The Last of the Mohicans (1920)

 Clarence Brown's "The Last of the Mohicans"


After serving as a fighter pilot in the United States Army during World War I, Clarence Brown became an assistant to Maurice Tourner. Tourner, who was a French-born director working in Hollywood, started a project in 1920 called "The Last of the Mohicans." The film was an adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's 1826 novel of the same name. After injuring himself in a fall, Tourner had to step down from his directing duties. Clarence Brown stepped into the director's role for the first time. He then continued to make countless films for Hollywood thereafter.

"The Last of the Mohicans" tells a fictional story set during the French and Indian War of 1757. After a group of Native Americans attacks a British Stronghold, members of the Mohican tribe join the British in quelling the attacks. After a Commander's daughters are kidnapped, a Mohican named Uncas led a group of men in to save them. 

The film is primarily known for its depictions of race relations between whites and natives. The lead female character, Cora, is attracted to the native Unca throughout the film, rather than fawning over her white suitor. Following the lead of D.W. Griffith's "Broken Blossoms" that was released a year prior, "Mohicans" was another film that was unapologetic in its depiction of interracial love. On top of this, Clarence Brown allowed sexual tension to manifest through the observations of the lustful Cora. This also comes at a time when women were supposed to have not been so frank in their sexual desires. Brown's unflinching gaze and Barbara Bedford's subtle performance allowed for a radical depiction of interracial sexual desire. 

The film was well regarded at the time of its release. Since then, it has been preserved by the Library of Congress for its significance to the film medium.



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