It was the basis for the 1940 movie northwest passage, starring spencer tracy. Suggested reading jaegers battalion of rogers rangers. The picture is based on a novel by kenneth roberts titled northwest passage 1937. Northwest passage part one rogers rangers northwest passage book i rogers rangers northwest passage movie information from citwf, the free online movie database covering over 507,364 movies from 175 countries. Langdon towne and hunk marriner join major rogers rangers as they wipe out an indian village. The book northwest passage popularized and paraphrased rogers. Well over a hundred years before confederation, rangers were already leading the way. Book i of this novel appeared serially under the title of rogers rangers. The 28 rules of ranging are a series of rules and guidelines created by major robert rogers in 1757, during the french and indian war 175463. In 1937, kenneth roberts wrote a novel about rogers rangers called northwest passage. Be it rogers rangers from the french and indian war, to sharpes rifles. The second half of the book follows major rogers further career in england and on the northwest frontier.
Book 1 roger s rangers king vidor, 1940 the posters warned northwest passage was not suitable for children which it might be, with its stories of atrocities, men who fight with muskets and axes, and the good of the many philosophy. Published privately by the author, san francisco, 1946. Northwest passage by roberts, kenneth lewis, 1938, doubleday, doran edition, in english. History of rogers rangers rogers rangers, the green berets of colonial america, are recognized as one of the finest fighting forces the world has ever known. Northwest passage recounts the adventures of rogers rangers, an 18thcentury expeditionary force charged with wiping out an indian tribe on the. His pursuit of the legendary northwest passage will become a consuming passion, again narrated by langdon towne. The value of these rules was proven by rogers and later by lt. In it, he made up standing orders from the 28 rangers rules. Raid is recounted in the first half of kenneth roberts book northwest passage. Northwest passage book i rogers rangers 1940 rogers rangers history is far more exciting and unbelievable than the film 2of2.
Kenneth roberts featured him in his 1937 historical novel, northwest passage. Northwest passage book i rogers rangers 1940 tweet. It turned out he was an indian aficionado, too, with the french and indian war 17541763 being one of his specialties. Kenneth lewis roberts american ranger leads expedition against indian town and dreams of finding overland passage to the pacific. They were intended to serve as a manual on guerrilla warfare for rogers ranger company, a 600 strong contingent whose members were personally selected by rogers. This first half of the book is easily the most interesting, rich in fairly accurate detail about rogers leadership and the audacious heroism of his rangers. As langdon gradually draws strength, wisdom, and experience from adversity, major rogers slowly crumbles before hardship. His 28 rules of ranging remain today, slightly altered due to changes in. See more ideas about ranger, seven years war and american frontier. The rules were originally written at rogers island in the hudson river near fort edward.
Northwest passage 1940 movie clip those red helions. Based on the kenneth roberts novel of the same name, this film tells the story of two friends who join rogers rangers, as the legendary elite force engages the enemy during the french and indian war. The northwest passage, by kenneth roberts bobs books. Roberts wellresearched novel, published in 1936, was largely responsible for reviving the rogers legend. The northwest passage, published in 1938, was immensely popular in america at the time and was followed in 1940 by a movie of the same name, starring spencer tracy as major robert rogers, and robert young as langdon towne, the protagonist who tells the story. Rogers rangers are the progenitors and spiritual forefathers of todays army. He was made famous in the 1940 film northwest passage. Action tv series 1958 102 minutes color major robert rogers organized rogers rangers to search for the alleged waterway across the united states during the french and indian war 17541759. Northwest passage book i rogers rangers is a film directed by king vidor with spencer tracy, robert young, walter brennan, ruth hussey, year. In february 2020, the film was shown at the 70th berlin international film festival, as part of a retrospective dedicated to king vidors career. Based on kenneth roberts bestseller, tracy plays truelife explorer major robert rogers, the intrepid leader of the celebrated rogers rangers fighting force that took on one of the most. Robert rogers, the brilliant if flawed first american special operator. This is a great movie based on an historical novel of an exciting true life event of the french and indian war.
