Northwest Passage

Based on Kenneth Roberts's 1937 novel, this rousing tribute to Rogers' Rangers, a guerrilla unit attached to the British army during the French and Indian War, stars Spencer Tracy as the tough-minded Robert Rogers. When rebellious artist Langdon Towne (Robert Young) needs to leave his native New Hampshire after nearly being jailed for libeling the provincial governor, he accepts Rogers's offer to join his company as they seek a northwestern route to the Pacific. Along with his friend Hunk Marriner (Walter Brennan), he soon finds the arduous journey more demanding than expected but is driven forward by the iron will of Rogers. Taking revenge for a spate of recent Indian massacres, the Rangers execute a sneak attack on an Abenaki village, wiping out its inhabitants and burning it to the ground, leaving a powerful impression on the young artist. They head for an assignation with the British at Fort Wentworth, believing that they'll be able to restock their sadly depleted supplies, but find the fort completely empty on arrival. (official distributor synopsis)