John Ford stands atop a pedestal as America’s cinematic poet laureate – the man who was able to tap into the heart and soul of America and reveal it through his works. His 1939 film Drums Along the Mohawk depicts events during the Revolutionary War, illustrating the American’s desperate fight for freedom. Starring Ford regular Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert, the film tells the tale of Gilbert Martin and his wife Lana who return to Martin’s cabin in upstate New York, only to be displaced by the Native Americans who have teamed with the British to crush the American rebellion.

The film, as is the case with the majority of Ford’s works, is controversial for its blatant, over-the-top racism, most notably towards Native Americans, and its misogynistic portrayal of women. While racism and sexism were prevalent in early films, these issues are so problematic in Ford’s works because of the promise of freedom and equality offered by them. Early on, Martin claims during a meeting that they shouldn’t have any problems from the Native Americans, having always treated them as equals. Anyone with a vague knowledge of American history knows that this is almost surely not true. There does exist one “civilized,” Christian Native American; however, he mostly serves as comic relief, destroying any honorable reasoning for his existence.

One of the most offensive images in the film is also one of the last. After defeating the British, the Americans raise the newly-stitched American flag. The standard is looked on with pride and admiration by the Americans, including a black woman, who is almost surely a slave. While we are meant to admire the promises of the flag, we are contradictorily disgusted by the hypocrisies that single shot reveal, upstaging the entire film. It also occurs at the very end, sticking with the viewer as they leave.

These problems are unfortunate, because apart from them, the film is rather good. Fonda is excellent, as always, and Colbert does a good job as the shrieking, hysterical wife. Politics aside, the film stands to show why Ford is such an enduring figure.