Seminole

Despite a far-fetched romantic triangle, "Seminole" is a solid early-19th-century historical drama that details the tensions between Florida's Seminole tribe and a U.S. military that is charged with dislodging them from their valuable land. Book-ended by the court martial of Lt. Lance Caldwell, the film relates in flashback the conflict between Caldwell, who has a knowledge and respect for the Seminole, and Major Harlan Degan, a martinet by-the-book officer who will stop at nothing to achieve his ends.

While Rock Hudson is acceptable in the undemanding role of Caldwell, Richard Carlson as Degan has the showier, more intense part, and he delivers a fine performance. The film's two Oscar-winning actors, Lee Marvin and especially Anthony Quinn as Osceola, the Seminole leader, are largely wasted in small, although critical parts. Lovely Barbara Hale as Revere has little to do but incongruously parade her finery and jewelry around a military fort; her romantic chemistry with both Hudson and Quinn fails to ignite. While Hale's splashy costumes, credited to Rosemary Odell, are eye-catching, the Seminoles have the more dazzling wardrobe; whether or not accurate, the actors playing Seminoles wear colorful, well designed outfits and headgear that at least suggest Native American attire. Cinematographer Russell Metty captures the vibrant hues of the costumes and the thick greenery of the Florida Everglades in glorious Technicolor.

Under the direction of Bud Boetticher, a veteran of several outstanding westerns, "Seminole" maintains interest, although action is secondary to dialog, and the climactic scene is borderline laughable for its timing. However, boasting a young Rock Hudson at his physical best, a script by Charles K. Peck Jr that throws some light on a forgotten historical episode, and a competent supporting cast led by Richard Carlson, the Technicolor film is a passable entertainment for most, but essential viewing for Rock Hudson fans.

I have been all over Florida, but have never seen anywhere so exotic looking as the swamp in the film where they paddled through. I have been throughout the Everglades and recognize similarities with much of the film's scenes. Though it is beautiful, I have never seen the unreal beauty shown in the film in the one scene where they are paddling. Where is it... exactly. Someone thought it may be someplace in Tarpon Springs. But, I have searched the internet for a place that might match it. Still nothing. There are plants in the scene that I don't even recognize. They look Floridian, but better than real. My suspicion is that it was what Florida looked like in a less touched era. It is so beautiful that I want to go there tomorrow. But where?

Most people, especially in the future, will see the credits, and miss a lot of the plot simply looking for the Professor. Russell Johnson barely appears.

This is a fairly decent adventure. It's tempting to call it a Western, but technically that would be hard to do. It's West of Europe, but the location of Florida is more of a "Southern".

Still, this is a basic Western adventure. We have the hero struggling against a thick headed officer in handling the local natives.

The truth be known, most Westerns of the golden era were like this, depicting the native Americans as basically honorable and victims of corrupt white men. Here, we get the super honorable natives, and a few honorable white men, trying to "do the right thing" with a few malcontents messing things up.

What sets this above the average "western" or "southern version of a Western", is the famous battle scene. This was one of the most dramatic skirmish scenes ever filmed. It involves about twenty five soldiers against hidden natives, who do appear from hiding to attack. It is well blocked, and very exciting. It ranks as one of the most memorable battle scenes ever.

The journey through the swamp is also well done, and dramatic.

Aside from that, the story is a little routine. Sme major stars, and a beautiful woman add to the attraction.

This is a fairly well done film, that should rank moderately over a "5" in a realistic rating. Not as slow paced as most modern movies, but not as fast paced as most golden age Westerns.

Setting the action in Florida land , 1835, and taken from the pages of history , a Cavalry lieutenant Lance (Rock Hudson) recounts his efforts to make peace with the Seminole Indian tribe led by chief Osceola (Anthony Quinn) , under the nasty Major Harlan Degan (Richard Carlson) . Army Lieutenant is assigned a dangerous mission by the evil Major , as they have to face the dangerous Everglades , quicksands and hostile Indians in order to reach safety and battle against risks . As Seminoles purportedly blocking the progress of White civilization . As the motley group throughout jungle swamplands during an Indian uprising . Lance must accompany the Major along with a regiment of soldiers into the Everglades to rout the Seminole Indians who are threatening the early settlers in Florida . After attacking a Seminole fort , they are betrayed then the command is forced to get away , but an injured Lance is rescued by Osceola and submitted to captivity .

