Drums Along The Mohawk (1939)

Set in 1776, a girl (Claudette Colbert) from a wealthy family marries a farmer (Henry Fonda) and they move to to a small farm near the Mohawk Valley. But their peaceful lives are interrupted when the valley is attacked by Mohawk Indians led by a British loyalist (John Carradine). Based on the novel by Walter D. Edmonds and directed by John Ford. Shot in gorgeous three strip Technicolor by Bert Glennon and Ray Renahan with Utah substituting for upstate New York, the film may not be one of Ford's worst but it's far from his best! As usual for Hollywood in this era, historical accuracy is put aside in favor of the filmmakers' agenda. It uses every cliche in the book so we have to wade through another interminable "boil some hot water" baby delivery while the father nervously awaits the birth and then there's the German parson (Arthur Shields) with an Irish accent (hey, it's a Ford movie) pontificating and talking to God in the midst of all the slaughter and of course, when we meet the film's most likable character, a feisty widow (Edna May Oliver in an Oscar nominated performance), we know she'll be toast before the movie is over. I gave up after awhile and just waited for the damn thing to end. With Ward Bond, Jessie Ralph, Robert Lowery and Kay Linaker.