[go: up one dir, main page]

    Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    EmmysSuperheroes GuideSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideBest Of 2025 So FarDisability Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Le défi des flèches

Original title: Arrow in the Dust
  • 1954
  • Approved
  • 1h 19m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
550
YOUR RATING
Sterling Hayden and Coleen Gray in Le défi des flèches (1954)
Classical WesternDesert AdventureSurvivalDramaWestern

A cavalry deserter risks his life to warn and protect a wagon train from an impending Indian attack.A cavalry deserter risks his life to warn and protect a wagon train from an impending Indian attack.A cavalry deserter risks his life to warn and protect a wagon train from an impending Indian attack.

  • Director
    • Lesley Selander
  • Writers
    • Don Martin
    • L.L. Foreman
  • Stars
    • Sterling Hayden
    • Coleen Gray
    • Keith Larsen
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    550
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lesley Selander
    • Writers
      • Don Martin
      • L.L. Foreman
    • Stars
      • Sterling Hayden
      • Coleen Gray
      • Keith Larsen
    • 13User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos6

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast23

    Edit
    Sterling Hayden
    Sterling Hayden
    • Bart Laish
    Coleen Gray
    Coleen Gray
    • Christella Burke
    Keith Larsen
    Keith Larsen
    • Lt. Steve King
    Tom Tully
    Tom Tully
    • Crowshaw
    Jimmy Wakely
    Jimmy Wakely
    • Pvt. Carqueville
    Tudor Owen
    Tudor Owen
    • Tillotson
    Lee Van Cleef
    Lee Van Cleef
    • Tillotson Henchman
    John Pickard
    John Pickard
    • Sgt. Lybarger
    Carleton Young
    Carleton Young
    • Maj. Andy Pepperis
    Robert Bray
    Robert Bray
    • Cavalry Corporal
    • (uncredited)
    Iron Eyes Cody
    Iron Eyes Cody
    • Chief Rasacura
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Ingram
    Jack Ingram
    • Cpl. Demington
    • (uncredited)
    Rudy Lee
    Rudy Lee
    • Orphan
    • (uncredited)
    Carl Mathews
    Carl Mathews
    • Barfly
    • (uncredited)
    John Maxwell
    John Maxwell
    • George Owsley
    • (uncredited)
    Kansas Moehring
    Kansas Moehring
    • Tillotson Man
    • (uncredited)
    Artie Ortego
    Artie Ortego
    • Wagon Train Member
    • (uncredited)
    Rocky Shahan
    • Lem
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Lesley Selander
    • Writers
      • Don Martin
      • L.L. Foreman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    5.6550
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    7hitchcockthelegend

    The Laramie Redemption.

    Arrow in the Dust is directed by Lesley Selander and adapted to screenplay by Don Martin from the L. L. Foreman novel. It stars Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Keith Larson, Tom Tully and Tudour Owen. Music is by Marlin Skiles and Technicolor cinematography by Ells W. Carter.

    Bart Laish (Hayden) is an army deserter, a gambler and a killer, but soon he is going to get a shot at redemption...

    It's all very formulaic in plotting, yet there's some thought gone into the screenplay, whilst Selander wastes no chances to keep things brisk by inserting another finely constructed action sequence. Laish (a typically robust Hayden) finds himself in command of a wagon train, with soldiers and civilians, all now looking to him to stave off the wave after wave of Indian attacks, which interestingly sees the Pawnee and the Apache teaming up.

    Naturally there's trouble in the camp, not only via some suspicious business men whose motives will reveal a key narrative thrust, but also by way of Gray's Christella Burke. She wanders in from some Estée Lauder advertisement (we don't care, we love 50s Westerns!), and pulses quicken for protagonist and viewers alike. Thematically the narrative is honourable, with decent amounts of angst and tortured heroics. There's some nifty war tactics, plenty of splendid gun play, and of course there's a human redemptive beat pulsing away - just begging to be found?

    There's the usual "B" Western issues, such as weakly choreographed fighting between man versus man, dummies being flung over cliffs, and some average acting in support slots (not Lee Van Cleef, though, who is pottering around with menace). However, the Burro Flats location filming is beautifully photographed - in sync with Skiles' genre compliant score, while Hayden does enjoyable stern backed machismo, which plays off of Gray's sensuality perfectly, and Tully does grizzle to actually provide the film's best performance.

    One for fans of this era of Western genre film making. Not a waste of time. Good show. 6.5/10
    4damianphelps

    Its A Bit Mediocre

    A devotee of westerns I have watched some classics and disasters. Arrow in the Dust wasn't offensively bad but it does lack in most areas.

