Mohawk (1956)

Mohawk is a 1956 American adventure western romance film directed by Kurt Neumann, starring Scott Brady, Rita Gam and Neville Brand. The picture is about an 18th-century Boston artist sent to the Mohawk Valley to paint landscapes and portraits of Native Americans.

Several sections of footage are taken from the 1939 film Drums Along the Mohawk and loosely refers to the 1778 Cherry Valley massacre (as does the main antagonist Butler to the historic figure of loyalist officer Walter Butler).

Plot

In late 18th-century upstate New York, Cynthia Stanhope, a society lady from Boston, accompanied by her Aunt Agatha, travels to Fort Alden to surprise her fiancé, artist Jonathon Adams. When they arrive, Adams is away from the fort painting local barmaid Greta Jones, with whom he has a more than professional relationship.

Descendant of the first white family in the Mohawk Valley, Butler, despises all the white settlers in "his" valley, and also the local Indians. He goes to the Iroquois chef Kowanen to warn him about a party of armed white settlers. Kowanen shows no concern, but his teenaged son Keoga and brave Rokhawah feel otherwise and plot a raid to steal the settlers' muskets. With the help of Keoga's sister Onida, they enter the fort the a tunnel built by the garrison, but as they are leaving with the muskets are discovered and several are killed. Onida is trapped in the fort and is later discovered by Adams hiding in his quarters. He helps her escape in his wagon the next morning, and while escorting her back to her people, develops a romantic interest in her.

At the village, unarmed Adams defeats knife-wielding Rokhawah in a fight, earning the respect and trust of Kowanen and admiration from Keoga. Adams offers to paint the chief's portrait to show the whites how the Indians live. When Adams fails to arrive back inside the fort by sunset, as required of all the settlers, Butler urges Captain Langley to attack the fort, but Langley refuses. Later, after more agitation by Butler, Langley goes to the village and explains to Adams and Kowanen about Butler's incitement. Kowanen, seeking peace with the white settlers, offers to have his son Keoga accompany Langley and Adams back to the fort, as a sign of good faith.

Langley returns to the fort with Adams and Keoga following later in the wagon. En route they are ambushed by Butler who shoots and kills Keoga. Adams does not see the attacker. He takes Keoga's body back to his tribe, and Kowanen contemplates war. Adams discovers from Onida that it was Butler's idea for the Indians to steal the guns from the fort. He asks Kowanen to let him prove who shot Keoga, but Kowanen has already agreed to go to a war. At Rokhawah's suggestion they intend to burn Adams at the stake, but Onida helps him escape, killing Rokhawah in the process.

Adams reaches the fort, with the Indians not far behind. As the settlers retreat to the fort the Indians burn their homes and crops. While a trooper is sent for reinforcements, Butler tries to leave the fort as well. Adams confronts Butler and Butler's knowledge of the murder reveals his guilt. As the Indians attack, Butler is cast out of the besieged fort and while he pleads to be allowed back in, he is killed by an arrow in his back. After being repulsed several times the Indians finally break into the fort but just in time the reinforcements arrive.

Adams convinces Kowanen that Butler was responsible for inciting the war, and a truce is declared. Cynthia goes back to Boston with the paintings but Adams remains behind to be with Onida.

Cast

Scott Brady as Jonathan Adams

Rita Gam as Onida

Neville Brand as Rokhawah

Lori Nelson as Cynthia Stanhope

Allison Hayes as Greta Jones

John Hoyt as Butler

Rhys Williams as Clem Jones

Barbara Jo Allen as Aunt Agatha (as Vera Vague)

Mae Clarke as Minikah

Tommy Cook as Keoga

Ted de Corsia as Indian Chief Kowanen

Michael Granger as Priest

John Hudson as Captain Langley

See also

List of American films of 1956

External links

Mohawk at IMDb

Mohawk is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive

Mohawk at the TCM Movie Database (archived)