Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Northwest Passage Blu-ray Movie Review

Spencer for hire.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III August 14, 2024

A decently capable historical drama with great production values but only modest box-office success, King Vidor's Northwest Passage joins the likes of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World as planned multi-part epics that never earned a sequel (unless, of course, you count the one-season 1958 TV series). Subtitled "Book 1: Rogers' Rangers", this 126-minute Technicolor production -- reportedly filmed over an 18-month period -- was unsurprisingly based in full on the first half of Kenneth Roberts' lengthy novel and follows Robert Rogers (Spencer Tracy) and his men on their path towards the raid of a Native American settlement at Saint-François-du-Lac, Quebec. Much like the book's first half, it revels in small details and day-to-day concerns as the Rangers trek through rugged territory, serving up intermittent thrills and character-based drama yet never feeling as fully effective as its source material.

As one of only a few historical dramas taking place during the French and Indian War (1754-1763), Northwest Passage doesn't actually show the discovery of its titular path; that would happen in the book's second half. Nonetheless, we've got plenty of nature to deal with, as large swaths of this production were filmed on location in Pacific Northwest forests that ruggedly represent the upstate wilderness of New York where this real history actually happened.

But first, setup: Northwest Passage begins in the New Hampshire town of Portsmouth, where aspiring painter Langdon Towne (Robert Young) has just left Harvard due to his vocal political opinions. His family is disappointed with Langdon's departure from school, as is his sweetheart Elizabeth Browne (Ruth Hussey), but only her pastor father (Louis Hector) is bold enough to say something. Langdon's mouth gets him into more trouble at a local pub where he faces arrest, but luckily he escapes with the help of his friend "Hunk" Marriner (Walter Brennan). Arriving at a tavern several miles west, they help a man in a green uniform later revealed to be Major Robert Rogers, leader of the same-named Rangers, who soon enlists both men -- Langdon for his map-making skills -- to accompany him on a raid up north.

It won't be an easy trip, as the elite group of soldiers will soon face unimaginable challenges in the wilderness; nature itself, of course, as well as increasingly hostile Native Americans defending their land. The deeds aren't glamorized at all, with Rogers' men basically trying to kill as many "Indians" as possible (as revenge for previous raids) while leaving their own critically injured men to die or be sent back to their home base at Fort Crown Point. Days go by with minimal water and absolutely no food; not necessarily for lack of supplies, but to avoid detection during rest breaks. Rank-and-file insubordination isn't tolerated at all, and several Native Americans among Rogers' ranks are also dismissed when he eventually learns they might be out to sabotage the mission from within. Then, of course, there's the raid itself, one in which no Native American women or children are seen -- it's fine to slaughter men, of course -- and at least one white prisoner, Jennie Coit (Isabel Jewell), is rescued. Yet the challenges aren't over, with even more rugged wilderness and several other surprises awaiting them on the path to their destination, New Hampshire's Fort Wentworth.

Apologies for the extended trailer up there, but Northwest Passage is really an example of a film's journey eclipsing its actual destination. The day-to-day struggles of Rogers and his men, some of which comes via our everyman entry point in Langdon Towne, is what drives much of the film's dramatic momentum, which has the tendency to stop and start in an episodic manner but is at least capably decorated by the film's outstanding three-strip Technicolor cinematography. Northwest Passage was filmed only five years after the format's first full use and certainly stands as one of the most ambitious early examples of it, capturing alternately beautiful and brutal scenery in a way that lets viewers get lost in the action. While its momentum is certainly a bit patchy and the film's unavoidably unfinished status leaves something of a bitter aftertaste (not to mention the subject matter, which clearly dates it but not to a crippling extent), Northwest Passage should still be celebrated for both its unwavering ambition and solid technical achievements.

These advantages can be fully appreciated thanks to Warner Archive's welcome new Blu-ray, which treats new and returning fans to another top-tier restoration that makes its Technicolor cinematography shine like new. Good lossless audio and a couple of lightweight but appreciated vintage bonus features round out this solid package, which again is aimed squarely at A/V purists looking to build their classic film libraries without breaking the bank.

Northwest Passage Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Warner Archive's own 2011 DVD edition of Northwest Passage was capable for its time but lacking in clarity, its 480p transfer presumably built from lesser source elements -- perhaps an older composite negative? That's certainly not the case here, as the boutique label's brand-new Blu-ray is reportedly sourced from a very recent 4K scan of the original Technicolor negatives... and if you've followed the efforts of Warner Archive for several years, you know that translates to a resoundingly great-looking image. Northwest Passage makes great use of location footage with a few obvious sets mixed in, but the former are beautifully captured and add to overall film enjoyment levels with a naturally crisp image loaded with fine detail and accurate color representation; just remember that the bulk of this production follows dirty, unshaven men in pale green uniforms trudging through dense wilderness, and you'll appreciate just how precisely film-like this transfer really looks. Textures, depth, black levels, and stability are all excellent, while film grain is supported capably while differing in density depending on location and light levels. WAC's Blu-ray is equipped to handle almost everything the film throws at it, with only a handful of scenes -- a sudden downpour, the extreme darkness of night -- dipping in overall clarity or showing slight signs of almost unavoidable macro blocking. Other than that, it's basically about as perfect a presentation as fans could hope for and another clear win for Warner Archive.

Northwest Passage Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio follows suit as a capable presentation of its one-channel source material, one that's obviously limited by its format to convey a convincingly rugged and epic sonic backdrop. No matter: it's still a solid presentation with crisp dialogue and excellent placement for foreground and background effects, while the fidelity of Herbert Stothart's original score doesn't seem to have been compromised in any way. Trace amounts of hiss remain, but it's nothing too distracting and was likely left alone to preserve crucial aspects of the audio's dynamic range. Overall, it's a solid effort that gets the job done and clearly an upgrade from the old lossy DVD track.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are offered during the main feature only, not the extras listed below.

Northwest Passage Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a keepcase with vintage poster-themed cover art; no inserts of any kind are included. Extras are slim, sadly lacking the usual era-specific cartoons but at least offering a few film-themed goodies.

• Northward, Ho! (9:25) - Your mom gets directions in this nifty black-and-white MGM promotional featurette, which doesn't get a full restoration but nonetheless looks and sounds pretty decent. Originally made to document some of the behind-the-scenes production challenges and achievements, it's capably directed by Harry Loud (The Horse with the Human Mind) and was written by Herman Hoffman, famous for his work on classic TV shows like Bonanza and The Untouchables as well as producing Bad Day at Black Rock, also starring Spencer Tracy.

• Theatrical Trailer (2:01) - This fittingly rousing vintage promotional piece likewise touts the epic nature of Northwest Passage, and it's likewise presented in fairly rough but watchable condition. See it here.

Northwest Passage Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

King Vidor's Northwest Passage was the first half of an unfinished two-part cinematic adaptation of Kenneth Roberts' historical novel so, aside from the unavoidable disappointment of several unresolved subplots, the only actual strikes against it are somewhat uneven pacing and the odd juxtaposition of brutal subject matter somewhat neutered by Hays Code restrictions. Even so, it's quite impressive at times and largely so because of its stunning three-strip Technicolor cinematography, which has been beautifully restored on Warner Archive's welcome new Blu-ray. Total newcomers may want to proceed with a little bit of caution, but this one's unquestionably Recommended to fans.