    A great western will have a great lead/s that you can root for or rally against. They hunt down the killer, complete the impossible drive or defend the town/farm/girl etc.

    Hayden lacks the charisma (in this film) to make you care about the cause and the supporting cast don't really fill you with a need to want them to get to safety.

    You feel indifference.

    The film has some good action along with some poor scenarios, the outcome being a sense of ho-hum.

    Watch it but be warned it won't stir your emotions :)
    searchanddestroy-1

    Sterling Hayden steals the film

    In this western Sterling Hayden has more or less the same role that Glenn Ford had in MAN FROM ALAMO, a deserter seeking to redeem himself. So, you see, this is not that new but still worth watching, and a not so bad movie from western specialist Lesley Selander, but not at the scale of SHOTGUN, my favourite and his best for me, who saw so many of his movies. This one however takes its promises in terms of action, excellent atmosphere. So, you can watch it without any problem, despite the predictable scheme, Sterling Hayden does more than his job, you won't be deceived. Lee Van Cleef in an early role as a supporting villain.
    8coltras35

    Angsty rough and tumble cavalry-wagon train western

    With the Indians about to attack a wagon train, deserter Bart Laish is torn between warning the cavalry or remaining on the run with many lives on his conscience - but then a daring though much more dangerous course occurs to him.

    An efficiently made B-western finds Sterling Hayden looking broody and acting angsty and suitably conflicted over running for the hills or warning the wagon train of impending attack. It has a redemptive type of storyline and it's done well with plenty of skirmishes, well-staged action and exciting moments in the backdrop of great location. Of course, there's stock footage, a dummy thrown over the cliff and the formula is working like clockwork, however that's minor criticisms. Personally, I have always enjoyed this good b-western, which delivers that neat 80 min of action, but I also found the story quite thoughtful, and the acting - even Sterling Hayden who I'm not too keen on - quite satisfactory.
    4LeonLouisRicci

    Lazy, Incompetent, and Routine…Only for Die-Hard Western Fans

    A Fine Actor, Sterling Hayden, seems to be Broken by the Blacklist, and is at His Worst in this almost Incompetent Western. The other Cast Members are not that good either.

    The Indians, with Blankets not Covering Up the Fact that They didn't use Saddles, are only On Screen for the Killing, and are Never Shown in Close-Up, making Them Disposable and Less than Human. "You know what Indians do to Women and Children.", is a Line in the Awful Screenplay.

    The Battles are Frantic and Bullet Ridden with a few Arrows Flying and couple Landing in the Dust to Justify the Title. Overall, a rushed and Routine, Low-Budget 50's Western (as if We needed more of those in the Decade).

    This will be an Embarrassment to Sterling Hayden Fans and despite the occasional good shot of Colorful Scenery, it is easily Forgettable.

    More like this

    Le Désert de la peur
    6.8
    Le Désert de la peur
    A Lost Lady
    6.0
    A Lost Lady
    Capitaine sans peur
    7.3
    Capitaine sans peur
    Il était une fois
    7.2
    Il était une fois
    Away We Go
    7.0
    Away We Go
    La Tour des ambitieux
    7.4
    La Tour des ambitieux
    Le faucon d'or
    5.4
    Le faucon d'or
    Carrie : La Vengeance
    5.8
    Carrie : La Vengeance
    Big Eyes
    7.0
    Big Eyes
    Assassin's Creed
    5.6
    Assassin's Creed
    Kansas Pacific
    5.8
    Kansas Pacific
    Collines brûlantes
    5.8
    Collines brûlantes

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Arrow in the Dust includes numerous wagon train and battle scenes from the 1952 movie La Piste des démons (1952). The shots of the wagon train going down a steep hill and several of the fighting sequences are obviously matches to the earlier movie. The most noticeable is when one of the pioneers is narrowly missed by an arrow.
    • Goofs
      About 45 minutes into the movie Major Pepperis has his pants leg cut off by Stella so that she can bandage his leg. Then he goes to solve a problem with one of the wagons. When he returns his pants leg is un-torn and his leg is not bandaged.
    • Quotes

      Maj. Andy Pepperis: Gambler, gunfighter and now deserter?

      Bart Laish: Yeah

      Maj. Andy Pepperis: It looks like you added coward to the list.

    • Connections
      Edited from La Piste des démons (1952)
    • Soundtracks
      THE WEARY STRANGER
      By Jimmy Wakely

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 30, 1964 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Emboscado
    • Filming locations
      • Burro Flats, Simi Hills, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Allied Artists Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 19 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Sterling Hayden and Coleen Gray in Le défi des flèches (1954)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Le défi des flèches (1954) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.