THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS

Director: Michael Mann
Music by Trevor Jones and Randy Edelman
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Jodhi May, Wes Studi, Russel Means, Eric Schweig

The Last of the Mohicans is set in North America in 1757 during the third year of the war between England and France for possesion of the continent. The story follows the lives of three men who are the last of their people on the frontier, west of the Hudson River. The movie opens with a hunting scene after which the three men travel towards a cottage and eat with friends. Their friends are colonials who are trying to organize a colonial militia in order to help the British against the French. The following day the colonials are met by a British officer sent to organise the colonial militia. They disagree with the British officer over the fact that they will not be released from the militia to defend their homes if attacked and travel to Albany to see Colonel Webb, the Commanding officer. Webb then allows them to defend their homes if attacked.
As the colonials leave an officer named Duncan enters with orders to take Colonel Munroe's daughters to Fort William Henry. Webb gives them some soldiers and a scout named Magua (Wes Studi) to guide them. While on route to the fort Magua betrays them and a Huron war party attacks. The three Mohicans track them down and rescue Duncan and Munroe's two daughters Cora (Madeleine Stowe) and Alice (Jodhi May). Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis), the main character in the movie along with Uncas his step-brother and Chingachgook his step-father agree to take them to the fort. When they arrive it is under siege but they manage to sneak in. Colonel Munroe is furious to hear that his messengers were killed and Magua betrayed him as well as the fact that there will be no reinforcements from Webb. It is now that Hawkeye and Cora begin to fall in love. The French soon become too dangerous and Munroe is forced to surrender. Magua, who wanted to kill Munroe for killing his children is not pleased with the truce and as the British march away in defeat they are attacked. Magua kills Munroe telling him he will kill his children.The three Mohicans, Duncan and Munroe's daughters escape the battle followed by Magua and his Huron war party. They enter a cave in a waterfall hoping the Huron won't find them but they do. Just as Magua approaches the Mohicans jump through the waterfall so that they can rescue the others later. Duncan, Alice and Cora are taken to the Huron village to be burned alive. Hawkeye walks up to the chief and demands their freedom. The chief gives Alice to Magua as his wife, Ducan is to return to the English and Cora is to be burned alive. Hawkeye begs to be burned in her place but the chief has Duncan burned instead and Cora is released. Hawkeye shoots Duncan to spare him pain. They then go after Magua to save Alice.

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