New Mexico

Good concept and execution overall - my DVD (Alpha Home Video) ran 77 minutes in B & W. Color would've made a big difference. Still, the characterizations of the lead characters were good for most, and the general plot execution held together well.

The filming locations around Gallup and Acoma NM echo Monument Valley. The focus on the legendary Acoma Pueblo (aka Sky City) in western New Mexico seemed to be accurate; the mesa-top village (in miniature long shots) was pretty well done as were the cliffside scenes of attack and desperate defense. Unclear how much fighting was actually filmed at Acoma proper, as it is a sacred site.

Normally it was the Acomas defending the mesa and village, rather than trying to assault troops on the mesa from below. *The Spanish had laid siege to Acoma Pueblo as far back as the 16th Century.

A note on the mysterious "Lincoln Canes." These were indeed provided to a number of tribes and pueblos, engraved "1863" and "A. Lincoln." They were a respectful recognition of tribal identity and sovereignty - just do a search for Lincoln Canes. Clearly the film is correctly alluding to an act of great significance to the Native tribes, while taking some license with the actual event. That's Hollywood...

The great cast here, including Ayers, Maxwell, Divine, and Conried cannot save this predictable and routine Western effort. All the stereo-types are here, the fallen woman, the honor-bound Cavalry Captain and comic relief, but none of it seems to work well. The ending attempts to be different, but by that time the viewer could not care less.

Cavalry Captain Hunt (Lee Ayres) is trying to promote good relations with the Indian chief Acoma. But Hunt's superiors in the military insist on pursuing policies that will provoke a conflict, and Chief Acoma is not willing to let himself be insulted, not when two of his braves get shot ...

Which means the Cavalry and injuns clash, hence there's some good action sequences, which comes after much build-up. The action scenes are well-staged and frantic. There's plenty of mountain climbing, grit and the plot is loaded with enough drama and action to keep things interesting. Lee Ayres delivers a good performance as the captain who is struggling to keep his superiors from showing injustice to the Indians. Nice opening with Abe Lincoln and the chief signing a treaty. The locations are breathtaking. The ending is quite surprising- doesn't end as one would expect. Similar elements were later repeated 1953's excellent the Last of the Comanches such the hidden guns, the Indian leading Marilyn Maxwell to water.

"New Mexico" is a fair cavalry-versus-Indians movie that could have been better. It has a good cast and provides a couple good moments, but a routine script and a rather stereotyped set of characters keep it from realizing its potential.

Lew Ayres, a fine actor, has the lead role of the cavalry's Captain Hunt, and the rest of a good cast is highlighted by Andy Devine, Raymond Burr, Marilyn Maxwell, and Ted De Corsia. Unfortunately, most of their characters are not given much depth, and they do not have much dialogue to work with either.

The lack of depth of Captain Hunt is the most important, as the other characters are primarily defined in terms of their relationship with him. At the beginning, he seems to be developing as an interesting character. He is present at a meeting between President Lincoln and Chief Acoma (De Corsia), and seems to be sympathetic with the problems that Acoma's people face after Lincoln's untimely death, even defying for a while his insensitive and boorish military superiors. But when the inevitable conflict breaks out, Ayres is just given some stereotyped lines about how the Indians ought not to resort to violence. Likewise, Acoma, as the leader of the uprising, is a thoroughly conventional character, although at least portrayed with some degree of sympathy.

There are some decent action sequences, and a couple of creative touches in the battle scenes, but it is likely that "New Mexico" will be of interest mainly to those who enjoy any and all Westerns.

The movie centers on a strong clear plot structure strongly defined in the beginning. The story progresses to a seige, where pure character takes over the plot as the main element that defines the fine quality of this movie. For some reason I did not know at the time, I loved this movie as a child. Later in theater I learned the quality aspects that New Mexico writers and actors used. I wish it was available in DVD or VHS.