Last of the Mohicans (1992)

In this version of the oft-told tale, Cora Munro (Madeleine Stowe) and younger sister Alice (Jodhi May) are journeying to Fort William Henry for a reunion with their father.

The detail is led by Maj. Duncan Heyward (Steven Waddington), who’s in love with Cora and has proposed marriage upon reaching North America to serve under Col. Munro during the French and Indian War.

But they’re led into an ambush by Magua (Wes Studi), a Huron with a score to settle. He’s determined to cut out Munro’s heart and put an end to all of “his seed.”

That’s when Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis) and the last of the Mohicans — Chingachgook (Russell Means) and Uncas (Eric Schweig) — show up.

They rescue the Munro girls and guide them the rest of the way to Fort William Henry, only to find it under seige by the French and their Indian allies.

Hawkeye lands in trouble for demanding that the members of the colonial militia be allowed to return home to defend their families. Cora, having fallen for the handsome frontiersman, pleads his case.

Meanwhile, Magua is under the employ of French Gen. Montcalm, still awaiting his chance for revenge against the British officer who once destroyed his Huron family.

Daniel Day-Lewis as Hawkeye, explaining his desire to head West in Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Madeleine Stowe as Cora Munro comforts younger sister Alice as the Huron approach in Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Review:

This marked at least the 10th film treatment of the James Fenimore Cooper novel by the same name. Everyone can stop now. It’s difficult to imagine it ever being done better.

Daniel Day-Lewis, long dark hair flowing, makes for the perfect Hawkeye. And his on-screen chemistry with Madeleine Stowe, the damsel in distress, makes the film’s love story work much better than most others.

And, yeah, there are moments that might make you shake your head in disbelief. Like when Hawkeye picks up muskets dropped by two Huron warriors, rushes toward the enemy with one in each hand, fires and hits both of his targets.

But with the atmosphere created by director Michael Mann, with that brilliant score playing in the background and with that lovely cinematography, you’re more than willing to play along.

Oh, and the large-scale action scenes — including the seige on the fort — are expertly handed too. A must-see film.

Eric Schweig as Uncas, Hawkeye’s young Mohican companion in Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Russell Means as Chingachgook, on the watch for trouble in Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Directed by:
Michael Mann

Cast:
Daniel Day-Lewis … Hawkeye (Nathaniel Poe)
Madeleine Stowe … Cora Munro
Russell Means … Chingachgook
Eric Schweig … Uncas
Jodhi May … Alice Munro
Steven Waddington … Maj. Duncan Heyward
Wes Studi … Magua
Maurice Roeves … Col. Edmund Munro
Patric Chereau … Gen. Montcalm
Edward Blatchford … Jack Winthrop
Terry Kinney … John Cameron
Tracey Ellis … Alexandra Cameron
Justin M. Rice … James Cameron
Mike Phillips … Sachem

Runtime: 112 min.

Steven Waddington as Maj. Duncan Heyward, confronting Hawkeye in Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Maurice Roeves as Col. Edmund Munro, explaining sedition to a lovestruck daughter in Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Memorable lines:

Hawkeye to a British officer: “You do what you want with your own scalp and not be telling us what we ought to do with ours.”

Gen. Webb to Maj. Heyward: “One has to reason with these colonials to get them to do anything. Tiring, isn’t it? But that’s the lay of the land.”

Hawkeye, snatching a musket from Heyward: “In case your aim’s any better than your judgment.”

Heyward: “There is a war going on. How come you are headed West?”
Hawkeye: “Well, we face to the north and, real sudden like, turn left.”

Madeleine Stowe as Cora Munro considers Heyward’s proposal of marriage in Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Jodhi May as Alice Munro, the frailer younger daughter of Col. Munro in Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Carol Munro, of the frontier: “It is more stirring to my blood than any imagining could possibly be.”

Col. Munro: “This man is guilty of sedition and subject to military justice beyond pardon.”
Cora: “Justice? If that’s justice then the sooner French guns blast the English army out of America the better it will be for the people here.”

Cora Munro: “Why didn’t you leave when you had the chance?”
Hawkeye: “Because what I’m interested in is right here.”

Hawkeye to Cora: “Stay alive. No matter what occurs. I will find you. No matter how long it takes. No matter how far. I will find you.”

Wes Studi as Mangua, the British guide with a score to settle in Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Patrice Chereau as Gen. Montcalm, negotiating surrender terms with Col. Munro in Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Daniel Day-Lewis as Hawkeye and Eric Schweig as Uncas when a British recruiting officer comes to visit in Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Mike Phillips as Sachem, the Huron elder who decides who lives and who dies in Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Edward Blatchford as Jack Winthrop explains why he’s ready to join the militia in Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Russell Means as Chingachgook with Daniel Day-Lewis as Hawkeye in Last of the Mohicans (1992)