Northwest Passage 1940

Story of Rogers Rangers. I counted 50 or so flintlocks which all looked the same similar to the Brown Bess. Many movie props many I am sure. In all the fighting, rarely saw a reload, but lots of smoke. Interesting old movie. Any input from others appreciated.

I have the book written by Kenneth Roberts written in 1936.
It's a mere 700 pages
The preface contains a Mark Twain quote.

I liked the movie. We could make a list of everything wrong with it, and for that matter what was wrong with the book, but I’ve watched it a lot and it still my one of my favorites.
My rule is if I like the movie I can laugh off the historical inaccuracies( northwest passage, Patriot,mountain Men) and movies I don’t like the historical inaccuracies make it unwatchable ( The revanaut James Arnus Alamo, Black flag)

I read the book in VN and saw the movie at home. They are vastly different. Only the first half of the book is emphasized in the movie, before Rogers left for England. It was a happy-ending movie, guy-gets-girl, not so in the book. In the second half of the book, Rogers stole the girl from Townsend and married her. (probably fiction). Rogers moved to England to try to recover the personal money he spent arming his Rangers, failed at that, ended up in poverty in debtor's prison, somehow was awarded a commission to go back to America, and eventually fought against the Patriots in the Revolution. He was instrumental in the capture and execution of Nathan Hale. All of which is true.

The second half of the book portrays Rogers as a progressively negative character. It's a good book, far better than the movie. I don't know how much the author researched the facts, both positive and negative, Kenneth Roberts did, but for the most part, the book is pretty well supported by the facts. The facts don't say Rogers was a cad, later in life, but the book does.

I liked the movie, since it was released in 1940. The production company tried to do some research, but they didn't know that their sources "didn't know" either. For example the rangers wear "Glen Gary" caps, not the proper Scotch Bonnets. The production company went to the LA Highland Games and asked the folks participating what was meant by a "Scotch Bonnet", and the folks were wearing Glen Gary caps. The costumer was told that what the participants were wearing at the games were the same thing as found in the reference..., which was very wrong..., but Californians in 1939 knew less about Scotland than the Scots in Scotland knew about California.

I believe in the shooting scenes they used converted trap-door Springfield .45-70 rifles. As for prop guns, they seemed to have used Belgian trade muskets.







LD

The portriat of Rogers features him in some kind of weird-ass headgear, neither Glen Garry hat or Scotch bonnet. I'm not sure if it was painted when Rogers was still alive. And I don't know if the fact they wore Scotch bonnets came from history, or from the novel.

Last time I saw the film, I also took it that the guns were Trapdoor Springfields, converted. I guess the real guns of Rogers would have been Besses with a few rifles (?). Maybe Trade muskets?

Gene L said:

The portriat of Rogers features him in some kind of weird-ass headgear, neither Glen Garry hat or Scotch bonnet. I'm not sure if it was painted when Rogers was still alive. And I don't know if the fact they wore Scotch bonnets came from history, or from the novel.

Last time I saw the film, I also took it that the guns were Trapdoor Springfields, converted. I guess the real guns of Rogers would have been Besses with a few rifles (?). Maybe Trade muskets?

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Its a cut down tricorn ,commonly known as a jockey cap

During the year the movie was made there were likely a good supply of both the Belgium trade muskets and the converted trapdoors available.
Rick

By that time there were plenty of props in storage. In earlier movies Hollywood often used a wide variety of antique or at least old guns. In a day before repros in Gone With The Wind’ Scarlet is seen holding a lever loading colt.
We often look at guns and clothing and historic details of events and pick on it. Looking behind in to some little details often has some very correct background.
China, silver or pewter ware, candle holders secretarial equipment are often very correct.

tenngun said:

In a day before repros in Gone With The Wind’ Scarlet is seen holding a lever loading colt.

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Interesting, I don't remember that, but they did go to the trouble when she gets the revolver and shoots the Yankee looter on the main stairs in Tara, she uses an 1858 Remington....





LD

I could recall it was period correct but couldn’t remember for sure. In my minds eye I was seeing a Colt.
No one was making a repo then so I’m thinking that was an original.