This exciting Western packs thrills , noisy action , spectacular struggles and lots of gutsy adventure . Brawling , sprawling , almost primitive action, teeming across the screen . This is a distinctive frontier saga with a special look at uniforms evidently from an earlier age than ordinary cavalry fares . Budd Boetticher demonstrates a special talent for making the densest action sequences seem uncomplicated and uncluttered and his characters , like the scenes distinguished , often have an unfettered , raw power . As well as exploring the anguish of soldiers , the hard relationship between a disturbing Major and his troops and including jarring bursts of violence . This is a moving story about a surrounded garrison and director takes a fine penned script creating a cavalry-Indians tale that is far from ordinary , exploring the anguish and desperation of soldiers and a nutty Major . The characters are fairly basic , but a wonderful use is made of the Florida Everglades , though much of them shot in Universal studios . Thrilling nocturnal army attack on Seminole encampment which results to be a marvellously vivid piece sequence-building , thanks in no small part to slick camerawork by Boetticher . Budd makes the most of the visual contrast between the stiff-upper-lip collars and the swampy environments . Main cast is pretty well . Anthony Quinn gives the best acting as the Indian leader and Hudson's boyhood friend . Support cast is frankly good such as : Lee Marvin , Hugh O'Brian , Russell Johnson , Ralph Moody , James Best and special mention for Richard Carlson as unbalance-mind Major .It displays a glimmer and brilliant cinematography by Russell Metty, Universal Pictures regular . And a moving as well as charming musical score by Henry Mancini and Milton Rosen , though uncredited . The motion picture was well directed by Budd Boetticher who was a Western expert . His first Western was in 1949 called The Wolf Hunters, following Cimarron Kid , Bronco buster , Horizons West , Seminole, and Wings of the hawk . In 1956 with 7 Men From Now starts his collaboration with Randolph Scott, along with producer Harry Joe Brown and writer Burt Kennedy , including prestigious titles as Tall T, Decision at sundown, Buchanan rides alone , Ride lonesome, Comanche station , among others. His last Western was in 1969 titled A time for dying with Audie Murphy. Rating 6. 5/10 . The movie will appeal to Western aficionados and Rock Hudson fans .

The film is partially based on facts about Osceola (1804 - January 30, 1838, Asi-yahola in Creek) : Osceola became an influential leader of the Seminole people in Florida. Of mixed parentage, including Creek, Scottish, African American, and English, he was considered born to his mother's people in the Creek matrilineal kinship system. He was reared by her in the Creek tradition. When he was a child, they migrated to Florida with other Red Stick refugees after their group's defeat in 1814 in the Creek Wars. There they became part of what was known as the Seminole people. In 1836, Osceola led a small group of warriors in the Seminole resistance during the Second Seminole War, when the United States tried to remove the tribe from their lands in Florida to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. He became an adviser to Micanopy, the principal chief of the Seminole from 1825 to 1849.Osceola led the Seminole resistance to removal until he was captured on October 21, 1837, by deception, under a flag of truce,when he went to a site near Fort Peyton for peace talks. The United States first imprisoned him at Fort Marion in St. Augustine, then transported him to Fort Moultrie in Charleston, South Carolina. He died there a few months later of causes reported as an internal infection or malaria. Because of his renown, Osceola attracted visitors in prison, including renowned artist George Catlin, who painted perhaps the most well-known portrait of the Seminole leader.

Better than average drama with a decidedly pro Indian slant was one of the many films Rock cranked out on his way up, this was one of seven pictures he made in 1953. He gives a good performance, one of his better early ones, as the resolute soldier who is on trial for his life.

The cast is full of familiar faces most of whom were also just starting out and would go on to greater fame like Lee Marvin, in good guy mode here, and Russell Johnson. Richard Carlson is the sore spot in the picture, he starts out okay but ends up chewing the scenery in an over the top performance.

Barbara Hale was never particularly well served by films having much more success on TV as Della Street on Perry Mason nor is she very well used here but she looks probably the best she ever did on screen beautifully shot in Technicolor and as Revere Muldoon has one of the greatest character names ever. Not really a western, not even set in the west but Florida this is an enjoyable picture especially for military history buffs.