Il tenente dinamite

Westerns that feature a cavalry theme don't hold much attraction for me but this one managed to hold my attention. It has an above average story by William Sackheim that helps - an above average and hard working cast, with above average photography by D.O.P. the Award nominated Charles P. Boyle (Anchors Aweigh '45)

The DVD copy I was given by a friend is from the Umbrella series: Six Shooter Classics (they really must do something about that silly marketing title). Universal originally used the magnificent IB Technicolor process for this film but this disc is well below average (compared with Umbrella's earlier 'Tumble Weed' that looked perfect). Sound transfer is also below standard. Robert Sterling ('Roughshod' '49) is good as the Fort Commander, with good support from Ray Collins, Greg Palmer (Lee) and Joan Evans. Dennis Weaver does very well as the Indian chief with his motley Hollywood tribe. Music is mostly from the Universal stock library and offers little help. Audie Murphy is reliable as always in his way. Veteran director Frederick De Cordova keeps things moving and probably helped with the good dialogue (as he was known to do). Have certainly seen far worse.

This movie's would have been much better in black and white.All of the canvas painting of backgrounds would have looked a little bit real... maybe? It had to be tough on Murphy playing a fake soldier. I imagine the actors were in awe standing beside of the most decorated soldier in War World Two. Murphy's baby face always made it difficult for him to be taken serious as an actor. A real life liberal who was playing mostly conservative characters. This film is just a simple western in which the studios used Murphy to draw an audience. John Wayne was always in demand but I never could see why he, Wayne, who, to the surprise of many, avoided the draft while Murphy volunteered and was only 19 years old when he was given medals for his valor. Murphy died broke in a plane crash without ever reaching the stardom he deserved.

Taking place just prior to the start of the civil war, Audie Murphy plays a junior army officer who is sympathetic to the plight of the local Navajo Indians and is a good friend of Navajo chief Menquito. A new commanding officer who is from the south is appointed to the post who convinced by Confederate agitators to stir up trouble with the Navajo Indians and send Audie and large column troops out on wild goose chase so the Confederates can gain control of the western territories. Of course Audie gets wind of nefarious plot and prevents further bloodshed.

This film would be an otherwise routine "Indians unjustly forced to go on the warpath by scheming white men" story, had it not been for the Confederate conspiracy angle. Audie Murphy is well... Audie Murphy. If you like Audie Murphy (I do) you will like him here. If you don"t there is no reason why you should like him here. Robert Stirling and Joan Evans are unconvincing as Southerners. Their Southern accents vary through out the film. Film buffs will enjoy seeing many familiar faces in the cast (Bob Steele, Greg Palmer, Russell Johnson, Dennis Weaver and Ray Collins.)

An Audie Murphy Western from 1953. Murphy plays a cavalry officer stationed at a fort just before the outset of the Civil War. He is adept w/dealing w/the Navajos particularly the leader named Menguito, played by Dennis Weaver of TV's McCloud fame, but he continues to butt heads w/his superior officer, a transplant from the old South who has recently been joined by his self-righteous sister who has an axe to grind w/any natives (a telling episode occurs when the scout of the base is seen at her window & she raises holy hell). The noose is tightened when a shipment of rifles goes missing & the military higher-ups suspect the Navajos of the theft so Murphy dejectedly conducts an investigation, finds the missing arms & orders Menguito & his tribe to a reservation but Murphy suspects foul play & as his suspicions are deepened, a more insidious plot asserts itself putting all parties on the road to an inevitable clash. More heft is given to this particular story-line then the majority of Murphy's oater output & this one ranks as one of his best which deftly fuses action, drama & racism in a well told package. Along for the ride are Russell Johnson & James Best as Murphy's subordinates & a special mention should go to Joan Evans who's portrayal of an uptight bigot who changes her ways is very vivid & telling.

This is a passable western but no extraordinary, a routine cavalry versus Indians yarn with thrills, attacks, treason and fort assaults. A standard Western in which Audie and the US cavalry face off and defeat the enemy. Set 1961, New Mexico, earlier the American civil war with Lt. Jed, Audie Murphy, who really efforts to conciliate his troops and the local war-crazed Navajo tribe commanded by Menquito : miscast Dennis Weaver. But his attempts are undermined by the superior officer, Captain Lee : Robert Sterling and a racist commandant : Ray Collins. Along the way Murphy is sent to command a detachment forming a long column across Indian territory while are assaulted by Indians .There are some Confederate sympathizers who undertake dark machinations to Indians follow a warpath. At the end occurs the last flamingo stand at Fort Union . Against treason and Navajo fury, the US cavalry rides!

This is an acceptable, but nothing special Western in which Indians are coerced to go on war by scheming US commanders who try to gain control Southern territories when next to take place the imminent American Civil War : 1861 to 1865. The picture with various pacing threads was well starred by Audie Murphy, playing in his usual style as an officer who fights to prevent war tensions and quell the impeding battles while has a peculiar love/hate with the heroine . Audie was the most decorated soldier in WWII and performing his self-bigraphy : To hell and back. And he starred a lot of Westerns as Texas Kid, Legend of Sam Guard, Cimarron Kid, Sierra, Legend of Billy Kid, Apache rifles, Night passage, Posse from hell, Arizona raiders, The unforgiven, Red badge of courage, 40 guns to Apache Pass, Guns of Fort Petticoat, among others. Remaining cast formed by nice actors as a tough officer interpreted by Robert Sterling, his beautiful sister played by Joan Evans who falls for Murphy and Ray Collins as cunning commanding who attempts to trigger war between Navajo Indians and cavalry to his command as for the Confederates can gain control of the South territory. And support cast with plenty of familiar faces as Dennis Weaver, Russell Simpson, James Best, Gregg Palmer, Johnny Downs, Ralph Moody, Richard Garland , Bob Steele, Denver Pyle, among others.

It contains a colorful cinematography in Technicolor by Charles P. Boyle, but an allright remastering being extremely necessary. As well as thrilling and atmospheric musical score by uncredited Henry Mancini and Herman Stein. Well produced by Ted Richmond who subsequently to have an important career financing blockbusters as Salomon and queen of Sabah, Villa rides, Red sun, Return of Magnificent Seven and Papillon. The motion picture was professionally directed by Frederick De Cordoba, though with no originality. Cordoba was a craftsman who made all kinds of genres with penchant for comedy, musican and adventure, in films as Buccaner's girl, For the love of Mary, Bedtime for Bonzo, Frankie and Johnny, I'll take Sweden, He come the Nelsons. Rating 5.5/10. Passable and acceptable.