New Mexico

The great cast here, including Ayers, Maxwell, Divine, and Conried cannot save this predictable and routine Western effort. All the stereo-types are here, the fallen woman, the honor-bound Cavalry Captain and comic relief, but none of it seems to work well. The ending attempts to be different, but by that time the viewer could not care less.

"New Mexico" is a fair cavalry-versus-Indians movie that could have been better. It has a good cast and provides a couple good moments, but a routine script and a rather stereotyped set of characters keep it from realizing its potential.

Lew Ayres, a fine actor, has the lead role of the cavalry's Captain Hunt, and the rest of a good cast is highlighted by Andy Devine, Raymond Burr, Marilyn Maxwell, and Ted De Corsia. Unfortunately, most of their characters are not given much depth, and they do not have much dialogue to work with either.

The lack of depth of Captain Hunt is the most important, as the other characters are primarily defined in terms of their relationship with him. At the beginning, he seems to be developing as an interesting character. He is present at a meeting between President Lincoln and Chief Acoma (De Corsia), and seems to be sympathetic with the problems that Acoma's people face after Lincoln's untimely death, even defying for a while his insensitive and boorish military superiors. But when the inevitable conflict breaks out, Ayres is just given some stereotyped lines about how the Indians ought not to resort to violence. Likewise, Acoma, as the leader of the uprising, is a thoroughly conventional character, although at least portrayed with some degree of sympathy.

There are some decent action sequences, and a couple of creative touches in the battle scenes, but it is likely that "New Mexico" will be of interest mainly to those who enjoy any and all Westerns.

"New Mexico" is a definite western of the 1950s. Up until the 1950s, most westerns either never mentioned the natives or they were shown as mindless savages. However, in the 50s, filmmakers began showing them more sympathetically...no longer killers, but people.

The film begins with a prologue with President Lincoln visiting the west in 1860 (I am pretty sure this never occurred) and affirming his commitment to the natives. Then the film skips ahead a few years.... Lincoln is dead* and it's back to the same place out west. However, instead of honoring the President's commitments, the new cavalry leader deliberately stirs up the Indians by his insensitive actions. Soon, the natives attack...killing him and leaving Captain Hunt (Lew Ayers) in charge. Hunt is determined to find the Indian leader and come up with some compromise....but as the story progresses it's obvious this is not gonna happen.

This is a decent film but I am sure some will hate the ending, which is very dark and unusual. I didn't mind it, as I must have seen 302,003 other westerns over the years....and at least this made "New Mexico" different. Not a brilliant film....but worth your time....as well as being unusual since you'd never expect Lew Ayers in a western.

*To show that Lincoln was killed, you see a closeup of a firing revolver. While mistakes with guns are common, I was surprised with this one because John Wilkes Booth's weapon was a tiny Derringer....which looks absolutely nothing like a revolver. A bit sloppy...but no major deal.

The movie centers on a strong clear plot structure strongly defined in the beginning. The story progresses to a seige, where pure character takes over the plot as the main element that defines the fine quality of this movie. For some reason I did not know at the time, I loved this movie as a child. Later in theater I learned the quality aspects that New Mexico writers and actors used. I wish it was available in DVD or VHS.

Cavalry Captain Hunt (Lee Ayres) is trying to promote good relations with the Indian chief Acoma. But Hunt's superiors in the military insist on pursuing policies that will provoke a conflict, and Chief Acoma is not willing to let himself be insulted, not when two of his braves get shot ...

Which means the Cavalry and injuns clash, hence there's some good action sequences, which comes after much build-up. The action scenes are well-staged and frantic. There's plenty of mountain climbing, grit and the plot is loaded with enough drama and action to keep things interesting. Lee Ayres delivers a good performance as the captain who is struggling to keep his superiors from showing injustice to the Indians. Nice opening with Abe Lincoln and the chief signing a treaty. The locations are breathtaking. The ending is quite surprising- doesn't end as one would expect. Similar elements were later repeated 1953's excellent the Last of the Comanches such the hidden guns, the Indian leading Marilyn Maxwell to water.