Tomahawk Trail

This movie captures one's attention from the start with Chuck Connors' opening line of narration: "Lt. Merriman was dead; the brains cooked out of his skull over an Apache torture fire." From this point on the movie proceeds in a taut, terse fashion which is a model of economical story-telling. True, it doesn't add up to much but it knows its limitations and works within them with commendable assurance. "Tomahawk Trail" would be a good movie to study in Film-Making 101.

Its faults are obvious but not fatal. The soldiers' US Cavalry uniforms should be soiled and sweaty and yet, too often, they seem to have just come from the Costume Shop. Also, the two female characters are unconvincing. Susan Cummings has been dropped into the plot simply to give Chuck Connors a pretty girl to kiss at the fade-out, and Lisa Montell makes a very unpersuasive Indian.

Chuck Connors, playing yet another of his "Mc" characters, is in his physical prime here and one regrets he's given no chance to do a "beefcake" scene.

The location work around Kanab, Utah, (using black-and-white photography), adds an air of authenticity. There's not a studio-bound shot in the whole movie.

Assuming your expectations aren't unrealistically high, you may well be pleasantly surprised by "Tomahawk Trail."

This is a hackneyed western with few faults. I found it more interesting than I expected. Chuck Connors plays a young Cavalry Sargent that must take over a unit led by an injured and temporarily demented Lieutenant. This action takes place in Apache territory...the boys in blue hope to find safety in a fort that has already been ravaged. Short, but action packed. Also in the cast are:John Smith, Robert Knapp, Susan Cummings and a young Harry Dean Stanton. Kind of feels like sitting in the Kiddie Matinee on Saturday morning.

With Lesley Selander as director, I knew in advance that I would not lose my time, especially for a western made during the late fifties. Because during the early forties, and even later, Selander provided lousy and chain made movies, not that interesting, believe me. For this one, a very short one, you have the feeling to watch a longer length film, really. It is even strange that such a 1957 western from Lesley Selander is so short. I was really happy to have wached this western starring Chuck Connors. Not a masterpiece though, only a rare and worth the watch gem from Bel Air production, not the worst in Hollywood.

Led by an incompetent lieutenant, a force of soldiers are on the Tomahawk Trail in Apache Territory. When he lets the Indians steal their horses and is lightly wounded in a skirmish, Sergeant McCoy takes command. McCoy successfully takes them to the fort to find all the soldiers who have been murdered by the Apaches. He prepares the troops for an attack knowing if they want to outlive the lieutenant to bring him to justice.

A nice and brisk western, which has has enough drama, suspense, great scenery and well-staged action to keep you hooked throughout its 62 mins running time. The Apache comes across as human as well as wraith-like, slowly reducing the cavalry numbers, and that due to a moronic knucklehead of a lieutenant, but Chuck Connors, before he became the Rifleman, eventually takes command.

Tomahawk Trail is a movie that is most enjoyed by those either younger than eight years old (where the children can play cowboys and Indians) or those who are 50 and older. I know that Chuck Connors has been in many types of films, yet I remember him mostly in westerns like this movie. The movie moves along at a fairly good clip. The best thing about this movie is that it is only an hour long. The movie can't afford to have any down time. This is a cowboy and Indian movie. Tomahawk Trail is either best enjoyed on as a Saturday afternoon matinée or as a late at night movie. The actors do okay in their roles. However, once the movie has played, it is easily forgotten except for Chuck Connors. Bring your popcorn and your Western boots to this one, Partner.