American Romanticism in Last of Mohicans

The movie version of Last of the Mohicans is a cinematic masterpiece. The movie does not follow the story very heavily, but it really explores the landscapes of the frontier and has detailed costumes and set design in the recreation of the period. Michael Mann goes to great pains to recreate the actual living conditions at the time of his story. He uses a lot of special effects to hold the viewers attention. This includes all the fighting, fleeing, and cannon and flintlock fire. The film focuses on the romance between Nathanial and Cora Munro and the need for revenge by Magua. Mann made the movie is such a way that a greater audience than would just be interested in the novel. The film has a historical flavor with a degree of accuracy mixed in with dramatic themes to entice the audience.

The film portrays the battles between the French and English for control of North America in the seventeen hundred fifty seven, the third year of the war. Native Americans, particularly the Iroquois living in the area that the movie takes place, were the intermediaries between the two forces. The film portrayed the Iroquois as vicious warriors. The different nations of Native Americans had split allegiances between the French and British. The center of the story is the most notorious event of the French and Indian War; the so-called ‘massacre’ of British troops, women and children by the Hurons, General Montcalm’s Indian allies, after the British surrender of Fort William Henry to the French. This is interwoven with the need for revenge on Colonel Munro by Magua. The desire for revenge is rather pumped up to keep the audience on the edge of their seats than keeping with a total historical view. The alterations were made with the Hollywood touch in mind for an epic masterpiece.

The main difference between the book and the film are the depth description and portrayal of characters. While the individual Native Americans are portrayed as such in the film, there is not really a sense of a community or social organization presented in the film. In the dialogue of the Native Americans and indeed the soldiers of the French and British, there is no sense of the history or time period other than pertaining to the situation at hand. The film is more concerned with the action and storyline than presenting a truly accurate portrayal of the time period. Furthermore, the film portrays the Native Americans as war hungry and in actuality, they did not embrace war as heartily as the film would have one believe. Chingachgook and Uncas are portrayed with no ill morals, almost of the pure virtues, and ideal of the sort of men of the Native Americans. The idea of savagery created by the Native Americans and virtuosity created by certain characters lends to the dramatic themes in the creation of an intriguing film.

The film does a spectacular job of recreating the French and Indian War and in representing the American hero in the form of Hawkeye. The final outcome of the film depicts the idea that good and evil both occur with the death of Colonel Munro and Alice Munro and the eventual death of Magua. There is the concept that no one really wins in the end. The film has strong and weak parts in representation of the time period. The dramatic themes of the novel carried over into the film and translated into a truly amazing genre.