The Last Of The Mohicans [1992]

On the DVD: The anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 image is a massive improvement over VHS, but still shows considerable grain in many scenes, possibly a result of the film being shot in low, natural light and containing many very dark sequences. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is very powerful, though little use is made of the rear channels, and in some scenes the sound effects all but drown out the dialogue. Isolated scores are usually only found on feature-packed special editions, so the inclusion here is a welcome surprise--and a testament to its popularity. The only other extra is an anamorphic 2.35:1 presentation of the immensely stirring theatrical trailer. --Gary S Dalkin

Director Michael Mann was inspired as much by 1936 Randolph Scott version of "The Last of the Mohicans," with a screenplay by Philip Dunne, as he was by James Fenimore Cooper's original novel. This is just as good, because after seeing Mann's movie I tried to read Cooper's novel and I could not even get halfway through that ponderous book. This version is also skewed by the television series "M*A*S*H," where the character of Benjamin Franklin Pierce was called "Hawkeye" because his father loved Cooper's novel. Ironically, this meant the name was so identified with Alan Alda's character that it would no longer work in its original context. But then the name of Cooper's hero was Natty Bumppo, and that was not going to work either, so in this incarnation our hero is called "Nathaniel."

Nathaniel is played by Daniel Day-Lewis, and his character spends a lot of time in this movie running through scenes with an intensity that becomes palatably ferocious at times. Although filmed in North Carolina, the movie is set in upstate New York during the French & Indian War. Nathaniel is hunting deer in the forest with his adopted family, Chingachgook (Russell Means) and Uncas (Eric Schweig) and planning on wintering down south in Ken-tuck-ee. The French are invading and the local settlers are in danger, but this is not Nathaniel's concern. But then he comes across signs of a Huron war party and comes to rescue of a party of British troops, led by the haughty Major Duncan Heyward (Steven Waddington), and escorting Cora Munro (Madeleine Stowe) and her younger sister Alice (Jodhi May) to Fort William Henry, commanded by their father, Colonel Edmund Munro (Maurice Roeves).

The British party was betrayed by its scout, Magua (Wes Studi), who has been insulted by Colonel Munro and wants to see him dead and to wipe his seed from the earth. Major Hayward, already angered by Cora's refusal of his proposal of marriage, is enraged by not only her interest in Nathaniel, but in the Nathaniel agrees to see to their safety and escrots them to the besieged fort. The scene in which they enter, lit at night by only by the light of torches, while the musical score carries the scenes, is by favorite in a film filled with gorgeous photography and heroic music. Mann has always thought in terms of that particular combination, going to back to not only his "MTV Cops" on "Miami Vice," but his use of Iron Butterfly's 'In-a-gadda-da-vida" at the end of "Manhunter" (the original film version of "The Red Dragon" by Thomas Harris). But in "The Last of the Mohicans" he creates a sublime fusion between images and sound again and again throughout the film.

The musical score by Randy Edelman and Trevor Jones is one of my all-time favorites and if I had to guess which non-musical soundtrack I have listened to the most in my life, this would be the winner (John Williams for the original "Star Wars" places and Randy Newman for "The Natural" shows). Given the number of times this music has been used (to wit, ripped off) in movie trailers since then, I must not be alone in my thinking (I had a bias against "Legends of the Fall," the first movie to employ "The Last of the Mohicans" score in its trailer because of its heresy in doing so). The opening deer hunt, the entrance into the fort, the stolen moments between Nathaniel and Cora, the canoe chase on the river, and the entire final chase up the mountain for the final battle, all rely on the music and the images, with a minimal of dialogue.

I think that "The Last of the Mohicans" is a prefect date movie with a great balance between the romance and the action. The romance is communicated with looks more than words. The most romantic thing either one of them says is when Cora catches Nathaniel staring at her. "What are you looking at, sir?" she demands. "I'm looking at you, miss" he replied without averting his gaze. When he has to abandon Cora to be able to save her and her sister, the closest he comes to telling Cora that he loves her is when Nathaniel tells her to stay alive, no matter what, promising "I will find you." Then they look at each other, trapped in a cave beneath a waterfall, drinking in the sight of each other for what could be the final time.

As I indicated earlier, I had not read the novel "The Last of the Mohicans," or even the Classics Illustrated comic book version. For that matter I had not seen the 1936 version. As a result, I did not know what was going to happen next in this film, and I was so caught up with what was happening that I actually sat in the theater wondering what was going to happen next when we were literally up to the final scene. This movie is so captivating than even now, when I know the plot of Cooper's original story (Uncas and Cora are the doomed lovers), I dismiss the literary source in terms of Mann's cinematic result.


