Les flèches de feu

This whitewashed version of the story doesn't say much about the disastrous first attempt at the Jamestown colony but despite the whitewashing, gets most of the subsequent story right. Jody Lawrence is a beautiful Pocahontas but looks to be in her twenties rather than the teen she really was. Unfortunately the Indians, in typical Hollywood ignorance of the day, are all wrong, looking like Sioux or other plains tribes instead of the southeastern coastals. But the basic story of her critical intervention is well told. Dexter is rather wooden and is so upstaged by Robert Clarke (better looking, and better actor) as John Rolfe, that the title almost needed to be changed to "John Rolfe and Pocahontas" since she became Mrs. John Rolfe anyway. A nice tribute to the Native American lady and an interesting glimpse of the commemorative statue raised to her memory in Britain adds a nice touch to the film. Nothing was mentioned about the gallant lady dying very young in London, thousands of miles from her home after succumbing to a rapid bout of white man's consumption (tuberculosis) The print I saw retained its original glorious color which added much to the effect, as did the period costumes.

This independent production of the famous story coming out of Jamestown's founding released from United Artists plays like a combination of one of those educational films and a Grade C western. Even the Indians are made up to look like plains Indians instead the ones east of the Mississippi.

The story of how Captain John Smith was saved by Pocahontas pleading for his life is only the beginning here. Some upper class types who don't like the way Smith has taken over the leadership of the Jamestown colonists start trading ancient matchlock rifles with the Indians and later frame one of them for a colonist's murder. It's so dumb, I don't even think the Saturday afternoon kid matinée crowd swallowed this one.

Anthony Dexter who never quite got the career that playing Rudolph Valentino was supposed to bring him is Captain Smith and Jody Lawrence is Pocahontas. Douglass Dumbrille is an impassive and suspicious Powhattan and James Seay is the villain Wingfield who's behind all the nasty goings on. They all go through the motions essentially, I think they realize how dumb it was.

The Jamestown story actually deserves a good film. It was more disease and the elements in a new land that the settlers faced rather than the native inhabitants. Remember the Indians hadn't yet learned how grabby the white man was.

The story deserves a good film, but this isn't it. The Walt Disney cartoon had more going for it.

ANTHONY DEXTER (he played "Valentino", the silent screen matinée idol), is the nominal star of CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH AND POCAHONTAS but his wooden performance suffers by comparison to the just as attractive ROBERT CLARKE who plays John Rolfe.

JODY LAWRENCE makes a pretty Pocahontas but is somewhat unbelievable as the Indian maiden who saves Smith's life. ALAN HALE, JR. stands out in the supporting cast and DOUGLAS DUMBRILLE is effective as Powhatan

The Pathe color is weaker than Technicolor but the photography is still visually arresting and so are the sets and costumes. All of the familiar ingredients are here--the Indian attacks, the treacherous conspirators, etc.--but there is little character development between a series of Indian skirmishes with relentless attacks on the fort.

Trivia note: Has anyone noticed that JAMES SEAY, as a bad colonist who sells guns to the Indians, looks more like Alan Hale than Alan Hale, Jr.?

Action fans should get their money's worth. There's a final attack on the fort that is staged for maximum effect.

Summing up: A lean, sketchy, less inspired treatment of the story than many other versions that followed, including the Disney animated film, but pleasing enough in a simplistic sort of way.

You can of course prefer Terence Malick's THE NEW WORLD, made in 2007, also speaking of Pocahontas, but believe me, this adventure yarn is really worth watching. It is colorful, fast paced, well shot, edited and there were not so many films speaking of conquistadores. However you won't find many true details about historical accuracies. It's made to be fun, entertaining, and I think that on this point, the movie is excellent. Lew Landers was a good professional if he got enough budget. This petty fillms deserves to be watched for those who don't know it. It is definitely among the best of this B director.