The cast spencer tracy, robert young, walter brennan, etc. The corps and the revivals, april 6, 1758december 24, 1783. Northwest passage book i rogers rangers kenneth robertss novel northwest passage chronicles the exploits of major robert rogers 17311795, who during the french and indian war raised and commanded an independent unit of lightinfantry soldiers attached to the british army known as rogers rangers. The film is also a hard lesson to filmmakers about the risks of designing a multipart movie. Northwest passage is a 1940 technicolor film, starring spencer tracy, robert young, walter brennan, ruth hussey, and others. Northwest passage, the 1937 bestseller by kenneth roberts, probably did the most keep the legacy of rogers alive in pop culture.
Colonel william darby when he issued these rules verbatim to the first united states ranger battalion in world war ii. Robert rogers was famous for his companies of rangers during the french. North west passage, book 1 rogers rangers mgm, 1940. Northwest passage this classic novel follows the career of major rogers, whose incredible exploits during the french and indian wars are told through langdon towne, an artist and harvard student who flees trouble to join the army. Rogers rules of ranging are still published and distributed among us infantry men. Used to this day by the us military april 19, 2016 biographical. Billy lynns long halftime walk, by ben fountainwith 1 comment. Set in colonial america during the french and indian war, historical novelist kenneth roberts northwest passage is an epic work about the largerthanlife major rogers and the artist langdon towne who joins rogers rangers. The immediate precursor and model for the unit was gorhams rangers, formed in 1744. The northwest passage, published in 1938, was immensely popular in. Northwest passage is an historical novel by kenneth roberts, published in 1937.
Loescher, burt garfield, the history of rogers rangers, volume 1. I was very surprised to learn that the author had been one of the best journalists in. Loescher, burt garfield, the history of rogers rangers, volume ll. Roberts book, northwest passage, which were highly edited and simplified version of the original set. Screenplay by laurence stallings, talbot jennings, based on the novel by kenneth roberts. Book 1 rogers rangers king vidor, 1940 the posters warned northwest passage was not suitable for children which it might be, with its stories of atrocities, men who fight with muskets and axes, and the good of the many philosophy. They set out for fort wentworth, but when they arrive they find no soldiers and none of the supplies they expected.
The show is actually titled northwest passage, book 1 rogers rangers, with the idea that a book two would continue the story. Ebenezer webster of east kingston, future father of statesman daniel webster, is among the rangers portrayed in the book version of northwest passage by kenneth roberts. Based on the truelife exploits of early american colonial frontiersman, robert rogers, who served in the british army during both the french and indian war and the american revolution, he. Based on the kenneth roberts novel of the same name, this film tells the story of two friends who join rogers rangers, as the legendary elite force engages the enemy. He was made famous in the 1940 film northwest passage and was played by spencer tracy. Told through the eyes of primary character langdon towne, much of the novel follows the exploits and character of robert rogers, the leader of rogers rangers, who were a colonial force fighting with the british during the french and indian war structurally, northwest passage is divided into halves. It is not too big a leap to assume that the book and the movie may be largely. Francis raid is recounted in the first half of kenneth roberts book northwest passage. All rangers are to be subject to the rules and articles of war. Both towne and hunk decide to join rogers rangers themselves.
Rogers rangers began in 1755 as a company in the provincial forces of the colony of new hampshire in british north america. The book s popularity led to a 1940 mgm epic starring spencer tracy. Robert rogers, the brilliant if flawed first american. Often employing techniques eschewed by the british regulars, the unit was. Robert rogers writes 28 rangers rules new england historical. Fighting in the french and indian war with his celebrated rogers rangers, he. These greenclad frontiersmen served as the eyes and ears of the british army during the french and indian war, and played an integral role in englands conquest of new france. Helping rogers, an experienced explorer and indian fighter, were hunk marriner, another experienced indian fighter, and langdon towne, a harvard graduate who was the map maker. With spencer tracy, robert young, walter brennan, ruth hussey. Roberts version of rogers rangers rules is now included in the u. Robert rogers was a popularly acclaimed military leader during the french and indian war, who institutionalized many frontierstyle practices of warfare and whose forces are regarded by some as the model for later ranger activities rogers was born in methuen, massachusetts, but spent his formative years on the frontier in new hampshire. This time buddy ebsen portrayed the famed ranger during the postworld war ii boom in. Northwest passage was one of my favorites as a teen, but i hadnt give it a thought in more than twoscore.
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