Northwest Passage (1940)

Banished from the hallowed halls of Harvard for voicing his culinary criticisms and scorned by his beloved's family, Langdon Towne finds solace at the bottom of a bottle in a quaint New England tavern. His liquor-fuelled tirade against the English nearly lands him in the colonial clink, propelling him and his loyal companion, Hunk, to seek refuge in the untamed west. Their path intertwines with Ranger Major Rogers, who tempts Langdon with the prospect of capturing the raw beauty of Native Americans on canvas while journeying with his elite force, Rogers' Rangers. As they venture deeper into the wilderness, the expedition takes a perilous turn. The promise of adventure quickly dissolves into a desperate battle for survival against French-allied Native Americans. Cut off from supplies and pursued by relentless French soldiers, they find themselves hundreds of miles from any semblance of safety. Their daring assault on the French stronghold, Fort St. Francis, though militarily successful, leaves them battle-worn, famished, and with a wounded Langdon. Based on the Kenneth Roberts novel, Northwest Passage beautifully encapsulates the unyielding spirit of two friends and their harrowing journey through the tumultuous times of the French and Indian War. Despite the dire circumstances, about fifty survivors, including Rogers, Langdon, and Hunk, trudge towards their rendezvous point with the English troops, only to find an eerie silence in place of their anticipated resupply. The film masterfully paints this riveting tale of friendship, resilience, and survival amidst the backdrop of a war-torn wilderness.

Northwest Passage is an adventure movie featuring Spencer Tracy.

Northwest Passage is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on The Film Detective and Tubi TV and it's also available on Pure Flix.

It is also possible to buy Northwest Passage on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Vudu and YouTube.