Terra Selvagem

Famous frontiersman Jim Bowie is sent by President Andrew Jackson to make sure the terms of a treaty with the Comanche is being carried out. But another emissary has been bushwacked and the Comanches never got the new treaty. It's up to Jim with his trusty knife to investigate what's going on. Nefarious villains are after the silver that's on the Comanche land.

Of all the American frontier characters in our history, Jim Bowie has had the biggest whitewash. In real life this man was a slavetrader, a land swindler and all around frontier scoundrel. The knife he is credited with inventing was made probably to his specifications, but by someone else. He had a certain amount of charm as MacDonald Carey plays him here with, but definitely was not of good character.

Andy Jackson might have bought a slave or three for the Hermitage from Jim Bowie, but never would have sent him on a diplomatic mission. And the Comanches who were not a blip on the American frontier radar yet, would not have made a deal with Jackson if they heard anything about what happened to the Cherokee.

Maureen O'Hara got to create another redheaded spitfire character that she was doing in picture after picture at this point of her career. Will Geer as the other Jackson emissary probably has the best part in this film.

Average Hollywood western which has absolutely nothing to do with reality. But the kiddies might like it.

Western frontiersman , adventurer , and pioneer Jim Bowie (MacDonald Carey) was born in Logan County, Kentucky, in 1796 , here he travels to Comanche country, where the government accomplished a peaceful agreement with the indians (Pedro de Cordoba , Iron Eyes Cody , among others) , then he helps the Comanche people save their land from settlers . There silver has been found on their territory while the white settlers scheme to defy the agreement between the government and the Comanche in order to mine for silver on Comanche land . Later on , he meets Katie (Maureen O'Hara) who along with her brother (Charles Drake) seem to play leading roles in this incroaching on Indian territory . As explorer Bowie and his pal (Will Geer) fight against invaders who are encroaching Indian land and a hidden gang who is supplying guns to the mean colonists . The Wild, Wanton Fury of 1,000 Howling Savages!

A standard and routine oater set during the Indian Wars with the violent upheaval of brave Comanches as the white settlers living near by planning to attack the dreaded indians , although they know about that an agreement has been broken , then fear and violence spread throughout the land .This one shows a campy and entertaining glimpse in the Wild West in B-style , being based on a story by Lewis Metzer and screenplay by Brodney . Starred by a legendary role : Jim Bowie , who moved to San Antonio, Texas, in 1828 , battled for Texas' independence in 1832 and served as a colonel in the Texas revolutionary army. James Bowie died in 1836 fighting against the Mexican military commanded by General Santa Anna at the notorious battle of the Alamo along with Davy Crockett and Colonel Travis . Furthermore , inventing the Bowie Knife , main motif at the movie , as he teaches use and manufacture it to Indians . The film packs thrills , noisy action , horse pursuits , crossfire , attacks and it is fast-moving and enough entertaining . It's a medium budget film with acceptable actors , technicians , functional production values and pleasing results . Bursting with appealing characters, including decent filmmaking and interpretation . Passable acting by MacDonald Carey as the historical scout Jim Bowie who tries to keep the peace in the territory. Co-stars the gorgeous and attractive Maureen O'Hara . Along the way , she dances and sings some songs . O'Hara managed to spring from this ridiculous camp Oriental Adventure outing to stardom . Maureen played brave females in several Adventure/Pirate movies during the 40s and 50s in Universal Pictures , similar to Yvonne DeCarlo . As DeCarlo had recently been ill and lost a lot of weight, so much that the Universal producers decided to replace her with Maureen O'Hara . Maureen interpreted various Muslim girls in Simbad the Sailor , Flame of Araby and Bagdad . She also performed the daughter of a powerful lord in The Black Swain , a valiant aristocrat in The Spanish Main , a feared pirate woman called Spitfire in Against All Flags and a French countess in Trípoli . Later on , in 1952 she starred At Sword point as Musketeer Athos' daughter , an untamed Australian girl in Kangaroo and after that , the known Lady Godiva . Finally , she played her best films thanks to John Ford . Support cast is pretty well , such as : Will Geer , Charles Drake , Glenn Strange , James Best , Pedro de Cordoba , Iron Eyes Cody , William Fawcett ,and Ian MacDonald . There stands out the colorful and brilliant cinematography by Maury Gertsman . Being shot on location in Sedona, Big Park, Little Park , Red Rock Crossing , Arizona , and Yavapai County, Arizona . As well as a moving and thrilling musical score by Frank Skinner .

