Northwest Passage (1940): cast, story & where to watch
1940 · Film · ★ 6.3
Released in 1940, Northwest Passage is a drama, adventure, war and romance film directed by King Vidor, running about 126 minutes. “Half Men—Half Demons … Warriors Such As The World Has Never Known … They Lived With Death and Danger For The Women Who Hungered For Their Love!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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. The film focuses on their famous raid at Fort St. Francis and their marches before and after the battle.
Who’s in it. Northwest Passage stars Spencer Tracy as Major Robert Rogers, Robert Young as Langdon Towne, Walter Brennan as 'Hunk' Marriner and Ruth Hussey as Elizabeth Browne, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, Northwest Passage has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Philo and TCM and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Northwest Passage page.
If you liked it. Fans of Northwest Passage tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Northwest Passage (1940)?
- In US, Northwest Passage is available to stream on Philo and TCM, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Northwest Passage worth watching?
- Northwest Passage holds an audience score of 6.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, adventure, war and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Northwest Passage?
- Northwest Passage stars Spencer Tracy, Robert Young, Walter Brennan, Ruth Hussey and Nat Pendleton.