Column South

Column South finds Audie Murphy as an army lieutenant in acting command at Fort Union in New Mexico. The new commander Captain Robert Sterling with his sister Joan Evans arrives to take over and he's a spit and polish short and his disposition ain't helped when he comes into the fort and sees a brawl going about politics. It's 1860 and the country is getting ready to divide sectionally.

But it's still one army with a mission to keep the peace with the Navajo represented by Chief Dennis Weaver. But the growing divide may let the Indians conquer and Weaver is one smart and courageous warrior.

In fact Weaver is the best one in the cast, the one who steals the film in every scene he's in. There's also a good performance by Ray Collins who is a visiting general with a big agenda all his own.

Column South is a well done western with a good cast and a good story for this cast to perform. Definitely one of Audie Murphy's better westerns.

The Civil War is about to break out, and there's trouble afoot with the Navajos on their reservation. Let. Audie Murphy has a good relationship with the Indian Chief Dennis Weaver, but his C.O,, Captain Robert Sterling doesn't trust them and is a Southern sympathizer. So when General Ray Collins, who is in on the plans to form the Confederacy wants the Navajos to revolt, he has Sterling plant guns, then issues orders that if they are found among the Indians, to move them to an inhospitable bit of territory.

It's a pretty good Audie Murphy vehicle directed by Grederick de Cordova, who would spend decades producing THE TONIGHT SHOW. Joan Evans is Sterlings Unionist wife, and there a nice small role for Bob Steele, Look quick for Denver Pyle as a Confederate spy for that double BONANZA feeling.

This movie's would have been much better in black and white.All of the canvas painting of backgrounds would have looked a little bit real... maybe? It had to be tough on Murphy playing a fake soldier. I imagine the actors were in awe standing beside of the most decorated soldier in War World Two. Murphy's baby face always made it difficult for him to be taken serious as an actor. A real life liberal who was playing mostly conservative characters. This film is just a simple western in which the studios used Murphy to draw an audience. John Wayne was always in demand but I never could see why he, Wayne, who, to the surprise of many, avoided the draft while Murphy volunteered and was only 19 years old when he was given medals for his valor. Murphy died broke in a plane crash without ever reaching the stardom he deserved.

Taking place just prior to the start of the civil war, Audie Murphy plays a junior army officer who is sympathetic to the plight of the local Navajo Indians and is a good friend of Navajo chief Menquito. A new commanding officer who is from the south is appointed to the post who convinced by Confederate agitators to stir up trouble with the Navajo Indians and send Audie and large column troops out on wild goose chase so the Confederates can gain control of the western territories. Of course Audie gets wind of nefarious plot and prevents further bloodshed.

This film would be an otherwise routine "Indians unjustly forced to go on the warpath by scheming white men" story, had it not been for the Confederate conspiracy angle. Audie Murphy is well... Audie Murphy. If you like Audie Murphy (I do) you will like him here. If you don"t there is no reason why you should like him here. Robert Stirling and Joan Evans are unconvincing as Southerners. Their Southern accents vary through out the film. Film buffs will enjoy seeing many familiar faces in the cast (Bob Steele, Greg Palmer, Russell Johnson, Dennis Weaver and Ray Collins.)

Column South is an interesting western, fusing drama and tension throughout. There isn't much action but the tension between the Indians and the cavalry is well done. The north-south angle makes it more interesting. The finale ends with a well-made action. It's interesting that the Indians are in the fort firing at the cavalry.