Just like Saturday morning at the movies. Former Confederate Captain Gene Autry goes undercover as a Seargent in the U.S. Cavalry. Ranchers are under the threat from Apaches. Two renegades, the Apache Kid(James Griffith)and Curt Railder(Phil Van Zandt)are leading the raids. Gene gets help from a scout, Shadrack Jones(Pat Buttram), in stopping the aggravating trouble. Plenty of action and interesting scenery...primarily filmed in Simi Valley, California. Gene of course gets to croon the "Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy" and "When the Campfire is Low on the Prairie". Also in the cast: Gail Davis, Randolph Mason and Kirby Grant.
9 Reviews
"When a man's mad, he doesn't think straight."
classicsoncall9 March 2014
Warning: Spoilers
After having reviewed well over five hundred movie Westerns, this being number seventy two for Gene Autry alone, I was surprised to see something I've never witnessed before - an outlaw shoots the gun out of the hero's hand! It happens near the end of the picture when bad guy Raidler (Philip Van Zandt) surprises Gene with a well placed bullet, right after shooting his former partner The Apache Kid (James Griffith). Then bad guy Apache/Johnny Corday saves Gene's hide by shooting Raidler, explaining - "He called me a savage once too often." It would have been curtains for Gene!
Up till then the story was a pretty standard one. Gene is a former Confederate Army captain, now newly appointed chief of Indian Affairs by Major Farrell (Roy Gordon) of Fort Forward. He starts out by getting on the wrong side of future Sky King, Kirby Grant, a lieutenant under Major Farrell who places Gene under arrest for not following military protocol. After Gene's identity is confirmed by the Major, the two men enjoy beating the tar out of each other in the Major's office.
The main story involves determining who's inciting the native Indian tribe to disrupt relations with the local settlers and the Army. Gene contends that the older chiefs want peace just as the ranchers do, but you know there's always a villain lurking around somewhere trying to gain the advantage. At the center of the trouble is the former Austrian military leader Raidler, employing The Apache Kid as his go-between with the Indians for his gun running scheme. I have to say, the casting of Griffith as the Apache Kid didn't really work for this viewer for a variety of reasons. Too tall, too thin, too colorful with his vest to go unnoticed while he was causing trouble with the locals.
Anyway, Gene's ruse in this one is to simply make contact with Apache's middle man Soma and convince him to attack the supply train coming in with Raidler's weapons. Along the way, Gene and Mason go at it a couple more times, Mason figuring he has to show up Autry in one of his own pictures. It's just not going to work, even though Smiley Burnette figures in one of the outcomes when he knocks Gene out by mistake. At least Mason was giving it the old college try; the object of his affections was the pretty Gail Davis, who didn't have a lot to do here, but wound up with the lieutenant to finish out the picture.
Up till then the story was a pretty standard one. Gene is a former Confederate Army captain, now newly appointed chief of Indian Affairs by Major Farrell (Roy Gordon) of Fort Forward. He starts out by getting on the wrong side of future Sky King, Kirby Grant, a lieutenant under Major Farrell who places Gene under arrest for not following military protocol. After Gene's identity is confirmed by the Major, the two men enjoy beating the tar out of each other in the Major's office.
The main story involves determining who's inciting the native Indian tribe to disrupt relations with the local settlers and the Army. Gene contends that the older chiefs want peace just as the ranchers do, but you know there's always a villain lurking around somewhere trying to gain the advantage. At the center of the trouble is the former Austrian military leader Raidler, employing The Apache Kid as his go-between with the Indians for his gun running scheme. I have to say, the casting of Griffith as the Apache Kid didn't really work for this viewer for a variety of reasons. Too tall, too thin, too colorful with his vest to go unnoticed while he was causing trouble with the locals.
Anyway, Gene's ruse in this one is to simply make contact with Apache's middle man Soma and convince him to attack the supply train coming in with Raidler's weapons. Along the way, Gene and Mason go at it a couple more times, Mason figuring he has to show up Autry in one of his own pictures. It's just not going to work, even though Smiley Burnette figures in one of the outcomes when he knocks Gene out by mistake. At least Mason was giving it the old college try; the object of his affections was the pretty Gail Davis, who didn't have a lot to do here, but wound up with the lieutenant to finish out the picture.
Movie "Indian Territory" vs. "Arizona"
myles_m21 July 2014
I watched the movie Arizona from 1940, starring Jean Arthur and William Holden.
A scene in the movie had a cattle herd being stampeded by Indians. William Holden had the cowboys turn the herd against the Indians. Later, the cattle were herded through the town.
In the movie, Indian Territory 1950, the same scenario was used by Gene Autry, to turn the stampeding herd into the charging Indians. He, also, convinced the owner of the herd to drive the herd through town.
