La Fureur des Apaches

Apache Rifles is directed by William Witney and adapted to screenplay by Charles B. Smith from a story written by Kenneth Gamet and Richard Schayer. It stars Audie Murphy, Michael Dante, Linda Lawson, L.Q. Jones, Ken Lynch, Joseph Vitale and Robert Brubaker. Music is by Richard La Salle and De Luxe cinematography is by Arch R. Dalzell.

Murphy stars as Capt. Jeff Stanton, a cavalry officer in Arizona territory, 1879, who is assigned to bring to the reservation the runaway Apaches who have had enough of the greedy gold miners pillaging from their promised land. Originally driven by his hatred towards Native Americans, Stanton's cause is muddied when he starts to fall for half Indian Dawn Gillis (Lawson), who in turn is courted by Red Hawk (Dante).

By 1964 the conventional B Western was very much on the wane, with the theme of being sympathetic to the Native Americans having already been explored significantly in far better Westerns than Apache Rifles. Though it never hurts to have another one in any day and age, mind! Apache Rifles is pretty standard stuff, it's decently constructed and paced by Witney, who gets to show his talent for action scenes, Murphy is his usual affable self, even getting to put some emotion conflict into the portrayal, and exterior photography out of Mojave and the Bronson and Red Rock Canyons is most pleasing. It never quite hits the dramatic heights it aims for because the simmering love triangle often stops the picture in its tracks, a shame especially as some political shenanigans could have been explored further, while a quick about turn in the finale smacks of audience manipulation and comes off as a cheat. But it's inoffensive stuff for the most part, enjoyable for the right reasons within its low budget, even if it's just one for Murphy fans to tick off their lists, never to be seen again. 6/10

Apache Rifles (1964)

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In the Arizona Territory in 1879, Captain Jeff Stanton takes command of a cavalry unit tasked with returning the Apaches to their reservation. The Mescaleros Apaches, led by chief Victorio, have left the reservation and openly attacked farmers,gold miners and settlers who trespassed on their lands. During a skirmish, Captain Stanton captures Red Hawk, the son of the chief, and uses him to bargain for a truce. Stanton promises to chief Victorio to see that gold miners and settlers are kept off Indian lands. However, some greedy townsfolk and disfranchised gold miners plot to break the uneasy truce. They murder the Indian agent and blame the Apaches. They complain to Washington D. C. about Captain Stanton's negotiated truce. Stanton is replaced by Colonel Perry who intends to use a heavy hand in subduing the Apaches.

I noticed something unusual tonight. Although I have seen most of the films of most of the most famous American actors of the 1930s-50s, I actually have seen very few of Audie Murphy movies. Because of this, I really have no idea if he was a good actor or not or whether or not I'd enjoy his movies. I have seen a few westerns as well as "The Red Badge of Courage"....but not in many years. So, I searched YouTube and found his film...one of Murphy's later outings.

When the story begins, Captain Stanton (Audie Murphy) is given command of a company of Cavalry soldiers to capture a group of renegade Apache who, for some odd reason, don't want to live on a crappy reservation. However, to capture these men, the Captain orders his men to live much like Indians...eating what they find as they travel, going without sleep and being just as dedicated as the Apache. They eventually catch up with them...but the Apache voice their gripes to him...that gold prospectors were invading their reservation lands (which really did happen in the 1870s)! What's to come of this fragile peace? And, what is to become of the Captain and his less than enlightened views of the natives?

Like too many westerns of the 1950s and 60s, the major Indian characters are all played by white guys in makeup. I don't hate this so much for politically correct reasons as realism reasons....they just don't look like Apaches. I did appreciate, however, how they had the Apache leader speak Spanish instead of English, as the Apache often spent much of their lives in Mexico...not just the US. This is just a nice touch of realism. Plus, throughout the movie, the Mescalero Apache are actually the heroes.

So is the movie any good? Yes, though I was surprised that the story made the Captain a rather stereotypical 'Indian hating' guy. Fortunately, and what made the film so good, is that over time, the Captain did change his views...especially as he saw those in charge cheat the Mescalero AND the local miners did much to stir up the war...something that actually happened in real life, especially in the Dakotas when gold was discovered on Indian territory.

Overall, a most unusual film...and a movie that seemed very ordinary but improved as I watched. It's actually an excellent film and portrays the natives in a much better way than they'd generally been shown before this.

The "War Hero" who is a "War Hero" to War Heroes...Audie Murphy is and was Virtually Neglected by Movie Archeologists and Never Got Much Respect from the Professional "Critics' '.

Truth be Told...His Obvious "Screen Presence" and Acting was Always a "Work in Progress" for the "Medal of Honor" Recipient and the Most Decorated Soldier of WWII.

Audie Said..."Acting was a battle I never won."

His Movies, for the Most Part were B-Westerns, usually in Glorious Technicolor, and the Humble, but Troubled Man, Gave it His All and Delivered Highly Entertaining Movies,

that Always Made Money for Everyone Involved, and were at Least Average, "Bang for the Buck" to His Faithful Fans.

In this One, at the Start of the 3rd Act in His 50 Movie Career, is Not Flawless, it does Contain Irritating and Grainy Stock Footage, but the Remainder of the Film is "Spot-On" Concerning the On-Going Effort of Reversing the Indian Stereotypes,

Starting with "Broken Arrow" (1950), Ushering in a More Nuanced Portrayal, Showing some Respect for the Native American and Their Dealing with the Invaders and Their Evil Deeds, Stealing Their Land, Culture, and Displacement.

Good Performances All Around the Rousing and Engaging Story.

With Michael Dante as the Apache Warrior and Linda Dawson at the Center of a Mild "Love Triangle", as a Missionary Working and Living with the Apaches. L. Q. Jones (a Sam Peckinpah Friendly) is Feisty as a Nasty Villain.

All Audie Murphy Movies are...

Worth a Watch.

This is a serious-minded and sincere effort at presenting some of the difficult aspects of US-Native American relations in the old west, albeit through a Hollywood lens. It delivers above its low budget and features a remarkably lean script in a conventional style.

Massacres anywhere were extremely brutal in the 19th century and one is depicted in this film as is a Custer type of US army blunder. This movie is violent but it is depicted within the context of what actually happened in those days, and isn't gratuitous or exploitative.

Audie Murphy is very watchable with his undeniable screen presence and his strong war hero credentials. You know that he could really lead these soldiers to hell and back if necessary. In fact, he literally could. A love triangle is rather awkwardly shoe-horned into the movie featuring beautiful and soft spoken actress Linda Lawson (who is virtually forgotten nowadays). She is perfect as a compassionate activist endeavoring for progress on the frontier. Her gentle acting style works well against the believable controlled violence personality that Murphy was able to develop for all of his soldier roles.

Acting by the supporting cast is uniformly good and features the ultimate movie rabble-rouser L.Q Jones. Jones rouses a lot of rabble in this one.

This skillfully edited and filmed low budget movie is worth your viewing time.