The Pathfinder (1952 film)

The Pathfinder
The Pathfinder
	Film poster
Directed by	Sidney Salkow
Screenplay by	Robert E. Kent
Based on	The Pathfinder by James Fenimore Cooper
Produced by	Sam Katzman
Starring	George Montgomery ; Helena Carter ; Jay Silverheels
Narrated by	Michael Fox
Cinematography	Henry Freulich
Edited by	Jerome Thoms
Color process	Technicolor
Production; company	Sam Katzman Productions
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	December 9, 1952;
Running time	78 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Pathfinder is a 1952 American adventure historical western film directed by Sidney Salkow and starring George Montgomery, Helena Carter and Jay Silverheels.^[1] It is based on the 1840 novel The Pathfinder by James Fenimore Cooper and was produced by Sam Katzman for Columbia Pictures.

Plot

At the beginning of the French and Indian War in 1754, the Mingo Indians allied to the French massacre the Mohican tribe allied to British. Pathfinder and Chingachgook discover the only survivor, a child named Uncas. Angered that the British did not protect their allies the Mohicans, Pathfinder gains entry to the British fort and threatens the Scottish commander Colonel Duncannon until it is discovered that the British were unaware due to a Mohican messenger being killed before he could bring the news.

Colonel Duncannon enlists Pathfinder and Chingachgook to spy for the British by posing as French sympathisers. When Pathfinder says they would not be able to discover the plans of the French as they do not speak their language the Colonel assigns Alison, a fluent French speaker to them. Pathfinder is dismayed that Alison is a woman but she earns her place by killing a Mingo with a pistol and infiltrating French society when they arrive at the French fort. Alison discovers that the French have built a road along a mountain pass bringing supplies to the main French port that has a harbour for ships. Blowing up the mountain road with black powder would deny supplies to the French fort meaning all their smaller outposts would fall to the British due to a scarcity of provisions.

Alison came to the North American colonies to marry an English Captain who disgraced himself through alcoholism. She unexpectedly meets him again as he has turned renegade, married a Mingo princess and has a commission in the French army.

Pathfinder and Chingachgook find out that the French commander has all his plans of defense in his office, so they create a distraction for the soldiers, and sneak into the office. They find the plans, and Chingachgook sneaks out of the window with the plans. But then the English renegade catches Pathfinder and denounes he and Alison as spies, and they are sentenced to be shot at dawn.

At dawn, Pathfinder escapes from his cell, as Chingachgook arrives with British soldiers who attack the fort and force the French to surrender.

Cast

George Montgomery as Pathfinder
Helena Carter as Welcome Alison
Jay Silverheels as Chingachgook
Walter Kingsford Col. Duncannon
Rodd Redwing as Chief Arrowhead
Stephen Bekassy as Col. Brasseau
Elena Verdugo as Lokawa
Bruce Lester as Capt. Clint Bradford
Chief Yowlachie as Eagle Feather
Lyle Talbot as French Ship Captain

Production

Helena Carter had just made The Golden Horde for Katzman.^[2]

References

^ Schallert, Edwin (January 18, 1952). "Montgomery Will Star in 'Pathfinder;' Tucker Plays Mutineer Pirate". Los Angeles Times. p. 19.
^ Vagg, Stephen (February 14, 2020). "Helena Carter: An Appreciation". Filmink.

External links

[1] Schallert, Edwin (January 18, 1952). "Montgomery Will Star in 'Pathfinder;' Tucker Plays Mutineer Pirate". Los Angeles Times. p. 19.

[filmink-2] Vagg, Stephen (February 14, 2020). "Helena Carter: An Appreciation". Filmink.

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