Captain Apache (1971)

Director:

Alexander Singer

Writers:

Philip Yordan (screenplay) and
Milton Sperling (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

27 October 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

They Trailed Him...Tailed Him...Tried to Nail Him...NO WAY!!!

Plot:

Lee Van Cleef is the singing American Indian.

Plot Keywords:

Native American | Gun | Spaghetti Western | Train | 1800s

Cast

Lee Van Cleef	...	Capt. Apache
Carroll Baker	...	Maude
Stuart Whitman	...	Griffin
Percy Herbert	...	Moon
Elisa Montés	...	Rosita (as Elisa Montes)
Tony Vogel	...	Snake
Charles Stalmaker	...	O'Rourke (as Charles Stalnaker)
Charly Bravo	...	Sanchez (as Charlie Bravo)
Faith Clift	...	Abigail
D. Pollock	...	Ben
Dan van Husen	...	Al (as Dan Van Husen)
Hugh McDermott	...	Gen. Ryland
George Margo	...	Sheriff
José Bódalo	...	General (as Jose Bodalo)
Elsa Zabala	...	Witch
Allen Russell	...	Maitre d'
Carl Rapp
Bud Strait
X Brands
Ricardo Palacios	...	Sergeant
Milo Quesada
Bruce M. Fischer
Eric Chapman
J. Radlowsky
Fernando Sánchez Polack	...	Guitarist (as Fernando Sanchez Pollack)
Dean Selmier
Per Barclay
Lucy Tiller
John Clark
Randy Gibson
Francisco Marsó		(as Francisco Marso)
Luis Induni	...	Commissioner Collier
Rupert Crabb
Vito Salier	...	Diablo
Antonio Padilla
Cass Martin
Cris Huerta		(as Cris Huertas)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jess Hahn	...	Father Rodriguez (uncredited)
Jay W. Jensen	...	Soldier (uncredited)

Directed by
Alexander Singer

Writing credits
Philip Yordan		(screenplay) and
Milton Sperling		(screenplay)
S.E. Whitman		(novel)

Produced by
Irving Lerner	....	associate producer
Milton Sperling	....	producer
Philip Yordan	....	producer

Original Music by
Dolores Claman

Cinematography by
John Cabrera		(photography by)

Film Editing by
Leigh G. Tallas

Art Direction by
Julio Molina

Makeup Department
Fernando Florido	....	makeup artist
Vicenta Palmero	....	hair stylist
Julián Ruiz	....	makeup artist (as Julian Ruiz)
María Nieves Ruiz	....	hair stylist (as Mª Nieves Ruiz)
Miguel Sesé	....	makeup artist (as Miguel Sese)

Production Management
Alejandro Perla	....	unit manager
Gregorio Sacristán	....	production supervisor (as Gregorio Sacristan)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Adolfo Aristarain	....	third assistant director
Miguel Gil	....	first assistant director
Martín Sacristán	....	second assistant director (as Martin Sacristan)

Art Department
Luciano Arroyo	....	design assistant
Antonio Mateos	....	prop master
José María Tapiador	....	design assistant (as Jose Mª Tapiador)
Jesús Mateos	....	property master (uncredited)
José María Tapiador	....	assistant art director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ian Crafford	....	associate sound editor
Jim Groom	....	sound editor
Antonio Illán	....	sound recording engineer (as Antonio Illan)
Enrique Molinero	....	mixing recordist
Mike Sale	....	sound recordist
John Salter	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Manuel Baquero	....	chief of special effects (as Manolo Baquero)
Derek Turner	....	special effects man

Camera and Electrical Department
Juan Antonio Aguilar	....	assistant camera
Julián Fernández	....	chief grip (as Julian Fernandez)
Federico G. Grau	....	still photographer (as Federico Grau)
José Mateos	....	focus puller (as Jose Mateos)
Gregorio Alonso Mayoral	....	gaffer
Ricardo Navarrete	....	camera operator (as Ricardi Navarrete)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Andrés Fernández	....	wardrobe master (as Andres Fernandez)
Charles Simminger	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Charlie Simminger)

Editorial Department
Carmen Alonso Collar	....	editorial assistant
Soledad López	....	editorial assistant (as Soledad Lopez)
Elizabeth Redstone	....	editorial assistant
María Carmen Taberne	....	editorial assistant (as Maria Carmen Teberner)

Music Department
Juan Márquez	....	musician: guitar solo (as Juan Marquez)
José Nieto	....	conductor (as Pepe Nieto)
José Nieto	....	music arranger (as Pepe Nieto)

Other crew
Eva Del Castillo	....	script clerk
Norma Gorcey	....	production secretary
Vicente Sacristán	....	production assistant (as Vincente Sacristan)

Production Companies

• Benmar Productions (uncredited)

Distributors

• Scotia International (1971) (USA) (theatrical) (presents)
• International Film Distributors (1973) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Regia Films (1975) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Movie Classics (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• JTC (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Geneon Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Pioneer Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Better Television Distribution (2006) (worldwide) (TV)
• Adria Filmverleih (1972) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Filmways Australasian Distributors (197?) (Australia) (theatrical)
• EastWest Entertainment (200?) (USA) (DVD)
• United American Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Capitán Apache (Spain)
Deathwork (USA)
The Guns of April Morning

Runtime:

89 min | Spain:94 min | USA:94 min

Country:

UK | Spain

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | UK:12 | West Germany:16 (nf) | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG

Company:

Benmar Productions

Goofs:

Anachronisms: After Captain Apache is captured by Griffin's men outside the telegraph office he's taken to a run down stone building. Behind the building, in the upper right corner of the screen you can see some sort flashing neon sign or billboard in the distance.

Quotes:

Griffin: Why do you always insult people who might kill you?
Capt. Apache: I like to see a man enjoy his work.

Soundtrack:

Captain Apache

Funniest Euro-western ever

One of my favorite Van Cleef spaghetti westerns--more TV-show in look than a feature film and Van Cleef goes against type. I'm not surprised that everyone here dislikes it. The movie is definitely an acquired taste. I saw it during its theatrical run and wish I could find a decent print on DVD. TNT used to run it, I hope the western channel airs it someday. The very funny script is a non-stop barrage of one-liners but played so totally straight and dry by everyone, Van Cleef, Whitman, Carroll Baker, that it works. I've read that the cast had a good time making Apache. The twanging guitar soundtrack is terrific--totally unlike the music composed for most Euro-westerns. I'd love to buy the soundtrack CD.