Apache Drums

Produced by Val Lewton, Apache Drums is directed by Hugo Fregonese and adapted for the screen by David Chandler from the book "Stand at Spanish Boot" written by Harry Brown. It stars Stephen McNally, Coleen Gray, Willard Parker and Arthur Shields. Music is by Hans J. Salter and cinematography is courtesy of Charles P. Boyle. It was shot on location at Red Rock Canyon State Park, California & it's a Technicolor production. Plot sees McNally as notorious gambler Sam Leeds, who after shooting a man in self defence, is forced to leave the town of Spanish Boot. However, outside of town Sam happens across a terrible scene that forces him back into town to warn the folk of an impending attack by the Mescalero Apaches.

The name Val Lewton is synonymous with atmospheric horror, the likes of Cat People, The Body Snatcher, I Walked With a Zombie and Bedlam have carried the brooding Lewton production stamp. For this, his last film before he sadly passed away, we find him entering the realm of the Western. An odd coupling without doubt, yet as odd as that seems, the oddest thing of all is that the film manages to rise above its budget restrictions and come out just about on top. Working with his director Fregonese (The Raid), Lewton has produced a final movie that whilst not oozing those eerie atmospherics he's known for, does have enough about it to make it of interest to Lewton completists.

Plot and narrative are simple, where on the surface it appears to be a run of the mill Western where the Indians are the bad guys, and the white man stands up to repel them. Yet to dismiss this as solely being formula fodder is unfair, for it has interesting characters, plenty of tension, a grand piece of action and a couple of genuinely haunting images. There's also some smarts in the writing, where racism and ethical principals are scrutinised. While the work involved for the final third of the film, as our group are holed up in a church awaiting Apache incursion, is of a very high standard. Here Fregonese and camera never leaves the room, as the town burns and the Apache chant and bang the drums, we along with the characters are left to our own imaginations, awaiting a savage death in semi darkness. It's a fine claustrophobic set up that's executed admirably. So why isn't the film better known and regarded then?

To get to the good stuff you have to suffer the bad, quite a bit of bad in fact. Running at only 75 minutes the film just about gets away with its drawn out periods of chatter, much of which is mundane - especially where the love triangle is concerned. And the acting ranges from the effective - McNally (Winchester '73/ Criss Cross) & Gray (Red River/Nightmare Alley) - to the solid - Shields (The Quiet Man/She Wore a Yellow Ribbon), but away from those three it's pretty wooden fare. Problems also exist with the colour, with low budget comes very basic Technicolor lensing, Red Rock Canyon is reduced to being a dull observer on proceedings and the fiery flames during the finale lack colourful snap. There's also the bizarre use of the song "Men of Harlech". Zulu aficionados (and I'm one of them) know the song well, and the use here in Apache Drums is the same as in Cy Endfield's film, only here it's performed in native Welsh - with the actors dubbed! It's a poor fit all round. History tells us, though, that the defenders of Rorke's Drift did not sing the song, so it's a distinct possibility that the film Zulu owes a debt of gratitude to is in fact Apache Drums. Thank you Lewton and Co.

Good and bad every where you look in the film, but the final third swings it well above average in my book. A generous 7/10 rating to my fellow Western movie fans, 6/10 to the casual Sunday afternoon lounge lizard.

After gunning down two people in a saloon a gambler by the name of "Sam Leeds" (Stephen McNally) is told to leave the town of "Spanish Boot" at noon by the local mayor "Joe Madden" (Willard Parker). Although Joe believes that Sam's presence is bad for the town there is also a woman named "Sally" (Coleen Gray) who both men are attracted to that might have also factored into this decision. However, since he has little choice he sets out into the desert only to discover that the Apaches are on the warpath and rushes back to Spanish Boot to tell them of the news. At first they don't believe him but when a small cavalry unit arrives they realize that they will need every gun they can get-and even then it might not be enough. At any rate, rather than disclose any more of the film and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was a pretty good grade-B western movie for this particular time. It certainly would have been a fine picture to show at the local drive-in. Slightly above average.

The picture gets Western action , shootouts , US cavalry charges , go riding , a love story , and it results to be an enjoyable tale . It narrates in adequate style the gradual rolling back of the native Indians from their ancestral lands by the colonist invasion including settlers , cattlemen and army soldiers . In 1880 the drums of the Mescalero Apaches carried the thunder of chief Victorio's words over the waterless mountains of the South West . The newly drawn Mexico-USA border line prevents the Apache from hunting on either side of the border . These reasons are of little consolation for the American settlers who feel the wrath of Apache attacks . In the town of Spanish Boot, inhabited mostly by Welsh silver mine. As Apache Chief Victorio breaks the peace treaty and starts attacking White settlements with his band of renegade braves. A hungry people rose to fight . Their fury fell upon settled placed where peaceful American carried on trade and Welsh miners dug for silver . One of these places was the town of Spanish Boot. There a gambler Sam Leeds (Stephen McNally) -who's in love for cook Sally (Coleen Gray)- is thrown out of a western town , as Mayor Joe Madden (Willard Parker) decides to preserve the clean image of a hard-working town by evicting the bad elements . Among them, Madam Betty Careless and her girls are told to leave town. The gambler is kicked out but he returns when the town is suddenly threatened by a band of marauding Apaches whose reason is the famine to which the tribe of Mescalero is subjected .

