Le Sorcier du Rio Grande

Arrowhead is one of that batch of films that Charlton Heston did between his two DeMille pictures, some good, some mediocre. Arrowhead kind of falls between both categories.

It is one of the most uncompromising films in terms of the place of the American Indian. It's point is that the more we get rid of, the more room for the whites. So either pack 'em off to reservations or kill them. At least Charlton Heston's character feels that way.

Now there apparently is some justification for Heston's feelings at least as far as this group of Apaches are concerned. He was raised among them and knows them well. And knows that the young warrior prince. Jack Palance, is not going to go quietly off to a reservation.

None of which is really explored in the finished product. I have the feeling the editors left a lot of this film on the cutting room floor. Also Heston's relationship with Katy Jurado who acts as a spy while living without benefit of clergy with him is similarly untouched. But for that I blame the Code. What there is is quite daring for its time.

The ending is kind of silly also. When he has the drop on Palance, Palance asks Heston why he doesn't shoot him. Good question Jack, I can't figure it out either. More I won't say.

The film was shot on location in Texas and done very well. Palance, fresh off the acclaim he received from Shane, has the best role in the film. This is also an early film for Brian Keith and he acquits himself well as a young cavalry officer.

But Arrowhead could have been a whole lot better.

Ed Bannon (Charlton Heston) is a no-nonsense scout at Fort Clark, Texas, who used to live with the Apaches. He is suspicious when the son of the chief, Toriano (Jack Palance), is returning from his education back East at the same time the Chiricahuas are meeting the U.S. Army. He solemnly warns that they will not peaceably be shipped off to Florida. Brian Keith plays the new commanding officer of the fort in his feature film debut. Katy Jurado and Mary Sinclair are also on hand.

"Arrowhead" (1953) was based on W.R. Burnett's novel wherein the author patterned Ed Bannon (Heston) after the real-life Albert Sieber. Meanwhile the film was shot at the actual Fort Clark in Brackettville, Texas. As such, it has some authenticity in its favor even while a bit marred by the dated style of its era. The problem is some people don't want ugly reality, but rather political correctness.

I don't get what the problem is. Bannon is understandably cheerless in a tense life-or-death situation while the Chiricahuas are depicted as formidable warriors who are willing to fight to the death. The movie portrays the culmination of the Indian Wars (as far as the Apaches go) in a fictitious story backed by factual material and it's not pleasant, but rather grim and brutal. It was the Indian WARS, after all, not the Indian love-in.

The film runs 1 hour, 45 minutes.

GRADE: B

Underrated classic made so by the outstanding performances by Jack Palance, and Charlton Heston. A little slow in the beginning but it once it discards the obligatory love interest, which isn't really needed, the movie focuses on the compelling aspect of the movie, which is the rivalry between Palance and Heston's characters.

Worth a look!

As opposed to the politically correct people here, i think this movie portrays the Indian more realistic than the politically correct image will have it. Fact is it wasn't only the white man who broke treaties and peace initiatives. It's not good to show this down the politically correct memory hole. That's why I think this kind of movies are important and should of course be shown on TV. Of course, I wholeheartedly disagree with the notion that this movie should be banned like some reviewers have hinted upon.

A strong performance by Palance and a fine Heston plus a very interesting storyline makes this one of my favorites.

Paramount had a box-office hit with this fine cavalry-Indian adventure starring Charlton Heston. The dry, dusty adobe country of southwest Texas comes to life as the soldiers battle the Indians in several hit-and-run skirmishes until the troopers are forced to rely on a disliked army scout to rescue them from disaster. The picture doesn't explain why the scout, who was raised by the Apaches, hates them so much. The movie's theme of racial animosity against the Apaches is unpleasant for many viewers although the picture claims to be based on the life of an army scout. The film has great action scenes, believable characters, beautiful color cinematography and a brooding score by Paul Sawtell. Heston as the scout is well-matched against Apache leader Jack Palance and the supporting cast is solid, namely Brian Keith and Milburne Stone. In spite of its subject matter, this western was one of the best of the 1950s.