Northwest Passage - Warner Archive Collection

MGM didn't specialize in spectacles or adventure films during the 1930s and '40s, but the studio went all in on Northwest Passage, a sprawling, robust adaptation of the historical novel by Kenneth Roberts. With Technicolor photography, a huge cast, and extensive location shooting in the Idaho wilderness, the movie would rank as the studio's most expensive production since the silent version of Ben-Hur 15 years earlier. Though it never quite recouped its massive $2.6 million cost, Northwest Passage was a big hit in 1940 and its entertainment value remains high today.

Based on actual events that transpired in 1759 and the real people who participated in them, Northwest Passage chronicles the march of Rogers' Rangers, a troop of colonial patriots led by Maj. Robert Rogers (Spencer Tracy), into Indian territory in French-controlled Canada during the French and Indian War. The purpose of their mission is to avenge the deaths of their countrymen at the hands of the Abenakis tribe and send a message of strength and fortitude to the natives and their French allies.

A tough leader consumed by revenge, Rogers approaches his assignment with a laser focus and recruits Langdon Towne (Robert Young), an expelled Harvard student with cartography skills, and his backwoods friend "Hunk" Marriner (Walter Brennan) to join his crew. The two become key members of the unit, rising time and again to the challenges they face. The arduous trek over difficult terrain is fraught with danger and takes a toll on Rogers' men, but they dutifully soldier on.

In addition to such stirring episodes as the violent, fiery battle between the Rangers and Abenakis and a thrilling action scene in which the Rangers form a human chain across a treacherous rushing river, Northwest Passage paints an affecting portrait of perseverance and survival. Reaching the Abenakis settlement is tough enough for the Rangers, but their return to their home base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire puts their mettle and endurance to the ultimate test, as they combat crushing fatigue, hunger, and war wounds.

Director King Vidor makes fine use of the rugged Idaho locations, which supply natural beauty (especially in glorious three-strip Technicolor) and lend the narrative essential authenticity. No stranger to spectacle (he helmed the massive World War I silent epic The Big Parade 15 years earlier), Vidor mounts sweeping action sequences featuring some creative bits of camera work. He also handles the dramatic scenes well, drawing colorful performances from Tracy, the always underrated Young, and Brennan, who steals every scene in which he appears.

So what does the Northwest Passage have to do with Northwest Passage? Not much. That's because the film only covers the first half of Roberts' novel, which takes place before Rogers leads an expedition to discover what he believes to be a hidden waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. (This explains the movie's subtitle, Book One: Rogers' Rangers.) There's no mention at all of the Northwest Passage until the film's final minutes, which seems to set up a sequel. Sadly, that sequel was never made. Roberts was reportedly so displeased with the Northwest Passage adaptation - especially the manufactured happy ending - he turned down all subsequent requests to film his work.

Northwest Passage runs a tad long, but maintains interest and shines a light on a period of American history that Hollywood has largely ignored. Tracy carries the film with ease, and his everyman quality makes the movie more relatable than others in the same vein. Some dated elements crop up here and there, but overall, Northwest Passage holds up quite well and takes us on a memorable journey into our colonial past.

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray
Northwest Passage arrives on Blu-ray packaged in a standard case. Video codec is 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 and audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono. Once the disc is inserted into the player, the static menu without music immediately pops up; no previews or promos precede it.

Pure perfection. That's the best way to describe this sumptuous, eye-popping 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer that faithfully honors and gloriously celebrates the Oscar-nominated cinematography of William V. Sakall (who would later win the award for Joan of Arc) and Sidney Wagner. The brand new 4K master struck from the original Technicolor camera negatives explodes with vivid color and a dazzling level of clarity that makes the movie feel much younger than its 85 years.

Grain is practically absent, but there's just enough of it to maintain the feel of film. Pitch-perfect contrast, a palpable sense of depth, rich blacks, and bright whites all combine to produce a stunning picture. But with three-strip Technicolor it's all about those hues, and this transfer delivers in spades. The orange flames, red military uniforms, deep blue water, and verdant green landscapes are simply gorgeous and exhibit none of the garish saturation that afflict less carefully remastered renderings. Flesh tones are spot on, the silhouettes of the rangers as they sail along the shimmering river are clean and striking, and the textures of costumes, wood, and even grains of dirt are palpable. The only downside to such a vibrant, lifelike image and such expert location shooting is that the soundstage exteriors and process shots become that much more noticeable and jarring, but that's a small price to pay for such brilliance.

Not a speck or errant scratch dot the pristine source material and no digital anomalies could be detected. I don't own the 2011 DVD, but this transfer most certainly eclipses it. If you're a fan of this film or someone who just appreciates fine cinema, you'll be blown away by this transfer.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track pumps out quality sound that belies the track's advanced age. A wide dynamic scale gives Herbert Stothart's rousing score plenty of room to breathe, while sonic accents like gunfire, barking dogs, and rushing water nicely punctuate the action. Strong bass frequencies allow distant drums to pulsate across the room and subtle atmospherics like chirping birds, squeaking crickets, and crackling flames are distinct. All the dialogue is easy to comprehend and no age-related hiss, pops, or crackle disrupt the purity of this top-notch track.

Just a couple of extras are included on the disc.

• Vintage Featurette: Northward, Ho! (SD, 10 minutes) - This promotional one-reeler takes us up to the Idaho locations where much of Northwest Passage was shot and features rare behind-the-scenes footage of the cast and crew.
• Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2 minutes)

A classic historical adventure packed with fine performances, spirited action, and glorious cinematography, Northwest Passage holds up well and is a treat to watch, thanks to an exceptional transfer struck from a new 4K scan of the original Technicolor camera negatives. Once again, Warner Archive delivers a superior release that meets the high standards we've come to expect from the label. Highly Recommended.
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