War Paint (1953)

An Indian and his beautiful sister attempt to destroy a cavalry patrol trying to deliver a peace treaty to their chief.

Director:

Lesley Selander

Writers:

Fred Freiberger (story), William Tunberg (story),

Stars:

Robert Stack, Joan Taylor, Charles McGraw

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Stack	...	Lt. Billings
Joan Taylor	...	Wanima
Charles McGraw	...	Sgt. Clarke
Keith Larsen	...	Taslik
Peter Graves	...	Trooper Tolson
Robert J. Wilke	...	Trooper Grady (as Robert Wilke)
Walter Reed	...	Trooper Allison
John Doucette	...	Trooper Charnofsky
Douglas Kennedy	...	Trooper Clancy
Charles Nolte	...	Cpl. Hamilton
James Parnell	...	Trooper Martin
Paul Richards	...	Trooper Perkins
William Pullen	...	Jeb
Richard H. Cutting	...	Commissioner Kirby (as Richard Cutting)

Storyline

Lieut. Billings and his army patrol are ordered to deliver a new peace treaty to the Indian Commissioner, who is missing. They have nine days to get the treaty to Chief Gray Cloud or there will be war. Chief's son Taslik offers to guide them. But as their water runs low and conflicts escalate, they can't help wondering why Taslik is wearing war paint.

---

Plot Keywords:

cavalry | war paint | brawl | showdown | violence | 

---

Taglines:

Outdoor adventure that thunders across the screen!

---

Genres:

Adventure | War | Western

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 August 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Im Tal des Verderbens

Filming Locations:

Death Valley National Park, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bel-Air Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Elaine, My Sweet Elaine"
Music by Emil Newman
Lyrics by Johnny Lehmann
Sung by cast and chorus

User Reviews

Discipline breaks down

War Paint casts Robert Stack as a cavalry lieutenant with a mission to deliver a peace treaty, presumably a draft to the Indians. With Sergeant Charles McGraw, Stack leads a patrol to deliver said peace treaty. The chief's son Keith Larsen is to guide them through the rough desert country, but Larsen and his sister Joan Taylor have their own mission. They actually don't believe the white man's peace treaty, there's such an incredible track record on the subject and they're going to sabotage the mission.

Such stalwart characters actors as John Doucette, Robert J. Wilke, Peter Graves, Douglas Kennedy, and Paul Richards make up some of the patrol. When the water is sabotaged and the discipline breaks down the cast starts dying off for one reason or another.

I do have to say though why no one thought better of the fact that Keith Larsen was in War Paint as he started the mission I'm a bit perplexed at the writers for that.

War Paint gets pretty ugly at times as the men go off their nuts for lack of water and an abundance of heat. It's a gritty no frill western with great cinematography from Death Valley. It could have been a whole lot better though.