Because I saw the movies on back-to-back days, it became clear to me the scenes used were exactly the same in each movie. Even the scene, of the Indian camp, before the stampede, were the same.
Is it possible that Autry "stole" the scenes from Arizona and used the same footage in his movie, Indian Territory? I saw nothing in the credits of Indian Territory, referencing the use of clips from the movie, Arizona.
A scene in the movie had a cattle herd being stampeded by Indians. William Holden had the cowboys turn the herd against the Indians. Later, the cattle were herded through the town.
In the movie, Indian Territory 1950, the same scenario was used by Gene Autry, to turn the stampeding herd into the charging Indians. He, also, convinced the owner of the herd to drive the herd through town.
Because I saw the movies on back-to-back days, it became clear to me the scenes used were exactly the same in each movie. Even the scene, of the Indian camp, before the stampede, were the same.
Is it possible that Autry "stole" the scenes from Arizona and used the same footage in his movie, Indian Territory? I saw nothing in the credits of Indian Territory, referencing the use of clips from the movie, Arizona.
Fudging the Mold
dougdoepke11 November 2014
Gene produced this entry, while Columbia distributed. I mention this because the programmer includes stock footage from Columbia that I'm sure they made available to Gene. It wasn't uncommon for budget productions to use stock footage for expensive scenes, and I'm sure shrewd businessman Autry did it in an entirely legal manner.
Anyhow, the movie is a better-than-average entry, with some unusual touches— for example, a longer run-time (70-minutes); Gene loses out more than usual; he shares good guy chores with Kirby Grant; and no buffoonery from Buttram in an unusual straight role. The plot's a fairly standard one where Gene helps pacify hostile Apaches and stop gun-running from an ex-Austrian nobleman and his half-Apache hit-man. There're lots of flying fists, but not much hard-riding or fast-shooting. There's also lots of striking desert scenery, along with a really good sing-along "Chatanooga ". Gail Davis doesn't get much screen time, but makes the most of what she has. All in all, I thought the programmer was an entertaining effort, breaking some of the standard matinée conventions.
A "7" on the matinée scale.
Anyhow, the movie is a better-than-average entry, with some unusual touches— for example, a longer run-time (70-minutes); Gene loses out more than usual; he shares good guy chores with Kirby Grant; and no buffoonery from Buttram in an unusual straight role. The plot's a fairly standard one where Gene helps pacify hostile Apaches and stop gun-running from an ex-Austrian nobleman and his half-Apache hit-man. There're lots of flying fists, but not much hard-riding or fast-shooting. There's also lots of striking desert scenery, along with a really good sing-along "Chatanooga ". Gail Davis doesn't get much screen time, but makes the most of what she has. All in all, I thought the programmer was an entertaining effort, breaking some of the standard matinée conventions.
A "7" on the matinée scale.
Not bad for a Gene Autry film
Johnboy122129 May 2011
In a sense, I agree with the previous reviewer. James Griffith is horribly miscast as an Indian. He's too tall, and too old to be classified as a "kid" (with a die-job and the proper makeup, Dick Jones would have been much better in the role). That said, this is one of the best Autry films, mainly due to the added action (outlaws actually get shot and die, instead of roped or getting their gun shot out of their hand). Most of Autry's movies were horribly benign, but this one is not. Even James Griffith gives us his best, even if he is miscast. Gene does some fine singing in this one, notably Chattanoogie Shoeshine Boy. Green Acres alum Pat Buttram is on hand, along with lovely Gail Davis. A good one.
on a lower shelf
KDWms8 May 2003
One challenge which these "singing cowboy" movies face is how the music fits in. In this case, I would say "tolerably." I also expect some comic relief, which Pat Buttram adequately provides here. Sorry, but James Griffith does not meet my expectation of an "old west" character. The storyline has Gene helping investigate Indian raids on a supply route. It's clarified that this is contrary to Indian conduct and that these renegades are led by a man who's half-white, working for a caucasian Austrian. Simultaneously, a cattleman and his daughter encounter difficulties settling in the area. When it comes to top-notch Autry movies, however, this is NOT an example.
Megalomaniacal Austrian
bkoganbing31 May 2011
Indian Territory comes right at the beginning of the paranoid Fifties as Gene Autry is pitted against a megalomaniacs Austrian bent on establishing an empire in our southwest. And he's going to use the Indians to do it. Is there no end to the dastardly schemes that movie villains have?
Phil Van Zandt plays the Austrian late Confederate raider and formerly of his Imperial Majesty Franz Joseph's Hussars replete with monocle and German accent. But he's not doing this alone. He's got James Griffith playing the Apache Kid, a most charismatic fellow, a mixed racial individual that the Indians do listen to.
