Indian Uprising

I presume that's why this western is not as lousy as we could have expected, because it was not monitored by the (In)famous producer Sam Katzman. If not, this would have been a garbage stuff. Katzman did awful things when it was question of westerns, period and costume movies; only in noir or crime domain, he did good things. So, back to this umpteenth time Geronimo story, the result is acceptable, bearable, despite the poor cast and budget. This is rather a pro indian western, nothing new under the sun, as we say in France. Producer Edward Small was actually not smaller but greater than Sam Katzman wuth whom this film would not have been the same.

A modest Western, not without interest, though I found the ending a bit too neat. Relatively early for Hollywood (1952), it recognises the Indians' case - it was their land in the first place and it was whites (miners in this case) who broke the treaty. If anything, it shows Geronimo to be almost too co-operative and understanding. And the Apaches are acted by authentic-looking non-whites, rather than having whites in make-up.

George Montgomery looks quite good in the role of the grandly-named Chase McCloud, but mid-film some of his wide-eyed reaction expressions are a bit comical.

There's a subdued love interest with Audrey Long, apparently in her last film in a low-key film career. None of the other actors were familiar to me, apart from Carl Benton Reid whose limited screen time didn't justify his high billing.

Cavalry captain Case McCloud finds himself in a perilous position when avaricious gold prospectors threaten to undermine the peace with the neighbouring Apache and their irascible leader, Geronimo.

An energetic little cavalry western starring the stoic George Montgomery as a cavalry captain knee deep in trying to quell an uprising is straight to the point, compact, with enough action and drama to keep you glued. Ray Nazzaro directs well.

There is nothing even remotely original about Indian Uprising which regurgitates themes and character types from countless Westerns that went before it ,but it remains a watchable movie aided by its brief running time (75 minutes ) and brisk direction ,which ensures the picture never outstays its welcome George Montgomery plays UC Cavalry officer ,Captain McLoud who is trying to keep the peace between Geronimo's Apaches on the San Carlos Reservation and the white prospectors who are violating the peace treaty by searching for gold on the Reservation .His endeavours are so successful that he becomes a threat to the businessman backing the miners that they have him suspended and replaced by the inexperienced martinet Major Stark whose bungling ,bull headed leadership soon starts a fully fledged war between the Apaches and the whites especially when the Apaches are falsely accused of murdering a miner.Mcloud must try to rebuild the peace in the face of enemies both civilian and military all the time while he is wooing the daughter of the local Indian agent and mentoring a callow young officer Lieutenant Whitley (played respectively by Audrey Long and John Baer)

The movie is derivative and John Ford's cavalry pictures are a direct inspiration .The troopers are "types" lifted straight from Ford and one scene in which the blundering Stark leads his men into an ambush is evocative of a similar scene in Ford's masterly Fort Apache but done with less style and a lower budget .

The acting is proficient and the movie will entertain Western devotees well enough despite some muddy colour and an original ploy .Professional and solid but no more

A typical Columbia cavalry picture, attractively lit in Supercinecolor by Ellis Carter; set in 1885, when dastardly white men are as usual scheming to take advantage of the noble Apaches.

Veteran Mexican actor Miguel Inclan (who a few years earlier had played Cochise in 'Fort Apache') here speaks entirely in his native language in the role of Geronimo as he eventually reaches a rapprochement with square-jawed hero George Montgomery.