunteers for the British army. The next morning, Jack and a group of others obtain terms from General Webb, who agrees to grant them leave if their homes are attacked. Satisfied, they reinforce the British at Fort William Henry.
Cora Munro (Madeleine Stowe) and her sister Alice (Jodhi May) travel to Fort William Henry to join their father, Colonel Edmund Munro (Maurice Roëves), the commander of the garrison there. A native guide named Magua (Wes Studi) and a detachment of British soldiers commanded by Major Duncan Heyward (Steven Waddington) escort the women on the trail. However, they are ambushed by Hurons (Wyandot) led by Magua himself. Heyward, Cora, and Alice are rescued by Hawkeye and his companions. During the melee, Magua tries to shoot Cora, but Hawkeye forces him to flee. The rescuers reluctantly agree to escort the survivors to the fort. Along the way, they discover that the Cameron homestead has been razed and everyone killed, though nothing has been stolen - a sure sign of a war party.
They find Fort William Henry under siege by the French, but manage to sneak inside. When Munro scolds his daughters for coming, they realize that Magua has deceived them. Munro tells Heyward that the fort can only hold out for three more days. Their only hope is to get a messenger through to General Webb at nearby Fort Edward for help.
When Hawkeye tells the colonials about the attack on the Camerons, they demand to be released to go defend their homes. When Munro refuses, Hawkeye helps Jack and his friends desert. Hawkeye is arrested for sedition and sentenced to hang despite Cora's pleas.
The French commander, General Montcalm (Patrice Chéreau) offers Munro generous surrender terms: the men and their families are offered safe passage to Albany on condition they no longer fight in the war. Munro reluctantly accepts after Montcalm shows him an intercepted message from Webb in which the general refuses to send aid.
That night, Magua berates Montcalm for making peace and reveals the reason for his hatred of Munro: he had been captured and made a slave by Munro's forces and Mohawk allies, his village was destroyed and his children killed. Though he eventually regained his freedom, his wife, believing him dead, had taken another husband. Although Montcalm intends to honor the agreement, he makes it clear that he does not want Magua to do the same.
As the British march away, they are ambushed by Hurons and Quebecois led by Magua. To avenge his family, Magua personally cuts out Munro's heart, but not before promising Munro that he will kill his daughters to extinguish his line.
Hawkeye, Cora, Alice, Uncas, Chingachgook, Heyward, and two other soldiers escape across the lake and downriver to a cave behind a waterfall. Hawkeye urges Cora to survive whatever the cost and promises her that he will find her, then leaps with his father and brother through the falls into the water below to avoid precipitating a hopeless fight. Heyward and the two women are captured.
The prisoners are taken to a Huron village. Magua is negotiating with the sachem when they are interrupted by the arrival of an unarmed Hawkeye running the gauntlet of hostile warriors. With Heyward translating, Hawkeye convinces the chief that Magua is acting for himself, rather than in the Hurons' interests. The chief renders his judgment: Cora is to be burned alive to atone for Magua's dead children; Magua is given Alice to be his wife so that both bloodlines can continue. But as Magua stated earlier, he means to kill the bloodline of Munro. Heyward is to be returned to the British in the hope of avoiding reprisals; and Hawkeye is given safe passage in recognition of his bravery. Desperate, Hawkeye pleads to take Cora’s place. Heyward deliberately mistranslates, offering himself instead. When the sachem accepts, Magua curses him and leaves with Alice and his men. From a safe distance, Hawkeye mercifully shoots Heyward as he is being burned alive.
Uncas races ahead and catches up with Magua's band alone. He kills several men before engaging Magua in single combat. Magua kills Uncas and drops his body off a cliff, after which Alice deliberately jumps to her death. Hawkeye and Chingachgook slay several enemy warriors. Then, while Hawkeye holds the rest at bay, Chingachgook duels Magua and avenges his son. After a ceremony for Uncas, Chingachgook names himself "the last of the Mohicans."
Much care was taken with recreating accurate costumes and props. American Bladesmith Society Master Bladesmith Daniel Winkler made the tomahawks used in the film and knifemaker Randall King made the knives.[3]
Despite the film taking place in upstate New York, according to the film credits, it was filmed mostly in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Locations used include Lake James, Chimney Rock Park and The Biltmore Estate. Some of the waterfalls that were used in the movie include Hooker Falls, Triple Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and High Falls located in the DuPont State Forest. Another of these falls was Linville Falls, in the mountains of North Carolina.
The Last of the Mohicans opened to universal acclaim, with critics praising the film for its cinematography and music. Critic Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times called the film "...quite an improvement on Cooper's all but unreadable book, and a worthy successor to the Randolph Scott version," going on to say that "The Last of the Mohicans is not as authentic and uncompromised as it claims to be — more of a matinee fantasy than it wants to admit — but it is probably more entertaining as a result."[4] However, some reviewers panned the film, such as The Washington Post's Desson Howe, who called the movie "glam-opera" and "the MTV version of gothic romance".[5] Another reviewer, The Washington Post's Rita Kempley, recognized the heavy drama, writing that the film "sets new standards when it comes to pent-up passion", but commented positively on the "spectacular scenery".[6]
The Last of the Mohicans is certified "Fresh" at the film site Rotten Tomatoes, with a positive rating of 97% (34 reviews out of 35 counted fresh).[7]
The film won the Academy Award for Best Sound (Chris Jenkins, Doug Hemphill, Mark Smith, Simon Kaye).[8]
American Film Institute recognition:
The film opened in the United States on September 25, 1992, in 1,856 theaters. It was the number 1 movie on its opening weekend.[10][11] By the end of its first weekend The Last of the Mohicans had generated $10,976,661, and by the end of its domestic run the film had made $75,505,856.[1]
|
|||||||||||