The motion picture was professional though middlingly directed by George Sherman in B-style , though has some flaws and gaps . Sherman made reliable low-budget fare for Columbia between 1945-48, then moved on to do the same at Universal for another eight years , where he directed ¨Tomahawk¨ and ¨Comanche territory¨. Sherman specialized almost exclusively in "B" westerns there , including the "Three Musketeers" series, which featured a young John Wayne. George directed lots of Westerns as ¨The Last of the Fast Guns¨ , ¨The Lone Hand¨, ¨Santa Fe stampede¨ , ¨Red skin¨ , ¨Chief Crazy Horse¨ ¨Calamity Jane¨, ¨Relentless¨ , ¨Treasure of Pancho Villa¨, ¨Comanche Territory¨ , ¨Dawn at Socorro¨, ¨Border River¨ , ¨war arrow¨, ¨The sombrero kid¨, ¨Rock Mountain Rangers¨, ¨Overland stage riders¨ , ¨Frontier horizon¨ , ¨Cowboy from Texas¨ , ¨3 Texas steers ¨ , ¨ Wyoming outlaw¨ , ¨Pals of the saddle¨ , ¨Outlands of Sonora¨ , ¨Santa Fe stampede¨ and many others . He also made occasional forays into action and horror themes, often achieving a sense of style over substance . The only "A"-grade films to his credit were two westerns starring John Wayne: ¨Comancheros¨ (1961) (as producer) and ¨The big Jack¨ (1971) . His last films were realized in Spain as "Find That Girl" , ¨The new Cinderella¨ and ¨Joaquin Murrieta¨. Rating : 5.5/10 . Passable and acceptable . Well worth watching

While the movie itself is just a standard western, the locations are absolutely beautiful, well worth watching the movie just for the scenery.

This little-seen quasi-Western from 1950 stars McDonald Carey as Jim Bowie helping his friends, the Indians, from an army of marauding white men out to steal Indian land for its silver. The action is set well before the Civil War, so it is improper to call this a Western, although on the meager budget this was shot on, there are plenty of classic Western outfits on display throughout. Carey is at his prime here, and makes for a virile and resourceful Bowie. An absolutely stunning and very youthful Maureen O'Hara is his feisty love interest, who initially is all for white folks taking over Indian land. She wears some silly outfits that look like they came from a Roy Rogers flick, but she also gets to wear at least one formal dress that shows off her distinctive assets. She also gets to put on quite a brogue, enough so that you might think you're watching THE QUIET MAN from time to time. All in all, a fun "B" flick of a type now long forgotten.

Silver has been discovered on Comanche lands. The U.S. government has reached a deal with the Comanches for mining of the land, but it seems that greedy locals want to make sure that they're not made aware of any agreement. The legendary James Bowie (Macdonald Carey) arrives on the scene, realizing that he's got his work cut out for him in trying to prevent hostilities from flaring. Among the characters that he meets are genial politician Dan'l Seeger (Will Geer) and the incredibly feisty local businesswoman Katie Howard (Maureen O'Hara).

Overall, this is a reasonably absorbing if also routine Western. It is beautifully shot, in colour, by Maury Gertsman. It treats its Indian characters with a modicum of respect, although it does take one out of the action seeing that Rick Vallin, playing Pakanah, is clearly white. A fairly short running time (76 minutes) and adequate direction (by George Sherman) help to make this pass the time agreeably. Certainly the big action finale is rousing enough.

The cast is the best asset that the movie has. Carey is an engaging lead. O'Hara is at her most fiery and ravishing as Katie. Carey and Geer have fine chemistry, and Geer, who steals the show, clearly has some fun playing a rather colourful character. Charles Drake is also good as Katies' brother Stacey. Other players include Pedro de Cordoba as Comanche chief Quisima, Ian MacDonald (the villain in "High Noon" two years later) as Walsh, film debuting Parley Baer as Boozer the bartender, James Best as Sam, and Glenn Strange as Big Joe.

There's nothing here that's really all that memorable, but it *is* entertaining.

Six out of 10.