The Indian Fighter (1955)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

André De Toth

Writers:

Robert L. Richards (story)
Frank Davis (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

20 April 1956 (West Germany)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

The Indian Fighter and the Girl...a love as fierce as a fire arrow!

Plot:

A scout leading a wagon train through hostile Indian country unwittingly gets involved with a Sioux chief's daughter.

Plot Keywords:

Wagon Train | Beautiful Woman | Fort | Hung Upside Down | Gold Ore

Cast

Kirk Douglas	...	Johnny Hawks
Elsa Martinelli	...	Onahti
Walter Matthau	...	Wes Todd
Diana Douglas	...	Susan Rogers
Walter Abel	...	Captain Trask
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Chivington (as Lon Chaney)
Eduard Franz	...	Red Cloud
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Will Crabtree (as Alan Hale)
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Briggs (as Elisha Cook)
Ray Teal	...	Morgan
Frank Cady	...	Trader Joe
Michael Winkelman	...	Tommy Rogers
William Phipps	...	Lt. Blake
Harry Landers	...	Grey Wolf / Captain Trask Attaché
Hank Worden	...	Crazy Bear / Guardhouse Keeper

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:PG | West Germany:12 (nf) | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #17674) | Sweden:15 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Bend, Oregon, USA

Company:

Bryna Productions

Trivia:

The casting of Onahti (the Indian girl) turned out to be much more difficult than first anticipated. Though there were a number of unsuccessful auditions, it wasn't until Kirk's wife Anne Buydens spotted a model in Vogue magazine that the production knew they had their leading lady. Her name was Elsa Martinelli, an Italian model on the verge of becoming an international star.

Goofs:

Continuity: Right before the Indians tie Todd to the tree with the intention of burning him, he's having a conversation with Johnny. During this conversation, Johnny's left arm repeatedly changes positions, from being stretched out against the tree, to holding his hat in front of him and back to stretched out against the tree.

Quotes:

Grey Wolf: There can be no friendship between Red Man and White. The fight is to the end. Ride back to your people. There is no room for you here.
Johnny Hawks: You've grown a big mouth since I saw you last, Grey Wolf, but I didn't come here to talk to a big mouth. I've come to talk to a big man.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in I soliti ignoti (1958)

Adventure western

This is an action packed western with lots of adventure and fun.

More than that, it gives the viewer three great stars-Douglas, Mattheau, and Chaney in a western conflict.

Douglas plays the hero, the Indian Fighter, which is itself ironic, since he really tries to battle for the Indians, whom are depicted much more honorably than the whites in this movie, as they are in most movies of the era, despite popular belief.

Mattheau and Chaney play two bad guys who take advantage of the Indians. Mattheau is the sneaky one who gains the trust of people, and for a while tricks people into caring. Chaney is the dumber thug, who it turns out is not nearly as despicable as Mattheau's character, and at least has some degree of honesty, but he's still a bad guy. Still, the true evil comes from Mattheau's character.

Franz is stoic and brings the necessary sad honor to the chief Indian role. Hale and other great character actors make this an added delight.