James drew his inspiration for his book from the song northwest passage, written by canadian singer stan rogers. The book later served as the basis for a 1940 movie starring spencer tracy and a 195859 tv show on nbc starring buddy ebsen. Winner of the governor generals literary award for childrens illustration. When the movie project was green lighted, this was supposed to be the first of possibly several movies. Northwest passage is the opening song off of the 1981 album of the same name. It was based on the first part of kenneth robertss 1937 novel of the same name. Jan 01, 2001 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.
Book irogers rangers, american adventure film, released in 1940, that deals with events of the french and. During the french and indian war, rogers raised and commanded the famous rogers rangers, trained for raiding and close combat behind enemy lines. The life and music of stan rogers is a wonderful collection of stories, memories, and. Despite the films largely unexamined belief in manifest destiny, its depiction of rogers as an inspiring leader of men is a tourdeforce for tracy, who must keep hope alive against incredible odds, and despite unstated personal fears and agonies. Rogers stan miscellaneous northwest passage northwest passage stan rogers cho. The picture is based on a novel by kenneth roberts titled northwest passage 1937. Northwest passage book i rogers rangers original title.
Robert rogers 7 november 1731 18 may 1795 was an american colonial frontiersman. 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. Written by pamela porter and illustrated by matt james. 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. Northwest passage originally titled an unfinished conversation. 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.
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. 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. The picture is based on a novel by kenneth roberts titled northwest passage. Three centuries thereafter, i take passage overland. Although hes no longer with us, his legacy continues to entertain, educate, and celebrate the canadian experience in its raw and most honest forms. Listen to your favorite songs from northwest passage by stan rogers now. Rogers heroics in the french and indian war, including the search for the northwest passage, and his later life are depicted in the novel northwest passage 1936 by kenneth roberts. Tracing one warm line through a land so wild and savage and make a. The song appears on an album of the same name released by rogers in 1981, and is considered one of the classic songs in canadian music history. 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. John stark of manchester, rogers trusted lieutenant, became a key general in the revolution. Rogers rangers is a 1940 film directed by king vidor, based on the 1937 novel by kenneth roberts.
Rogers rangers were an independent company within the british army during the seven years war in north. Northwest passage was one of my favorites as a teen, but i hadnt give it a thought in more than twoscore. Author kenneth rogers wrote a monumental novel with remarkable attention to detail. Northwest passage full title northwest passage book i. Spencer tracy, walter brennan, and ruth hussey in northwest passage book i rogers rangers 1940. Northwest passage lyrics by stan rogers illustrated by matt james yellow moon, apple moon. Stan rogers recorded by tom lewis on poles apart chorus. Rogers served in the british army during both the french and indian war and the american revolution. Stan rogers 19491983 is considered by many as the greatest songwriter that canada has ever produced. After going north on lake champlain to a point where the rangers had to drag their boats over a hill to a small creek to go around three french war ships, major. 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. Rogers rangers are featured on a new hampshire historical marker along new hampshire route 10 in haverhill.
Screenplay by laurence stallings, talbot jennings, based on the novel by kenneth roberts. The picture was one of the top twenty films at the box office in 1940, but, according to modern sources, lost money because of the high cost of production. Rogers rangers is a major work and was a resounding success in its day. The idea for this paper came to me while i was watching the northwest passage, book 1 rogers rangers, a metrogoldwynmayer picture. Westward from the davis strait tis there twas said to lie. Merlin idla distribution on behalf of borealis records. Northwest passage, a song by stan rogers on spotify. In february 2020, the film was shown at the 70th berlin international film festival, as part of a retrospective dedicated to king vidors career. 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.
Kenneth roberts historical novel northwest passage 1937 portrays the events of rogers rangers raid on the abenaki town of st. Call it a historical pastiche of life prior to the american revolution. Westward from the davis strait tis there twas said to lie the sea route to the orient for which so many died. They set out for fort wentworth, but when they arrive they find no soldiers and none of the supplies they expected. 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. Seeking gold and glory, leaving weathered, broken bones and a longforgotten lonely cairn of stones. It was based on the first part of kenneth robertss 1937 novel of the same name the story follows langdon towne played by robert young, a young man recently expelled from college who.