Autry's on detached duty from the army to do this and has a running feud with Lieutenant Kirby Grant for rancher's daughter Gail Davis. It would have been nice to have given Grant a song here as the future Sky King of radio and television had a good singing voice as well. Would that were all that was wrong with the film.
The Indians, the young ones are made out as pretty stupid, of course not as stupid as the old ones who Autry gets to take care of the younger ones who are enamored of the Apache Kid.
But a megalomaniacs Austrian bent on conquest. Just where did they get the idea for that villain?
Phil Van Zandt plays the Austrian late Confederate raider and formerly of his Imperial Majesty Franz Joseph's Hussars replete with monocle and German accent. But he's not doing this alone. He's got James Griffith playing the Apache Kid, a most charismatic fellow, a mixed racial individual that the Indians do listen to.
Autry's on detached duty from the army to do this and has a running feud with Lieutenant Kirby Grant for rancher's daughter Gail Davis. It would have been nice to have given Grant a song here as the future Sky King of radio and television had a good singing voice as well. Would that were all that was wrong with the film.
The Indians, the young ones are made out as pretty stupid, of course not as stupid as the old ones who Autry gets to take care of the younger ones who are enamored of the Apache Kid.
But a megalomaniacs Austrian bent on conquest. Just where did they get the idea for that villain?
One of Gene's best for Columbia
corporalko23 October 2015
Warning: Spoilers
U.S. Cavalry sergeant Gene Autry is put on leave so he can investigate problems with Indian raiders. He meets Kirby Grant, Army officer, in the first scene, and they have a running feud involving several fights. They both also have eyes for Gail Davis, the female interest for the film. But they ARE actually on the same side, assisted by Pat Buttram as Gene's sidekick.
Kurt Raidler, an Austrian ex-army officer and arrogant aristocrat, is the villain of the piece, joined by James Griffith as an Indian who is a go-between for Raidler and the Indians in causing problems for the settlers.
There are some interesting twists in this movie, not the least of which is hearing Gene Autry speak the Indians' own language with them in a trick to find out key information about who is causing all the trouble. In the end, Gene and Raidler have a knock-down, drag-out fight, with Gene temporarily knocked out, and Raidler about to kill him with an Austrian army saber. Luckily, Griffith, who has been shot and apparently killed by Raidler, regains consciousness long enough to shoot and kill his assailant, saving Autry's life.
As this is a more unusual Autry Western than most, Gene seems to take more interest in the plot than in some, having more lines than he normally does. The fight scenes are well staged, too.
I notice that several of the other reviewers don't seem to like Gene Autry, OR his movies, in general. I wonder if they post reviews just so they can ridicule and belittle the Singing Cowboy. As to their ratings of his films -- usually not more than five stars, if that many -- I'd like to say: I've rated your reviews, folks, and I give them one point off one star.
Kurt Raidler, an Austrian ex-army officer and arrogant aristocrat, is the villain of the piece, joined by James Griffith as an Indian who is a go-between for Raidler and the Indians in causing problems for the settlers.
There are some interesting twists in this movie, not the least of which is hearing Gene Autry speak the Indians' own language with them in a trick to find out key information about who is causing all the trouble. In the end, Gene and Raidler have a knock-down, drag-out fight, with Gene temporarily knocked out, and Raidler about to kill him with an Austrian army saber. Luckily, Griffith, who has been shot and apparently killed by Raidler, regains consciousness long enough to shoot and kill his assailant, saving Autry's life.
As this is a more unusual Autry Western than most, Gene seems to take more interest in the plot than in some, having more lines than he normally does. The fight scenes are well staged, too.
I notice that several of the other reviewers don't seem to like Gene Autry, OR his movies, in general. I wonder if they post reviews just so they can ridicule and belittle the Singing Cowboy. As to their ratings of his films -- usually not more than five stars, if that many -- I'd like to say: I've rated your reviews, folks, and I give them one point off one star.
Indian Territory
coltras3524 February 2024
Set during the Reconstruction Era, the story finds Autry working as an undercover agent for the U. S. cavalry. His mission: to neutralize a former Austrian army officer named Curt Raidler (Phil Van Zandt), who is leading a group of renegade Indians on a series of destructive raids.
There's a fair share of fistfights, galloping action and shootouts as well as the songs, which keeps things interesting amidst the lumbering pace and the mediocre execution. Gene Autry does what he does, croon and draw his guns, but James Griffith as Apache Kid steals the show. He was very underrated actor who is an expert in playing slippery characters.
There's a fair share of fistfights, galloping action and shootouts as well as the songs, which keeps things interesting amidst the lumbering pace and the mediocre execution. Gene Autry does what he does, croon and draw his guns, but James Griffith as Apache Kid steals the show. He was very underrated actor who is an expert in playing slippery characters.
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