In the wilderness of early Colonial days , mountain man Deerslayer (Lex Barker) and his Mohican blood-brother, Chingachgook (Carlos Rivas) get involved with trapper Tom Hutter (J. C. Flippen) who is living with his two contrasting daughters (Rita Moreno, Cathy O'Donnell who's in love for wanderer Forrest Tucker) on an isolated floating fort . Tom's one-man vengeance against Indians has brought the wrath of the Hurons down on him , thereby garnering the reluctant aid of wilderness hunter Deerslayer . Among adventures, violence and escapes , a batch of dirty and dark secrets emerges.. James Fenimore Cooper's Great Adventure Classic !. Last of the Great Mohicans...First of the Great Pioneers... Bravery, Loyalty and Wilderness Justice.
This is a thrilling film set in colonial America, with plenty of action , battles , violence , a love story , and including breathtaking outdoors . This peculiar B frontier western in 1950-style containing overwhelming adventures , intrigue , fights and romance . It's a quickie with lack luster and low budget but it manages to be at least an enjoyable adventure movie because containing action, sensational outdoors and outlandish thrills situations abound . The story is neither realistic nor ambitious, but sympathetic with good scenarios, costumes and gorgeous landscapes . Excellent action sequences with bloody attacks and spectacular as well as impressive fights. Charismatic performance for all casting . There are magnificently photographed scenes featuring forests, lakes , rivers and mountains . The reason why The Deerslayer holds up so well even today is that director Kurt Neumann invests his roles with dignity and strength. The sextet of starring actors : Lex Barker , Rita Moreno , Forrest Tucker , Cathy O'Donnell , Carlos Rivas are pretty well with special mention for Jay C. Flippen as the bigoted father.
The film displays a haunting and rich cinematography capturing flavor of colonial life by Karl Struss, Neumann's usual cameraman. The motion picture was nicely produced and directed by Kurt Neumann (The fly, Cronos , She-Devil , Tarzan and the leopard woman). German-born film director, a specialist in second features. Made the rounds of Hollywood studios, beginning with Universal , followed by RKO , Paramount and United Artists . From 1945 worked for Sol Lesser, in the dual capacity of director and co-producer, on the "Tarzan" franchise. Excelled in low-budget crime thrillers , westerns and science-fiction subjects, such as Rocket K-1 (1950) and The Fly (1958), arguably his most successful and best-known picture. This vigorous picture The Deerslayer (1957) obtained limited successful but results to be agreeable enough . It's a good stuff for young people and adventures lovers who enjoy enormously with the extraordinary dangers on the luxurious landscapes and marvelous Technicolor photography. Rating : 6/10, acceptable and passable . The flick will appeal to adventure and Western fan .
