Tomahawk Trail

A couple of guys who later became stars in small screen westerns, Chuck Connors and John Smith star in Tomahawk Trail about a sergeant who takes over from an inexperienced lieutenant and gets the patrol they were on back to the fort on foot.

Where they find the place massacred and the Mescelero Apaches ready to come back finish them off. The only hold card they have is that they managed to capture Lisa Martell who is Chief Vittorio's daughter along with a white female companion Susan Cummings. At least one of the cavalry soldiers has his mind distracted by the women just another headache that Connors has as he awaits a court martial even if they're rescued.

Humphrey Bogart in The Caine Mutiny was positively docile as Captain Queeg next to George Neise playing the lieutenant who is truly a hateful person. In fact he should have toned it down a notch, his performance was a bit too jarring. Harry Dean Stanton playing Neise's orderly makes one of his early appearances in a film. He also has to see that his lieutenant is going off the deep end, but he remains doggedly loyal.

Tomahawk Trail is decent enough for western fans, but below average altogether.

A cavalry Sergeant pulls a "Caine Mutiny" and relieves an incompetant officer of command of a patrol in Apache territory. This otherwise routine oater is of interest mainly because it was an early vehicle for Conners. Look for a very young Harry Dean Stanton as the Lieutenant's Orderly.

Sgt. Wade McCoy (Chuck Connors) with a ragtag group of soldiers opens with, "Nothing is ever routine along the Tomahawk Trail." Lt. Jonathan Davenport (George N. Neise) begs to differ as he contests the sergeant at every turn. This sets the stage for a most contentious and dangerous adventure in Apache territory. Pvt. Miller ( Harry Dean Stanton) takes the lieutenant's side while Pvt. Reynolds (John Smith) supports the sergeant. In a bloody skirmish, they find the daughter of a deceased captain (Susan Cummings) and the Chief's daughter (Lisa Montell). There's great interplay here between Connors and Neise as they jockey for position with the troops. They are fighting the Apaches, each other and protecting the captive women on many fronts. Tomahawk Trail is all drama and suspense from start to finish with some fine acting performances.

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.