Nathan rogers with the stan rogers song, northwest passage. Northwest passage book i rogers rangers is a film directed by king vidor with spencer tracy, robert young, walter brennan, ruth hussey, year. Jul 28, 2009 nathan rogers with the stan rogers song, northwest passage. Northwest passage written by stan rogers lyrics and illus. Both towne and hunk decide to join rogers rangers themselves. Winner of the the 20 governor generals literary award for illustration. Northwest passage is a 12 x 9 hardcover childrens book that is illustrated by matt james. James drew his inspiration for his book from the song northwest passage, written. Northwest passage by stan rogers on amazon music unlimited. 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. Tracing one warm line through a land so wide and savage and make a northwest passage to the sea. Listen free to stan rogers northwest passage northwest passage, the field behind the plow and more. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Westward from the davis strait tis there twas said to.
With spencer tracy, robert young, walter brennan, ruth hussey. Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at. Northwest passage book irogers rangers at the american film institute catalog northwest passage on. We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. The first half of the novel was adapted as the film northwest passage 1940. 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. Northwest passage book i rogers rangers 1940 ucla film. The second half of the book follows major rogers further career in england and on the northwest frontier. Northwest passage remastered, an album by stan rogers on spotify. Northwest passage by stan rogers album, canadian maritime. Chris gudgeon is a celebrated author from victoria, british columbia. It turned out he was an indian aficionado, too, with the french and indian war 17541763 being one of his specialties.
Part of kenneth roberts novel was serialized in the saturday evening post, under the title rogers rangers 26 dec 19366 feb 1937. I honestly think that stans fabulous baritone voice that starts deep in his toes really has an effect on what kind of musician i like listening to because since i heard the songs barrettes privateers and northwest passage i havent been listening a whole lot of other music. I honestly think that stans fabulous baritone voice that starts deep in his toes really has an effect on what kind of musician i like listening to because since i heard the songs barrettes privateers and northwest passage i havent been listening a. Army was interested in the tactics of the british commando units. 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. After going north on lake champlain to a point where the. For just one time i would take the northwest passage, to find the hand of franklin reaching for the beaufort sea, tracing one warm line through a land so wide and savage, and make a. Northwest passage 1940 northwest passage 1940 user. It was the basis for the 1940 movie northwest passage, starring spencer tracy. 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. Although rogers fought for the british, most of his rangers became patriots. Northwest passage is an historical novel by kenneth roberts, published in 1937. Langdon towne and hunk marriner join major rogers rangers as they wipe out an indian village.
Stanley allison stan rogers november 29, 1949 june 2, 1983 was a canadian folk musician and songwriter. Northwest passage recounts the adventures of rogers rangers, an 18thcentury expeditionary force charged with wiping out an indian tribe on the. Winner governor generals literary award illustration 2008. An acoustic version, just voice and guitar with some audience participation. The 1940 film northwest passage subtitled book one. Northwest passage 1940 by king vidor is blighted by its racism. Often employing techniques eschewed by the british regulars, the unit was. Ah, for just one time i would take the northwest passage to find the hand of franklin reaching for the beaufort sea. 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.
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. The song compares the voyages of the first european explorers in canada to rogerss own touring as a musician. Northwest passage is a 1940 technicolor film, starring spencer tracy, robert young, walter brennan, ruth hussey, and others. His music captured the power of the human condition and many of his songs have become part of the canadian folk repertoire. Northwest passage book i rogers rangers 1940 filmaffinity. The novel inspired the 1940 film northwest passage, starring spencer tracy as major rogers. The story, taken from the historical novel of the same name by kenneth roberts, concerns the reallife exploits of british major robert rogers, the original founder of what would become the u. The following information has been obtained from news items, production charts and the films pressbook, unless otherwise noted. Part of kenneth roberts novel was serialized in the saturday evening post, under the title rogers rangers 26 december 19366 february 1937. Northwest passage remastered by stan rogers on spotify. New mexico book awards childrens picture book 2009. Youtube video by moonfirespamam 20 used with permission ah, for just one time i would take the northwest passage.
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