coltras35
Joined May 2009
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After the end of the Civil War, Sergeant Matt Blake is leading a small band of cavalry soldiers through Apache territory to deliver a shipment of guns to a fort a few days away, along with Corbin (Baynes Barron), who has been arrested for his plans to sell the guns to Indians.
Along the way Blake and his men are waylaid by a group of men led by former Southern officer Captain Sam Prescott (Frank Gerstle). Prescott and his men, including Keith Williams (Eastwood), are Southerners who resent the Yankee cavalry soldiers, but they all have a much bigger problem dealing with Apache Indians. The two groups agree to work together to get to the safety of the fort.
The Apaches soon show up in the area with a woman they've kidnapped, Teresa (Margita Dean), and use her as a distraction to steal the group's horses. The men find themselves having to walk to the fort along with Teresa, their only protection being the rifles that the Indians still want.
Ambush at Cimarron Pass gets blasted as dull, middling and lousy - personally, I didn't find it lousy or dull as the dialogue is intelligent, involving and drives the plot - yes, it's middling at times and even talky, but the premise is good, it just needed some injection of more energy and drive in the plot and maybe a better direction, though that is adequate as it is. Having said that, it kept my attention, had adequate amount of tension, drama, a spurt of action here and there, and it's well acted with interesting characters.
Funny that Clint Eastwood, who plays a Yankee hating Johnny Reb, says this is "the lousiest Western ever made". I found it fairly enjoyable and involving - I had rather watch this than the dull and dismal the Unforgiven (1992).
Along the way Blake and his men are waylaid by a group of men led by former Southern officer Captain Sam Prescott (Frank Gerstle). Prescott and his men, including Keith Williams (Eastwood), are Southerners who resent the Yankee cavalry soldiers, but they all have a much bigger problem dealing with Apache Indians. The two groups agree to work together to get to the safety of the fort.
The Apaches soon show up in the area with a woman they've kidnapped, Teresa (Margita Dean), and use her as a distraction to steal the group's horses. The men find themselves having to walk to the fort along with Teresa, their only protection being the rifles that the Indians still want.
Ambush at Cimarron Pass gets blasted as dull, middling and lousy - personally, I didn't find it lousy or dull as the dialogue is intelligent, involving and drives the plot - yes, it's middling at times and even talky, but the premise is good, it just needed some injection of more energy and drive in the plot and maybe a better direction, though that is adequate as it is. Having said that, it kept my attention, had adequate amount of tension, drama, a spurt of action here and there, and it's well acted with interesting characters.
Funny that Clint Eastwood, who plays a Yankee hating Johnny Reb, says this is "the lousiest Western ever made". I found it fairly enjoyable and involving - I had rather watch this than the dull and dismal the Unforgiven (1992).
A cavalry unit rides into a Comanche trap. If the patrol leaders cannot find a way out, they will all surely perish. Fortunately, a sympathetic Comanche woman brought up in a missionary helps them locate a secret passage which allows them to escape and get help.
However, when she dies they are left vulnerable until they meet a survivor, the daughter of the dead missionary leader, who helps them reach the pass - but danger looms ...
War Party is a solid b-western with a neat balance between characterisation, suspense and action - the latter comes sporadically but surely, and it is well-staged amidst the mountainous regions. Plenty of tension is found, there's even a little humour when an injun called wooden face who is obsessed with cigars appears. It's really well-mounted in such a compact space with the injuns portrayed as smart foes and not just targets!
Camerawork is superb, the outdoors suitably breathtaking and claustrophobic. Nicely performed by Don "Red" Barry, who is determined to deliver the message to the cavalry patrol at the other side. The other players offer great support.
However, when she dies they are left vulnerable until they meet a survivor, the daughter of the dead missionary leader, who helps them reach the pass - but danger looms ...
War Party is a solid b-western with a neat balance between characterisation, suspense and action - the latter comes sporadically but surely, and it is well-staged amidst the mountainous regions. Plenty of tension is found, there's even a little humour when an injun called wooden face who is obsessed with cigars appears. It's really well-mounted in such a compact space with the injuns portrayed as smart foes and not just targets!
Camerawork is superb, the outdoors suitably breathtaking and claustrophobic. Nicely performed by Don "Red" Barry, who is determined to deliver the message to the cavalry patrol at the other side. The other players offer great support.
Capt. Richard O'Hara and his cavalry patrol rescues pretty Mary McQueen (Marta Padovan) from an attack on a wagon train.
Pretty soon, Mary will deepen the grudge between O'Hara and Maj. Harvey Brooks (Mariano Vidal Molina), a fellow officer at Fort San Antonio
Seems the two attended West Point together. During the Civil War, they served together, with O'Hara earning the higher rank. At least until the Union defeat at the Battle of Rapidan. Following an inquiry into that defeat, O'Hara was demoted. Brooks was the key witness against him.
Mary is bound for Fort San Antonio as Brooks' fiance, but quickly grows a fondness for O'Hara, who is admired by his men and preaches caution and fairness in dealing with the Apache.
The secret of Captain O'Hara is a decent cavalry vs Indian yarn that has the usual familiar tropes such as two officers at each others throat, fiancée of the officer fancies the other man, gun running, but it's well made, has a certain style and liveliness- to top it off you get a large scale injun attack at the end. Really well-staged and apparently no stock footage. Overall, enjoyable for most part but don't expect anything new.
Pretty soon, Mary will deepen the grudge between O'Hara and Maj. Harvey Brooks (Mariano Vidal Molina), a fellow officer at Fort San Antonio
Seems the two attended West Point together. During the Civil War, they served together, with O'Hara earning the higher rank. At least until the Union defeat at the Battle of Rapidan. Following an inquiry into that defeat, O'Hara was demoted. Brooks was the key witness against him.
Mary is bound for Fort San Antonio as Brooks' fiance, but quickly grows a fondness for O'Hara, who is admired by his men and preaches caution and fairness in dealing with the Apache.
The secret of Captain O'Hara is a decent cavalry vs Indian yarn that has the usual familiar tropes such as two officers at each others throat, fiancée of the officer fancies the other man, gun running, but it's well made, has a certain style and liveliness- to top it off you get a large scale injun attack at the end. Really well-staged and apparently no stock footage. Overall, enjoyable for most part but don't expect anything new.
