There have been many motion picture adaptations of Cooper's novels about Hawkeye. The outstanding example of these is the 1992 version of The Last of the Mohicans. Michael Moran's direction is brilliant, capturing the frantic action scenes of the novel as well as the pacing of the story's events.

The cinematography is lush, full of the rich colors of forest and river. Its cast features a deadly serious Daniel DayLewis, as well as Madeleine Stowe, Russell Means, Eric Schweig, Jodhi May, Steven Waddington, Maurice Roeves, and Patrice Chereau. Audiences and critics received this rendition of tragedy and romantic love warmly.

Its main characters are almost supermen, as they are in the novel, and they fight with all the artistry depicted in Cooper's book. The Last of the Mohicans is also one of the rare adaptations of Cooper's work to accurately capture his interest in and sympathy for Native American...