Search - Northwest Passage, Vol. 1 on DVD

Excitement on the Northwest Frontier - 1950s Style

David Bassler | Richmond, VA USA | 07/12/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Northwest Passage" (1958) was loosely based on the novel of the same name by Kenneth Roberts and concerned the adventures of real-life hero Major Robert Rogers, who formed a group of elite rangers from the frontiersmen living in upstate New York, Vermont and New Hampshire during the French and Indian War. The series starred Keith Larson as Rogers, who was ably assisted by Sgt. Hunk Marriner (Buddy Ebsen) and Ensign Langdon `Harvard' Towne (Don Barrett), a young college graduate still learning the ways of the wilderness. During the series only season, the heroes spent a lot more time battling the French and Indians and various frontier criminal elements than searching for a route to the Pacific Ocean; but then, so did the historical Rogers.

This set includes ten of the series' 26 episodes, all of which were shot in gorgeous color. Although the basic plotlines are similar to those for many a Saturday afternoon kids program, you can tell that money and care were lavished on this production - the scripts and direction are sharp; the sets are well designed and there are plenty top-drawer character actors filling out the casts. Even though the show was shot on the MGM backlot (or maybe because of it) each episode looks as if they were filmed on location in the Adirondacks or the Green Mountains (or the Rockies - the topography looks a little rugged for the Eastern United States on occasion). The prints Timeless Media uses were remastered and are in outstanding shape. The episodes contained in the set are:

1.4: Surprise Attack (guest starring Lisa Gaye and Larry Chance)
1.6: Break Out (Bruce Gordon and Adam Williams)
1.8: The Hostage (Kelly Thordsen and Bobby Clark)
1.14: Vengeance Trail (Paul Fix and Joseph Vitale)
1.15: The `Vulture' (Bruce Cowling, Marya Stevens and Patricia Donahue)
1.16: The Counterfeiters (Chet Stratton and John Day)
1.17: The Secret of the Cliff (Taina Elg and Maurice Marzac)
1.19: Death Rides the Wind (DeForest Kelley, Murvyn Vye and Yvette Vickers)
1.22: The Witch (Edith Barrett, Martha Wentworth and James Anderson)
1.23: Stab in the Back (Lisa Montell and Paul Picerni)"

This is NOT the Movie!

R. L. Towler | San Jose, CA USA | 10/15/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Just to avoid confusion. This is not the Spencer Tracy movie. This was a TV show done back in the 1950's. As far as I know the movie isn't available on DVD...so there you go!"

A classic series of the 1800's

Joanne A. Vega | Staten Island, New York USA | 06/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a classic series of the old frontier. I would definitly recommend the series to all."

Great TV show, but fair picture quality.

Daniel Jacobs | New Joisy, USA | 05/15/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"If you remember this TV show from years gone by, then you'll love to watch this again as I did. The only drawback, and its a big one for me, is that it looks like it was transferred from a cheap VHS copy with no enhancements made. So if you can put up with fair video quality, you'll enjoy this. PS. If you think that this stuff is too old and in poor quality to start with , take a look at what they did with the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movies of the 40's(they recently issued the complete set; black cover with silver writing). The picture quality is amazing for its age. If one wants to expend the effort and time, wonders can be done. Its obvious that NW Passage was done cheap & dirty. Sorry to disappoint. Ditto for Vol 2."