“North-West Passage”

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21193, 16 August 1940, Page 8

“ North-West Passage”

Bringing to the screen Kenneth Robert’s adventure novel which was the largest selling book in the nation month after month, “North-west Passage” has Spencer Tracy starred and Robert Young and Walter Brennan in leading featured roles. Filmed entirely in technicoiour, “North-west Passage” is reported to be the greatest story of physical fortitude ever attempted by the screen. Following the novel which first ran in the “Saturday Evening Post” before becoming a best-seller, the picture tells the story of a courageous, hardy band of Rogers’ Rangers who in 1756 set forth on a secret mission to wipe out a village of marauding Indians. Among the Rangers are Robert Young as Langdon Towne, a young artist, and Walter Brennan as Hunk Marriner, a seasoned woodsman. Battling against unbelievable odds, the Rangers lug heavy boats over mountains, trek for days through treacherous swamps, cross a river torrent by forming a human chain, attack and wipe out the Indians, and then start a starvation forced march home. Their ranks depleted by Indian attacks and forced to eat lizards and owls, they fight their way back to safety. The picture is believed to afford Tracy, Academy Award winner for the past two years, his greatest screen role. It is reported it will skyrocket Young to stardom and gives Brennan a role comparable to those which have twice won him awards for best supporting roles of the year. Also featured in the cast are Ruth Hussey and Nat Pendleton. The picture was directed by King Vidor of “The Citadel” fame.