Northwest passage is one of the bestknown songs by canadian musician stan rogers. The picture is based on a novel by kenneth roberts titled northwest passage. Told through the eyes of primary character langdon towne, much of the novel follows the exploits and character of robert rogers, the leader of rogers rangers, who were a colonial force fighting with the british during the french and indian war structurally, northwest passage is divided into halves. Jan 17, 20 this unit, designed to strike swiftly, silently, and efficiently, took their name from rogers rangers. The first half of the novel was adapted as the film northwest passage 1940. These greenclad frontiersmen served as the eyes and ears of the british army during the french and indian war, and played an integral role in england s conquest of new france. Robert rogers was born to ulsterscots settlers, james and mary mcfatridge rogers on 7 november 1731 in methuen, a small town in northeastern massachusetts. Part of kenneth roberts novel was serialized in the saturday evening post, under the title rogers rangers 26 december 19366 february 1937. This actually happened two years prior when the rangers portaged their boats from lake george to wood creek in order to avoid french outposts around fort ticonderoga carillon. Awardwinning artist matt james takes the iconic song northwest passage by legendary canadian songwriter and singer stan rogers and tells the dramatic story of the search for the elusive route through the arctic ocean to the pacific, which for hundreds of years and once again today, nations, explorers and commercial. Northwest passage is the story of revenge within the framework of the french and indian war, a fantastic account of courage, endurance and heroism. It was based on the first part of kenneth robertss 1937 novel of the same name. Northwest passage book irogers rangers kenneth robertss novel northwest passage chronicles the exploits of major robert rogers 17311795, who during the french and indian war raised and commanded an independent unit of lightinfantry soldiers attached to.
Chris gudgeon is a celebrated author from victoria, british columbia. Told through the eyes of primary character langdon towne, much of the novel follows the exploits and character of robert rogers, the leader of rogers rangers, who were a colonial force fighting with the british. Northwest passage 1940 movie clip those red helions. The life and music of stan rogers is a wonderful collection of stories, memories, and facts on stans career and the people in his life. More than 250 years ago, robert rogers wrote 28 rangers rules for guerilla warfare that are still being used by the u. His books sold well at the time and we have to remember that in viewing northwest passage we are seeing a fictional story rather than the real story of rogers rangers. Overview of northwest passage book irogers rangers, 1940, directed by king vidor, with spencer tracy, robert young, walter brennan, at turner classic movies. Army was interested in the tactics of the british commando units. Based on a gutsandglory novel, this film depicts all native. Northwest passage, oysterband, runrig, bruce guthro, alan. Call it a historical pastiche of life prior to the american revolution. Northwest passage recounts the adventures of rogers rangers, an 18thcentury expeditionary force charged with wiping out an indian tribe on the american frontier during the seven years war. Many researchers have sought to find the parents of james rogers of new london. He was a colonial frontiersman from new hampshire who fought in the british army during the fourth french and indian war and the american revolution.
Rogers rangers, the green berets of colonial america, are recognized as one of the finest fighting forces the world has ever known. Herbert stothart, cyril mockridge, harry sukman, david. Kenneth and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This unit, designed to strike swiftly, silently, and efficiently, took their name from rogers rangers. Northwest passage is the opening song off of the 1981 album of the same name. Rogers stan miscellaneous northwest passage northwest passage stan rogers cho.
In february 2020, the film was shown at the 70th berlin international film festival, as part of a retrospective dedicated to king vidors career. Tracing one warm line through a land so wide and savage and make a northwest passage to the sea. Northwest passage originally titled an unfinished conversation. For example, the idiot, a sea shanty, about going west to. Complete song listing of stan rogers on stan rogers songs list covid19. Northwest passage book i rogers rangers at the american film institute. Ah, for just one time i would take the northwest passage to find the hand of franklin reaching for the beaufort sea. Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at. Rogers rangers were an independent company within the british army. Northwest passage full title northwest passage book i. In accordance with the directives of government and health authorities, we. At that time, the town served as a staging point for scotsirish settlers bound for the wilderness of new hampshire. New mexico book awards childrens picture book 2009.
