Apache Drums (1951)

A gambler is thrown out of a western town, but returns when the town is suddenly threatened by a band of marauding Apaches.

Director:

Hugo Fregonese

Writers:

David Chandler (screenplay), Harry Brown (from "Stand at Spanish Boot")

Stars:

Stephen McNally, Coleen Gray, Willard Parker

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Stephen McNally	...	Sam Leeds
Coleen Gray	...	Sally
Willard Parker	...	Mayor Joe Madden
Arthur Shields	...	Rev. Griffin
James Griffith	...	Lt. Glidden
Armando Silvestre	...	Pedro-Peter
Georgia Backus	...	Mrs. Keon
Clarence Muse	...	Jehu
Ruthelma Stevens	...	Betty Careless
James Best	...	Bert Keon
Chinto Guzman	...	Chacho
Ray Bennett	...	Mr. Keon

Storyline

A gambler is thrown out of a western town, but returns when the town is suddenly threatened by a band of marauding Apaches.

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Plot Keywords:

apache | gambler | punched in the face | thirst | reverend | 

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

April 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

Trommeln des Todes

Filming Locations:

Cortaro, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final film of producer Val Lewton.

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Goofs

The Apache are shown beating the drums with their hands, whereas they and all Native Americans used sticks or drum beaters.

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Quotes

Sam Leeds: Some men are makers. They got to sweat for what they want. I'm a taker. I got to be one.
Sally: You could be good and honest.
Sam Leeds: I saw my father work his heart out on a lathe in Bridgeport. He died young and he died broke. He was an honest man. I never want to be one.

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Connections

Featured in Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows (2007)

User Reviews

The Devil's Creatures.

Produced by Val Lewton, Apache Drums is directed by Hugo Fregonese and adapted for the screen by David Chandler from the book "Stand at Spanish Boot" written by Harry Brown. It stars Stephen McNally, Coleen Gray, Willard Parker and Arthur Shields. Music is by Hans J. Salter and cinematography is courtesy of Charles P. Boyle. It was shot on location at Red Rock Canyon State Park, California & it's a Technicolor production. Plot sees McNally as notorious gambler Sam Leeds, who after shooting a man in self defence, is forced to leave the town of Spanish Boot. However, outside of town Sam happens across a terrible scene that forces him back into town to warn the folk of an impending attack by the Mescalero Apaches.

The name Val Lewton is synonymous with atmospheric horror, the likes of Cat People, The Body Snatcher, I Walked With a Zombie and Bedlam, have carried the brooding Lewton production stamp. For this, his last film before he sadly passed away, we find him entering the realm of the Western. An odd coupling without doubt, yet as odd as that seems, the oddest thing of all is that the film manages to rise above its budget restrictions and come out just about on top. Working with his director, Fregonese (The Raid), Lewton has produced a final movie that whilst not oozing those eerie atmospherics he's known for, does have enough about it to make it of interest to Lewton completists.

Plot and narrative are simple, where on the surface it appears to be a run of the mill Western where the Indians are the bad guys, and the white man stand up to repel them. Yet to dismiss this as solely being formula fodder is unfair, for it has interesting characters, plenty of tension, a grand piece of action and a couple of genuinely haunting images. There's also some smarts in the writing, where racism and ethical principals are scrutinised. While the work involved for the final third of the film, as our group are holed up in a church awaiting Apache incursion, is of a very high standard. Here Fregonese and camera never leaves the room, as the town burns and the Apache chant and bang the drums, we along with the characters are left to our own imaginations, awaiting a savage death in semi darkness. It's a fine claustrophobic set up that's executed admirably. So why isn't the film better known and regarded, then?

To get to the good stuff you have to suffer the bad, quite a bit of bad in fact. Running at only 75 minutes the film just about gets away with its drawn out periods of chatter, much of which is mundane; especially where the love triangle is concerned. And the acting ranges from the effective: McNally (Winchester '73/ Criss Cross) & Gray (Red River/Nightmare Alley) to the solid-Shields (The Quiet Man/She Wore a Yellow Ribbon), but away from those three it's pretty wooden fare. Problems also exist with the colour, with low budget comes very basic Technicolor lensing, Red Rock Canyon is reduced to being a dull observer on proceedings and the fiery flames during the finale lack colourful snap. There's also the bizarre use of the song "Men of Harlech". Zulu aficionados (and I'm one of them) know the song well, and the use here in Apache Drums is the same as in Cy Endfield's film, only here it's performed in native Welsh; with the actors dubbed! It's a poor fit all round. History tells us, tho, that the defenders of Rorke's Drift did not sing the song, so it's a distinct possibility that the film Zulu owes a debt of gratitude to Apache Drums. Thank you Lewton and Co.

Good and bad every where you look in the film, but the final third swings it well above average in my book. A generous 7/10 rating to my fellow Western movie fans, 6/10 to the casual Sunday afternoon lounge lizard.