Fort Yuma (1955)

A disgruntled settler kills an Apache chief at Fort Yuma, and the fort's commander knows that the chief's son, Manga Colorado, will seek revenge and go on the warpath. He sends word by a ... See full summary »

Director:

Lesley Selander

Writers:

Danny Arnold (screenplay), Danny Arnold (story)

Stars:

Peter Graves, Joan Vohs, John Hudson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Peter Graves	...	Lt. Ben Keegan
Joan Vohs	...	Melanie Crown
John Hudson	...	Sgt. Jonas
Joan Taylor	...	Francesca
Abel Fernandez	...	Mangas
James O'Hara	...	Cpl. Taylor
William 'Bill' Phillips	...	Sgt. Maj. Milo Hallock (as Wm. 'Bill' Phillips)
Stanley Clements	...	Pvt. Cassidy
John Pickard	...	Capt. Santley
Addison Richards	...	Gen. Crook

Storyline

A disgruntled settler kills an Apache chief at Fort Yuma, and the fort's commander knows that the chief's son, Manga Colorado, will seek revenge and go on the warpath. He sends word by a courier to Fort Apache where a supply column is due to head across the desert to Fort Yuman, but the courier is killed by Mangas. The column, under the command of Lieutenant Ben Keegan who hates Apaches because he doesn't trust them, and because his assigned scout is Jonas, the brother of an Apache girl, Francesca, whom Keegan has been having an affair with. Also accompanying them is Melanie Crowne, who is going to do missionary work among the Apaches. Mangas attacks the column wiping out everybody but Keegan, Jonas and Melanie. Francesca is killed while trying to warn Keegan, and he realizes how foolish he had been in his prejudice and in keeping his love secret. The Apaches, dressed in the uniforms of the dead soldier, plan to gain entrance to Fort Yuma and massacre the men there.

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Plot Keywords:

soldier | revenge | massacre | tough guy | horse | 

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Genres:

Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 October 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Yuma eröd

Filming Locations:

Kanab Movie Fort, Kanab, Utah, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bel-Air Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was originally denied a seal from the Production Code Administration. Geoffrey Shurlock told producer Howard W. Koch that it contained "sadism and excessive gruesomeness". To get a seal, Koch reduced the number of killings from 24 to 10. Removed were scenes where a man is spread-eagled and torn apart by horses; an arrow impaling a hand to wood; and a scene depicting the bodies of hanged Indians, swaying from tree limbs.

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Goofs

Capt. Santley sending a message to the General orders Pvt. Cassidy to "step on it". This phrase, to go fast, came from foot pedals in automobiles and pressing down to go faster. It would not have been a phrase used in the wild west.

User Reviews

Bellow average B western in color

This is a B movie in color, and in spite of being directed by Leslie Selander who was quite an expert on westerns it is bellow average. Peter Graves is Lt. Keegan a man who hates the Indians, but has a love affair with the beautiful Francesca (Joan Taylor), who is a Native American. She is what is best on this film, where probably to make it in color they had to cut the costs so all the action scenes look very poor. Francesca's brother is riding with Keegan who does not trust him, and is disgusted by his sisters' affair. When he reprehends her saying this is no life for a woman, she answer that she also does not see herself walking behind a Native American husband. Joan Vohs is Melanie who does not have much to do or say.