Set in 1880, in the Southwestern USA ,during the Apache Indian Wars , with the violent upheaval of brave chiefs as Vitorio , when fear and violence spread throughout the land . This one shows a campy , amusing and entertaining glimpse in the Wild West . The film packs thrills , noisy action , horse pursuits , crossfire , high body-count , it is fast-moving and quite entertaining . It's a medium budget film with acceptable actors , technicians , functional production values and pleasing results . There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing some shoot'em up or stunts every few minutes .Bursting with appealing characters, thought-provoking themes as the peculiar relationships among citizens , sub-plots , and with very decent filmmaking , appropriate interpretation and with some interesting elements .There is an odd implementation of shots in the camera work during some particular scenes as the film approaches its climax with bloody Apaches doing a lot of leaping from high windows , off of roofs, etc , to carry out a slaughter . Nice production design creating an adequate scenario with luminous outdoors , plains , montains and rocky landscapes under a glimmer sun and atmospheric sets but in B-series style . This zesty little western packs a nice script though at times a little stilted , moody and dramatic , but does a good job of capturing the violent environment , including brutal killings , as well as breathtaking battles and gorgeous outdoors . It is an acceptable and passable Western in which director Fregonese and prestigious producer Val Lewton manage to rise it to a superior quality . The veteran actor Stephen McNally gives a fine acting as a gunfighter who is kicked out of the town Spanish Boot but he returns to warn its citizens of an impeding Apache attack ; being well accompanied by gorgeous Coleen Gray as his sweetheart . Nice acting all around, especially from the support cast that included some of the best secondaries of the period , Willard Parker as Mayor Joe Madden , James Griffith as a rugged army captain , Arthur Shields , Armando Silvestre, James Best , Clarence Muse , among others .

It displays a colorful and evocative cinematography by Charles P. Boyle. Thrilling and atmospheric musical score by Hans J. Salter .Final movie of producer Val Lewton , a terror expert , that's partially shown on some scenes during the creepy and frightening siege when the Indians submit the unfortunate white people . The motion picture was professionally directed by Hugo Fregonese , though has some flaws and gaps . Direction by Fregonese maintains a steady pace and is partially as good in interiors as in outdoor action scenes . Hugo Fregonese is an Argentine director and this one was a Hollywood work , that began with One Way Street in 1950 and included some biggies such as Blowing Wild (1953), his biggest hit . Fregonese started in Argentina, and Pampa Bárbara , first version , is the first first film he directed he is listed as co- director with Lucas Demare . He had done his apprenticeship with Demare as assistant director in two previous films. Hugo was an Argentina director who emigrated to Hollywood, then became technical adviser on latino themes at Columbia Studios in Hollywood, and subsequently under contract at Universal from 1950 to 1952 filming ¨Man in the attic¨ with Jack Palance , ¨Blowing wild¨with Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck , ¨Decameron Nights¨with Joan Fontaine , ¨Harry Black and the tiger¨with Stewart Granger . Spent the rest of the decade in Europe directing Euro-westerns as ¨Apache's last battle¨ , ¨Savage Pampas¨ and potboilers as "The Death Ray of Dr. Mabuse" , Terror as "Dracula vs. Frankenstein" before finishing his career back in the country of his birth . Rating : 6.5/10, acceptable and decent western. Worthwhile seeing for marvelous landscapes and breathtaking final scenes .

The least we can say is that for his last film as a producer, Val Lewton literally excelled, and in a domain where he was not used at all: the western. But if you watch this one very carefully, closely, you'll notice the Val Lewton's trademark; the atmosphere, the terrific atmosphere that he used for his famous, notorious RKO pictures horror films. Not in every scene, but during the second part. And the association between Hugo Fregonese and Val Lewton is a success, as was the combination Harry Joe Brown and Budd Boetticher for the Randolph Scott's western written by Burt Kennedy. Don't miss this one, it's Fregonese's best film.

While not one of the greatest westerns to ever be brought to the screen, this movie does bring something else that others seemed to fail at, and that is actual human feelings and and what they went through in times of turmoil such as this film suggests. The townsfolk have to hold up in a church while outside they are attacked by Indians. In the movie it shows how the people would have and must have felt. The ending also leaves the viewer feeling pretty good. For not a very popular movie as say a John Wayne movie, this movie is actually quite good. It has yet to be released on DVD or VHS and i seriously doubt that it even has a chance yet if it was i strongly suggest western fans to grab a copy of it and see what I'm really talking about. As for those who want to see it now, your best bet is probably to try to catch it on the Western Channel although i have bee watching the channel for a few years and have yet to see it on there. The only time i ever saw it on television was on AMC, back when they had no commercials and actually played what the channel suggested, Classics.