The Last of the Mohicans (1992)

[smollett5]

Did you take note of the fact that both Hawkeye and Uncas were Dartmouth men?
They attended Rev. Wheelock's School - the first name of the school that eventually became Dartmouth College - where they learned, amongst other things, to speak English. The exact dates of the establishment of Moor's Charity School, Rev. Wheelock's school's original name, make it a close run thing in terms of reality, but they did teach languages.

[JimJ[VT]]

Originally Posted by SoCal Sam

The search is on for the DVD and the soundtrack on CD, if I can find them!!

Heck, I bought the DVD at Wal-Mart, not much of a "search" involved there

[Tom Brennan]

Yeah, the pro-British Mohawk Joseph Brant went to Wheelock's school too.

[smollett5]

Yes, but he actually lived the life that Cooper wrote for Hawkeye and Uncas, albeit on the British side of things as events unfolded.

[KingBubba]

A good friend of mine worked audio on that film and said it was the hardest months he has ever worked. Between the weather, the environment and the demands of the work, it was apparently a real bear.

[JimJ[VT]]

Much of it was filmed locally, so there are people I know in it - kind of derails my focus on the story when they cut to a mortar emplacement and it's Walter manning the fuse - "Look! That's Walter! I went to Elementary School with him!"

Unless, of course, it was like Walter to carry a mortar around with him...

[ozmoid]

Originally Posted by SoCal Sam

That's awesome! Where was Mohicans filmed?

Originally Posted by Urizen

http://www.chimneyrockpark.com/index.php

We've hiked there, also. Pretty place!

"In the case of 'The Last of the Mohicans,' the creators of the film felt that the Park and this area in general most closely resembled the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York where the story takes place."

In addition to Chimney Rock, many scenes were shot in McDowell County, including all the ones I mentioned earlier. The Fort, encampment, and "Boat skeleton" were all built within a hundred yards of each other on Lake James.

Originally Posted by JimJ[VT]

Unless, of course, it was like Walter to carry a mortar around with him...

You know, if you knew Walter, that wouldn't be funny.

[Arkay]

Second all the praise heaped on this film. Even as I was watching it the first time in the theater, I was thinking, "This movie sure has great-sounding music!" So I went out and bought the soundtrack. You can count the films I've done that with on the fingers of one hand.

The only thing that slightly spoils the film for me is the very wooden acting of the female lead (Madeline Stowe???). She's nice-looking enough, but I'd say she should go to acting school if I weren't pretty sure it would be of no use. Her accent also didn't fit the age very well at times - enough so that it jarred me out of the experience of enjoying the film in one or two spots. Mogua was brilliiantly cast (I'd probably not have thought to pick him for the part, but he sure looked it after make-up/costuming - acted well, too!).

[Tom Brennan]

" Mogua was brilliiantly cast (I'd probably not have thought to pick him for the part, but he sure looked it after make-up/costuming - acted well, too!)."

Indeed, Wes Studi should've been nominated for an Oscar. He's good in everything he does.

[fotno]

I'm with Oz on the disconcerting portion of watching LOTM... I actually tried to get a job on the film, and found out that nobody in Hollywood needs a British regular who wears an 46 long!

During local production, I actually found myself standing behind Wes Studi, Russell Means and a few of the other Native American actors at the supermarket one evening. This was during the time they were shooting the ambush scene (filmed literally just off the side of the road on my Mom's way to work) where Magua and the Huron attack the British patrol escorting the women. It makes it incredibly hard when I watch the movie not to think about Magua and Chingachgook laughing and talking in the Ingle's Market checkout line, waiting to pay for their chips and beer.

Just to back up what Oz was saying... NOBODY wants to think about Walter with a mortar!

[reggaenaut]

Magua was most impressive;great acting. He communicated his hatred and contempt effectively.

[soundmotor]

Originally Posted by reggaenaut

Magua was most impressive;great acting. He communicated his hatred and contempt effectively.

He essentially played the same character in "Dances With Wolves" and was great there as well. IIRC, I remember reading that Wes Studi isn't in more films because he devotes his energy to a rock band he's in!

[Pete Deksnis]

Learning that there are others who share a view or hobby is what's great about this forum.

I too have watched the film many times, and very much appreciate the music and sound effects, from the roar of the falls to the French cannon, the DTS 5.1 is a treat to experience. IMO, this was Wes Studi's finest role.

[smollett5]

In today's edition of The Wall Street Journal, 8/11/07, on page P2, under the title Picks, Hit List, Emmylou Harris lists the soundtrack as of her five favorite soundtracks of all time:

"Ms. Harris first heard part of the soundtrack on a demo passed to her by Daniel Lanois, who produced her 1995 album "Wrecking Ball." "He played me his electric-guitar demo, and it was interesting to hear how beautifully it worked," she says. "It was so lush and melodic."