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It has strong men and (for the time) uncharacteristicaly strong women. The screen writers did their best and succeeded in coming as close as possible to the book without tripling the length of the script.Unlike prior attempts which distorted the original book for "action" and also distorted the relationship of the characters to one another, this rendition is true to the original and develops the characters along the original story line,gives the insights that Cooper took pains to include, and makes the action more meaningful and deep. It even has a chase scene. It is, after all, the French and Indian War. A complex set of relationships on the frontier demand a comples set of characters -- even in the mini-series.The only negative is that the production quality is mildly hampered by the dated technology of the mini-series genre at that time and by a few minor technical flaws in equipment, but once you get into watching, it all melts away and becomes a faithful retelling of this classic tale of conflict in mid 1700's upstate New York.And for the politically correct among us it even includes an examination of two-faced racial bigotry in "proper" society as well as the more ingrained,casual and more open bigotry against the Red Tribes in the rougher, more pragmatic colonies.Its got murder, revenge, sex, hate, honor, treachery, violence and all the trappings of a first-class adventure film. although it is with canoes instead of cars, so when they overturn, there is no explosion (sorry).James Fenimore Cooper knew how to portray the Frontier in the 1760's and now we have available a retelling of that story as it was intended to be told. All in all, it amounts to a great rendition of what used to be called "a ripping yarn." And stands way above those other attempts to tell the story with sub-plots at which the original never even hinted.Buy it, watch it, and appreciate the attention to the the original intent of the authors labor.
Not that there aren't failings: the difference between the location filming in 16mm and the tape for the studio scenes is very noticeable, the French forces besieging Fort William Henry don't exactly fill the screen (there's a very sad shot of a single cannon in a field), the stuntwork often feels a bit polite and overly cautious and, unsurprisingly for the day, Mohicans and Hurons alike are played by white actors 'browned' up with coffee beans. Coming from a period when BBC literary adaptations were - at least partially - getting out of the studios and shooting more on location, often on a moderately lavish scale, this rather enjoyable series was the kind of prestige production that used to be a key fixture of late Sunday afternoons on the channel but seems never to have been repeated. Given a decent enough budget for location filming in Scotland and even allowing part of a fort to be built there, the ample running time (nearly six hours) allows it to include many supporting characters and plot developments that have always been dispensed with in the big screen versions, and while it's not entirely faithful to James Fennimore Cooper's classic novel, it does have the room to take in more of his reflections, giving it a bit more depth than other adaptations. Yet if you're willing to give it time and aren't expecting a lightning pace, it still works surprisingly well, and in Philip Madoc's vengeful Magua it offers one of 70s TV's best villains. While this DVD includes all the original episodes in their 45-minute versions (the show was re-edited to 13 half-hour parts for the US), the original masters were destroyed by the BBC long ago, so the quality is acceptable but not as good as on many of the BBC's own remastered titles
Shortly thereafter, Hawkeye spies the oncoming Indian and French forces under General Montcalm. The sound track is sparer, but--in its own way--still effective. And the action has now begun.Anyhow, if you can accept issues raised in my first paragraph, you are likely to find this an attractive presentation. This begins with Hawkeye, Chingachgook, and Uncas serving as scouts for Colonel Munro at Fort William Henry--quite a distance from the movie version.
The movie version is absolutely gorgeous visually; the soundtrack is compelling; the action is unremitting. Both have their attractions. The visual depiction is pretty primitive, outside of some outdoor shots. I'd make sure that my schedule was free for each episode.
John Abineri. The serial, first produced by the BBC, is much more leisurely, nearly six hours on two DVDs. Battle scenes do not compare. The pace is slower, which makes it less dramatic than the movie--but allows for greater exposition. The Masterpiece Theater version of "The Last of the Mohicans" is quite different from the Daniel Day-Lewis version.
And I enjoyed greatly revisiting this old treasure from the days of my youth.Kenneth Ives plays Natty Bumppo, "Hawkeye" or "La longue carabine"; Philip Madoc plays the grim warrior Magua. Chingachgook. Uncas is played by Richard Warwick and Cora Munro by Patricia Maynard.If you're familiar with the Daniel Day-Lewis version (or, for that matter, the Randolph Scott version), there are differences. The first episode illustrates. But for me. But the TV version has its own appeal. Munro's daughters are first seen in Scotland, before they leave for the colonies to see their father.
Each viewer will have to determine how well this works. I recall enjoying this immensely while I was in graduate school at the State University of New York at Buffalo. At one point in this episode, there is an affecting scene between Hawkeye and Chingachgook on the declining fortune of the Mohicans and the relations between Native Americans and the English and colonists. One star off for the mediocre production values.
As there are some gaps and scenes in the film that are improved greatly by the written words. You will not find a closer to the book film than this though not identical close enough. The Book is an amazing book for any time. This film is appropriate for any age and If you teach or Home School this would be a good companion piece to watch as you read the book. I did this and it greatly increased my enjoyment of the film. This film is divided into 8 easy to watch episodes. Making it even easier to use as a teaching tool or just to watch for good clean entertainment.
They are wonderfully evocative not only of the period in which the characters were supposed to live, but also of the way they are characterized in the novel. The other main British characters are Andrew Crawford as Colonel Munro who wants nothing more than a post back in Scotland rather than on the dark side of the moon Fort McAllister. But these are tiny quibbles. While you do have to get used to the 1970s style British TV interiors that seem more like filmed stage productions, the exterior shots run from very good to fairly spectacular.
I love the way the father holds his reserve and dignity while doing his duty yet we never lose sight of his weariness and hurt. I can't go through the whole cast, but I didn't see anyone on the screen that I didn't enjoy. The plot is pretty close to what was actually written (unlike the Daniel Day Lewis movie, which is really only "suggested by" the novel). Kenneth Ives is quite good as Hawkeye and captures the man of the forest who understands the ways of both the whites and the Indians, but is joined completely to neither side. He finally asks his adult daughters to come to New York where he will come to meet them.
The actors playing the Munros are terrific. Let's talk instead about the strengths of this wonderful series.The actors were wonderfully cast and bring a wonderful presence to the roles they play. John Abineri is terrific as the last Mohican, Chingachgook. In my view, it is simply because when Indians are speaking English to the white people they stumble over speaking a foreign tongue.
I think this eight part mini-series is the best adaptation of Cooper's novel to the screen. The daughters, Cora (Patricia Maynard) and Alice (Joanna David) decide to travel to the fort. The events of this travel and what is happening with the French forces coming down from Canada (this is set in the Seven Years War / French and Indian War - depending which name you want to call it) supply the engine for all the events in the film. The daughters are very different people, but they show us their toughness, bravery, and willingness to go beyond the decorum of their time, but still retain a sense of proper early 19th Century British manners. Richard Warwick does a great job as Chingachgook's son, Uncas. However, when they speak to other Indians, they are speaking their own language beautifully, but represented as English for us so we can understand it. The movie was shot in Scotland, so while they manage to capture the flavor of forests, forts, and wilderness, they do not have the underbrush and true wildness of American forests.
This series is a treasure and wonderful experience if you don't allow yourself to get hung up on the way the British filmed (or taped) the interiors of these kinds of things in the 1970s. He has wonderful dignity and the mystery required for the role. Philip Madoc does a more than fine job as the angry, vengeful, conniving, and weaker than he imagines himself Huron chief, Magua. Some comment on the way the Indians at one moment stumble over their English and yet at other times speak eloquently. I got used to it quickly and found this a wonderful viewing experience.Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI
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