A beautiful romantic adventure!   November 3, 2002
Deborah MacGillivray (US & UK)
19 out of 23 found this review helpful

Michael Mann (producer/director/cameraman - yes, if you notice in the credits he always serves as a cameraman in his productions because he is so dedicated to putting on film the precise images he wishes) - brought us Miami Vice, Manhunter (the first screen appearance of Hannibal Lecter so is the prequel to Silence of the Lambs) turned his eye to this classic tale.

He has often been accused of being more style than substance, which I think is wrong. Mann is both style and substance, and as in all his efforts, repeat viewing bears this out. But nowhere more so than in this film. Mann is likely a perfectionist, and he carried that out to the smallest degree with this production. They spent nearly two years before they began filming growing the crops needed for fibbers and dye, tanning the hides so that the period dress for this film is accurate.

Daniel Day-Lewis brings the character of Hawkeye to life, giving it warmth, sensuality, charisma, wit and strength, showing he is one of the best actors of our time. Stowe is beautiful, winsome, feminine, sensual and yet full of pioneer fortitude, displaying the strength women needed to survive in the new world. The two leads work well together.

The remainder of the cast give solid performances, Steve Waddington (BBC's Ivanhoe and Sleepy Hollow) as Heyward is properly stuffy, but a man willing to give his life for the woman he loves, Wes Studi as menacing a bad buy you would want,and Russel Means as Chingachgook all work to make this period piece perfection that Mann wanted.

Romantic, full of adventure and beautiful filmed, with haunting music by Clannad and Leahy...a must!!


Amazing!   February 7, 2002
Andrew Stead (J.A.Stead1@bradford.ac.uk) (Cambridge)
12 out of 13 found this review helpful

Daniel Day Lewis plays the part of a colonial named Hawkeye, the adopted son of the last of the Mohican tribe. The film explores the bloody nature of colonial times, while at the same time introducing a beatifully acted romance. Madeleine Stowe plays the part of a British general's daughter, who eventually falls for Hawkeye. Amongst the Chaos of war between the French and British, Michael Mann explores the cultural abyss between colonials and transplants, and the barbaric war methods of homogenous tribesman. This is an enlightening film, set in lavish locations, with amazing cinematography. The soundtrack is also astounding. Don't let this one pass you by!


Gripping, heartfelt and well-acted   December 4, 2006
Berengaria (Denmark)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

This movie tells, mostly, the epic love story of Cora Munro, the strong-willed daughter of a Scots colonel, and Hawkeye, white adopted son of Chingachook of the dying Mohican tribe. Caught in the blood and mayhem of the French and Indian War in 1757, Cora meets the rugged frontiersman when he, his "father" and "brother", Uncas, save her, her sister Alice and their escort, Major Duncan Heyward, during an ambush. The passion growing between Cora and Hawkeye is challenged by Duncan's jealousy and the bloodlust of Magua, a Huron war-leader bent on revenge.

This is a masterpiece because it combines inspired cinematography and score with a layered story that blends epic symbolism with a stirring attention to human emotion. Although it focuses on Cora and Hawkeye, the minor characters are also given space; we see Duncan's weakness and internal struggle, Magua's bitterness and, most skillfully, the love of Uncas and Alice. Totally overshadowed by Cora and Hawkeye, the romantic awakening of timid Alice and quiet Uncas is shown in tiny flashes and only at the end do they shine, and you realize the power of their feelings quite matches those of their bolder siblings.

The ethereal, panoramic views are glory enough, but the score is perhaps the best I've heard in a soundtrack. It captures the mood and the era - the exotic drumbeats mixed with the poignant European orchestra. It makes you soar, but hints at grief; it reminds you that these people were at the mercy of the wilderness, embodied as much by the savagery of the war as by the humbling environment.

I recommend this film because it rests firmly not just on cast or crew or script, but all three. It portrays the frontier as a crucible for social and racial distinction, but also for moral and emotional boundaries. As a date romance, an action adventure, or a human drama best studied over and over (as I have), it is EXCELLENT!


One of the Best Period Pieces Ever Made   January 7, 2001
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

Michael Mann's adaptation of the James Cooper novel is not amazingly true to the book but it somewhat follows it. Despite this it still manages to be a fantastic action movie with a bit of romance and humour. Daniel Day Lewis is as engaging as ever and Mann pulls off the large battle scenes well. The fight scenes are superbly choreographed and gore is frequent. The most amazing part of the film however is the last fifteen minutes where the action takes place with an amazingly emotional soundtrack as backing. A great movie that everyone will enjoy.