Rifles 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.

Provoked by gold miners invading their homeland, the Apaches go on the warpath. Audie Murphy's cavalry captain brings about a peace that lasts until the murder of a new Indian agent is blamed on the tribe and the ruthless tactics of commanding officer (John Archer) make matters worse. Murphy turns from hating Indians to helping them and ultimately proposes marriage to Linda Lawson's half-breed.

A thoughtful western featuring a clash of cultures, a powder keg situation brought on by greedy miners whose heinous actions cause the Apaches to break the reservation and go on the warpath. Sounds familiar, but there's some nicely drawn characters, a very good cast ( Michael Dante is excellent as Redhawk and L. Q. Jones is quite nasty as the villain), and a bit more depth and an engaging build-up before the lead and arrows fly.

But it's the Audie's understated performance as an Indian-hating ( actually I wouldn't say he hates them, but is confused and bitter) cavalry captain that carries the briskly-plotted film. The action is sporadic with the narrative in the centre, however, when the action comes, it's stirring. There's a particular scene that is quite fresh: Audie and L. Q fight it out in the desert, then stop and duck as the Apaches rush by, and there's a point when they slip into a crevasse of a rock as they rush by again. Energetic western with a strong narrative that ends on a positive note.

The first of Whitney and Murphy's "Didactic History Trilogy" whereby they seek to re-educate the viewer on the American West. Probably the closest Hollywood ever got to Rossellini's TV and the polar opposite of the cartoon nihilism of Leone. Best scene: Murphy, always tortured by whiskey, uses whiskey to torture the bad. Audie Murphy gives a good performance in his role as Jeff Stanton, the captain who acts like he is in charge and is determined to stop the Apaches from causing trouble.

Elsewhere, Linda Lawson is respectable in her role as Dawn Gillis, the missionary who Jeff adores, while Michael Dante is decent as Red Hawk, one of the men who is captured, and L.

After an initial uprising against the Apaches has finally been put down, a cavalry officer by the name of "Captain Jeff Stanton" (Audie Murphy) makes a deal with the Apache chief "Victorio" (Joseph Vitale) that in exchange for returning to their reservation the U.S. Army will guarantee that white miners in search of gold will not trespass. Unfortunately, what Captain Stanton doesn't quite appreciate is the fact that few things stir up greed more than newly discovered gold and because of that some people are willing to do anything to get their hands on it. So if that means starting up another war with the Apache then that is what some of these miners are perfectly willing to do. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a solid Western for the most part which had an underlying message about racism that was difficult to ignore. And although Audie Murphy performed adequately enough, the film itself lacked the necessary excitement to qualify as anything other than a grade-B movie overall and because of that I have rated it accordingly.

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.