Rogerss post at the windblown fort michilimackinac, perched on the shores of the straits of mackinac, seemed well suited to seeking the northwest passage. His pursuit of the legendary northwest passage will become a consuming passion, again narrated by langdon towne. Northwest passage is a book about the explorers who venture into the northwest passage in canada. Northwest passage 1940 king vidor, jack conway, spencer tracy, robert young, walter brennan march 24, 2019 based on the kenneth roberts novel of the same name, this film tells the story of two friends who join rogers rangers, as the legendary elite force engages the enemy during the french and indian war. Book irogers rangers, american adventure film, released in 1940, that deals with events of the french and indian war, a theme rarely explored in film. Westward from the davis strait tis there twas said to. Rogers rangers did not portage their whaleboats over a ridge during the st. Northwest passage was the second book by roberts i read and this as well as all other works in roberts chronicles of arundel series sold me on the us. The dramatic focus is the events surrounding major robert rogers rangers. Stanley allison stan rogers november 29, 1949 june 2, 1983 was a canadian folk musician and songwriter. With spencer tracy, robert young, walter brennan, ruth hussey. Northwest passage by kenneth roberts, first edition abebooks. Although, like booktomovies, some of the characters in the book have either.
With an active marketplace of over 175 million items, use the alibris advanced search page to find any item you are looking for through the advanced search, you can find items by searching specific terms such as title, artist, song title, genre, etc or you can narrow your focus using our amazing set of criteria parameters. New york the us, britain london and holland amsterdam just before the outbreak of war on the continent when the war in europe commenced in 1939 with the nazi invasion of poland, british film directors tried to alert americans to the looming german and italian fascist threat. Northwest passage book irogers rangers is the 1940 adventure score by herbert stothart, mgms premier composer in the 1930s and 40s, presented in nearly complete form from the monaural optical film masters, with a few otherwise lost cues added from the films musicandeffects track. At that we are only seeing part of that book, nothing at all about a search for a land route across north america. When the movie project was green lighted, this was supposed to be the first of possibly several movies. Internet archive bookreader the history of rogers rangers internet archive bookreader the history of rogers rangers. The amazing thing about northwest passage is that stan rogers is able to capture the modern experience with styles from a hundred or more years ago. Northwest passage book i rogers rangers 1940 filmaffinity. Langdon towne and hunk marriner join major rogers rangers as they wipe out an indian village. The picture is based on a novel by kenneth roberts titled northwest passage 1937.
Northwest passage and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. It turned out he was an indian aficionado, too, with the french and indian war 17541763 being one of his specialties. An epic western, about major robert rogers, the tough frontiersman who led a grueling expedition to canada in 1759 to punish a fearsome indian tribe and seek a northwest passage to the pacific. It was the basis for the 1940 movie northwest passage, starring spencer tracy. John stark of manchester, rogers trusted lieutenant, became a key general in the revolution. This classic novel follows the career of major rogers, whose incredible. An a cappella song, it features rogers alone singing the verses, with several guest vocalists harmonizing with. Northwest passage is an historical novel by kenneth roberts, published in 1937. Stan rogers northwest passage lyrics genius lyrics. Northwest passage book i rogers rangers is a film directed by king vidor with spencer tracy, robert young, walter brennan, ruth hussey, year.
With an active marketplace of over 175 million items, use the alibris advanced search page to find any item you are looking for through the advanced search, you can find items by searching specific terms such as title, artist, song title, genre, etc or you can narrow. John cabot, a venetian navigator living in england, became the first european to explore the northwest passage in 1497 he sailed from bristol, england. Northwest passage book i rogers rangers original title. Author kenneth rogers wrote a monumental novel with remarkable attention to detail. This first half of the book is easily the most interesting, rich in fairly accurate detail about rogers leadership and the audacious heroism of his rangers. The song compares the voyages of the first european explorers in canada to rogerss own touring as a musician. Winner of the the 20 governor generals literary award for illustration. Spencer tracy and robert young in northwest passage 1940 spencer tracy in. Northwest passage lyrics by stan rogers illustrated by matt james yellow moon, apple moon.
