Tomahawk - Aufstand der Sioux

Interesting western in that for a 1951 film, the white men for the major part are cast as the villains of the piece, continually ignoring earlier treaties with the Sioux and initiating aggressions that we understand will cause the Sioux to react aggressively themselves. The script also introduces a number of historical figures and incidents into the storyline, though plenty of liberties are taken with this "timeline" to ensure a smooth and dramatic narrative. Van Heflin was a good choice to play mountain man Jim Bridger, a real life character (who pops up in The Revenant) although he is roughly 20 years younger in the film's set time period, than he actually would have been. Engaging too, to note his character doesn't wear a gun and I'm pretty sure doesn't fire a weapon throughout this film. I feel the movie had one or two sub-plots too many, though I would have appreciated seeing more made of the somewhat enigmatic Monahseetah character who accompanies Bridger in a supposedly platonic relationship. Pleasing to see a number of native Americans playing indians, (though not in Monahseetah's case). A final word is needed to reassure potential viewers that the film looks a treat in colour, even though apparently its budget wasn't large by any means.

Just found a video of Tomahawk at a yard sale. The filming itself was beautiful in glorious Technicolor! If you are a Western fan you will like this one, so give it a watch if you have the opportunity. Van Heflin played Jim Bridger the famous mountain man and scout. Mr. Heflin was a wonderful actor, but I think I would have chosen someone else to play the legendary Bridger. He just didn't seem rough and tough enough for the part. Maybe he did such a good job in Shane that I type cast him myself. Still, he did a very good acting job in this one. Good old Jack Oakie was the side kick and added the light touch of humor. His acting experience was always welcome in any movie. Another great character actor, Tom Tully, ran a traveling medicine type wagon show with Yvonne De Carlo as his assistant. I don't remember seeing her lovelier. Preston Foster as the always reliable man in charge as the commander of the fort. Alex Nicol played his part well as the bad guy (who kills Indians from hate). An early bit part for Rock Hudson as Hanna. By the look on his sleeve he was a corporal. Watch fast or you will miss him. Ann Doran was Preston Foster's wife Mrs. Col. Carrington, always a reliable actress (remember her as James Dean's mother in Rebel Without A Cause?) The very lovely Susan Cabot played an Indian girl who travels with Jim Bridger since her family was killed by the Chivington gang (Susan was murdered in 1986 by her son who suffered from dwarfism). Red Cloud was played very ably by John War Eagle. He was a veteran of many movies and TV work, mostly westerns such as Winchester 73, Annie Get Your Gun with Betty Hutton, Sgt. Preston, Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill Jr, Roy Rogers show, etc. Capt. Fetterman was played by Arthur Space a long time character actor along with Russell Conway as Major Horton another great character actor. It is just a good old fashioned Western with plenty of action. Don't worry about historical facts or get caught up in the old treatment of Native Americans debate. We are all aware that the Indians got a raw deal in many a treaty and that white, black and red people were murdered without reason. The movie is meant to entertain. Let it do its job and just enjoy the movie for what it is. Well worth watching!

A famous trapper by the name of "Jim Bridger" (Van Heflin) signs on as scout under the command of "Colonel Carrington" (Preston Foster) to assist him at a small fort in Sioux Country. While he has every intention of assisting the colonel, he also has an ulterior motive and that is establish if the killer of his Cheyenne wife and son is a cavalry officer named "Lt. Rob Dancey" (Alex Nicol) stationed at the fort. At any rate, rather than give away the entire story I will just say that this film turns out to be a pretty solid western, all things considered. While the acting isn't great and some of the battle tactics seem rather strange, the scenery was nice and the open terrain was definitely used to great advantage in the action scenes. Good performances were turned in by the aforementioned Van Heflin along with Susan Cabot as the pretty Cheyenne maiden named "Monahseetah". Likewise, Yvonne De Carlo did well as "Julie Madden" who happens to arrive at the fort en route to Virginia City. But in my opinion the best performance was by Alex Nicol who seemed perfectly cast for the part. In short, those who enjoy a good western probably won't be disappointed with this movie.

When the US breaks a treaty with the Sioux in order to access gold on Indian land, the specter of war looms.

Wow!—this may be the biggest big sky movie of all time. Those blue and white expanses almost swallow up the viewer in their awesome majesty. This is a really underrated Western that I expect got lost in Universal's crowd of Technicolor oaters of the time. But it's got a superior script that dares to put Indian rights on the same level as the settlers', plus outstanding photography and first-rate performances from Heflin and Foster. Then too, DeCarlo really looks good in Technicolor. Also, I detected only one exterior set—the Heflin- DeCarlo conflab in the forest. Pretty good for lower-budget Universal.

I'm especially glad they used real Indians in close-ups instead of the usual Hollywood types made-up to look evil. That way, the 'original Americans' are humanized, and we become more aware of the real costs involved in Winning the West. But notice, those good intentions don't extend to all the Sioux. Hollywood reverts to form by dressing up a comely white girl (Cabot) as the Indian maiden, instead of using a real Indian girl. At the same time, Monahseetah has few lines so a professional actress wasn't really needed. So draw your own conclusions.

The action is pretty much standard, except for the massed attack on the equipment wagons. There, the script makes clear that it's the white man's technology that triumphs and not his superior fighting skills. However, I wondered why the Sioux didn't attack in steady waves instead of in intervals that give the soldiers time to re-load. And catch that final scene in the fort. That's certainly no cliché.

I don't know how much of the story is based on fact, but however much, it at least makes you think. Anyway, this is a grandly scenic, gutsy Western, definitely underrated, and deserving of more than just a few scattered showings.

It's a spiffy little Universal 'shaky A' western, starring Van Heflin as Jim Bridger, and Jack Oakie as his sidekick: scouts, traders, and bridges between the Amerindians of the Old Northwest and the Washington government. Here's it's the Black Hills of Dakota, shot on site with some dazzling skies, thanks to cinematographer Charles Boyle. Preston Foster, as the local colonel, wants his fort and roads in peace, John War Eagle wants peace, and only renegade lieutenant Alex Nicol wants to wipe 'em out, and creates incidents; it's the sort of role that Heflin would have taken ten years earlier. With Yvonne de Carlo, Rock Hudson, and Susan Cabot.