The Battle at Apache Pass

Pretty good western chronicles a strong fight between the Indian tribes and the US cavalry in New Mexico territory . Set during the American Civil War , this is the story of Maj. Jim Colton (John Lund) , a hard-working officer who has a nice relationship with Apache leader Cochise (Jeff Chandler). Indians and US cavalry intend to make peace but the tribal chiefs feel their treaty has been violated . Then , at Fort Buchanan shows up the nasty and politically ambitious Indian agent Neil Baylor (Bruce Cowling) along with his supporter Mescal Jack (Jack Elam) , and , subsequently , there takes place the kidnapping a local farmer's son . The corrupt Baylor convinces Lt. George Bascom (John Hudson) that Cochise is the main responsible , and both of them execute an attack against Indians . Meanwhile , leader Jeronimo (Jay Silverheels) carries out razzias against the US Cavalry , caravans and settlements . The Apaches and Cavalry later meet in a battle that ends in disaster , with hostages executed by hanging on both sides . Shortly after , the cavalry column advances into the Apache pass and things go wrong .

A-Universal-International-Picture gets Western action , exciting assaults , go riding , shootouts , breathtaking Indian raids on Yankees regiments and resulting to be quite entertaining . This moving movie is an epic portrait of the thrilling story about tribal chiefs decide to unite their forces against the trespassing whites that break their treaties . The movie depicts a fictionalized account of "The Bascom Affair" of 1861 and "The battle of Apache pass" of 1862 . At Apache pass took place an impressive battle , the first time that the Indians meet modern , for the age , artillery U.S. All the battle scenes in this production were actually photographed at Arches National Monument Park . Producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the national Park Service of the United States Department of the Interior whose splendid cooperation made these scenes possible . It is medium budget film with good actors , technicians , production values and pleasing results . At the ending , when takes place the Indian attack , possesses all the sweep , grandeur and noisy action of the greatest Westerns of an age long past . The picture contains spectacular charges of Indian riders , including an overwhelming final when the US soldiers are besieged at a rocky pass . Nice acting from a great cast . As John Lund is good as a honorable Major who is in charge of maintaining order and attempts to keep the peace between US cavalry and Indians . The best acting is given by Jeff Chandler who provides stature to the role , delivering sincerity and bravura . Chandler was known , until his early death , for playing Indian chief Cochise , a dignified portrait well shown in : ¨Broken arrow¨ (50) by Delmer Daves , that was the first time the Red Indian was depicted as a human being rather than a brute savage merely to bite the dust at the hands of the US cavalry , as well as ¨Battle of Apache Pass¨ (1952) and ¨Taza , son of Cochise¨ (1954) by Douglas Sirk , this latter Jeff/Cochise is briefly glimpsed as a dying man at the beginning and handing over the reins of power to Rock Hudson as Taza . Although Chandler also played all kinds of genres , such as : ¨Return to Peyton Place¨(drama) , ¨Flame of Araby¨ (adventure) , ¨Merrill's marauders¨ (wartime , in his last film) , until his early death at 42-year-old . In addition , support cast is frankly excellent , such as : Beverly Tyler , John Hudson , Richard Egan , Gregg Palmer , Regis Toomey , Hugh O'Brian , James Best , and Jay Silverheels in his usual role as Geronimo , a violent Indian chief vowing to lead the tribes in battle against the encroaching white men . Furthermore , special mention for the usually baddie Jack Elam . This stimulating and stirring Western was beautifully photographed in Cinemascope , print in Technicolor by Charles Boyle , Universal's ordinary cameraman . And an original and shining score from Has J salter .

This motion picture was professionally directed by George Sherman in colorful style , though has a few flaws . He realized a great number of films , especially Westerns . As he specialized almost exclusively in "B" westerns , including the "Three Musketeers" series, which featured a young John Wayne. George directed lots of Westerns as ¨The Last of the Fast Guns¨ , ¨The Lone Hand¨, ¨Santa Fe stampede¨ , ¨Red skin¨ ,¨War Arrow¨ ¨Chief Crazy Horse¨ ¨Calamity Jane¨, ¨Relentless¨ , ¨Comanche Territory¨ , ¨Dawn at Socorro¨, ¨Border River¨ and many others . He also made occasional forays into action and horror themes, often achieving a sense of style over substance . The only "A"-grade films to his credit were two westerns starring John Wayne: ¨Comancheros¨ (1961) (as producer) and ¨The big Jack¨ (1971) . His last films were realized in Spain as "Find That Girl" , ¨The new Cinderella¨ and ¨Joaquin Murrieta¨. Rating : 6/10 . Acceptable and passable . Well worth watching .

Apache chief Cochise (Jeff Chandler) resolves to make a treaty allowing his people to live in peace with white settlers. However, his hot-headed fellow leader Geronimo disagrees, and puts the negotiations at risk by embarking on a murder spree, incurring the wrath of his enemies.

A big moneymaker in its day, and its understandable why. It ticks all the boxes in delivering an engaging action western with plenty of conflict thrown in; the buildup to powder keg situation where Cochise has to fight against the cavalry - an Indian agent played by Bruce Cowling and Mescal Jack played by Jack Elam stir up an Apache war - is well done.

Jeff Chandler reprises his role of Cochise, whom he played in Delmer Daves' Broken arrow, and plays the role with dignity and command. John Lund is fine as the sympathetic cavalry officer. Susan Cabot and Beverley Tyler are ravishing.

A solid western with a beautifully shot location.

And also a BROKEN ARROW sequel; in other terms one of those westerns for which the Indians were not the villains all the time. Splendid settings for the Universal Studios movie. It brings nothing new compared to other westerns of this kind, with more or less the same message. It is very well made, by a real professional George Sherman, a western specialist who began his career in the late thirties for Republic Pictures, in B westerns, as so many other B directors ( but in the early fifties), such as RG Springsteen, Harry Keller, Thomas Carr, whilst other directors like William Witney, in the early fifties too, proceeded their career, working for Republic Studios, still for the same kind of B westerns, after his highlight serial period, between the late thirties and forties. Awesome battle sequences, breathtaking moments for the audiences.

This is a good cavalry Western, with a respectable cast and well photographed. John Lund may have got top billing, but Jeff Chandler has the better screen presence, and possibly Richard Egan too.

It contains a couple of common minor flaws of Westerns of the 1950s: the uniforms and carbines relate more to the 1870s than the early Civil War period, and Susan Cabot is yet another white American actor/actress who doesn't convince as a native American, especially compared with the "real Indian" women who briefly appear. Chandler is more convincing as Cochise,and complements well the Canadian Indian actor Jay Silverheels, best known as Tonto in the Lone Ranger series, where he always struck me as being a bit wooden; here he gets some dialogue and a couple of good fights (which he loses)) as Geronimo.

There's a suggestion of an instant romance between Lund and Beverly Tyler as the wagon-train survivor, but this is so feeble it might as well have been omitted.

The action scenes are well handled, especially the climatic battle in Apache Pass.

George Sherman was an old hand at B westerns due to his long stint at Republic, where he specialized in them. His experience shows in this tight little Universal B western. John Lund and Jeff Chandler are stalwart as, respectively, a cavalry officer trying to avert an Indian war and Apache leader Cochise. The cast is filled with veteran character actors, which is always an asset, and the action scenes are extremely well handled. Altogether a tight, enjoyable little western. Recommended.