As major rogers, a winning spencer tracy courageously guides his men through hostile territory and all manner of ambush, famine, whitewater rapids, and. Awardwinning artist matt james takes the iconic song northwest passage by legendary canadian songwriter and singer stan rogers and tells the dramatic story of the search for the elusive route through the arctic ocean to the pacific, which for hundreds of years and once again today, nations. Northwest passage is the story of revenge within the framework of the french and indian war, a. Northwest passage is a 1940 technicolor film, starring spencer tracy, robert young, walter brennan, ruth hussey, and others. Based on kenneth roberts bestseller, tracy plays truelife explorer major robert rogers, the intrepid leader of the celebrated rogers rangers. Northwest passage was one of my favorites as a teen, but i hadnt give it a thought in more than twoscore. Major robert rogers, the intrepid leader of the celebrated rogers rangers fighting force. Northwest passage recounts the adventures of rogers rangers, an 18th. According to the generals orders, my company was to consist of sixty private, at 3s. For example, the idiot, a sea shanty, about going west to find work in the refineries. Northwest passage kenneth roberts the unofficial site. Westward from the davis strait tis there twas said to lie. An a cappella song, it features rogers alone singing the verses, with several guest vocalists harmonizing with him in the chorus. Written by pamela porter and illustrated by matt james.
Rogers rangers, an elite group of frontiersmen who fought for the british. King philips war 16751678 in new england, is also called the father of the rangers. Northwest passage original theatrical trailer youtube. Stan rogers was noted for his rich, baritone voice and his finelycrafted, traditionalsounding songs which were frequently inspired by canadian history and the daily lives of working people, especially those from the fishing villages of the maritime provinces and, later, the farms. They set out for fort wentworth, but when they arrive they find no soldiers and none of the supplies they expected. Northwest passage book irogers rangers at the american film institute. Winner of the governor generals literary award for childrens illustration. Although rogers fought for the british, most of his rangers became patriots. The second half of the book follows major rogers further career in england and on the northwest frontier. Tracing one warm line through a land so wild and savage and make a. Northwest passage book irogers rangers kenneth robertss novel northwest passage chronicles the exploits of major robert rogers 17311795, who during the french and indian war raised and commanded an independent unit of lightinfantry soldiers attached to the british army known as rogers rangers. Suggested reading jaegers battalion of rogers rangers.
Historical documents showing the connection to a particular rogers line in england have not been found to this date research from the book james rogers and his descendants, in 1902 by james swift rogers. View the tcmdb entry for northwest passage book irogers rangers 1940. Northwest passagespencer tracy, robert young, walter brennan, ruth hussey, montague love, addison richards 1940. Listen free to stan rogers northwest passage northwest passage, the field behind the plow and more. Rogers hired men solely on merit and shocked regular commanders with his use of indians and freed slaves. Northwest passage 1940 king vidor, jack conway, spencer. The rangers wore distinctive green outfits and practiced tactics called rogers rules of ranging, which the british considered unconventional. Kenneth roberts historical novel northwest passage 1937 portrays the events of rogers rangers raid on the abenaki town of st. Briefly, it is 1759, and major robert rogers and his famous rangers probably americas first example of a special forces unit are sent into territory in the hands of an enemy indian group. Northwest passage by stan rogers goodreads share book.
Rogers rangers is a 1940 film directed by king vidor, based on the 1937 novel by kenneth roberts the year is 1759. Mar 29, 2020 although rogers fought for the british, most of his rangers became patriots. The book later served as the basis for a 1940 movie starring spencer tracy. Ebenezer webster of east kingston, future father of statesman daniel webster, is among the rangers portrayed in the book version of northwest passage by kenneth roberts. Winner governor generals literary award illustration 2008. Langdon towne robert young, an aspiring artist, is kicked out of harvard law school for doing an offensive cartoon of the kings attorney, wiseman claggett. Northwest passage book i rogers rangers 1940 february 27, 2012 7.