Ulzana's Raid (1972)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writer:

Alan Sharp (writer)

Release Date:

18 October 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Western

Tagline:

One man alone understood the savagery of the early American west from both sides.

Plot:

Report reaches the US cavalry that the Apache leader Ulzana has left his reservation with a band of followers...

Plot Keywords:

Apache | Scout | Cavalry | Torture | Native American Raid

Cast

Burt Lancaster	...	McIntosh
Bruce Davison	...	Lt. Garnett DeBuin
Jorge Luke	...	Ke-Ni-Tay (army scout)
Richard Jaeckel	...	Sergeant
Joaquín Martínez	...	Ulzana (as Joaquin Martinez)
Lloyd Bochner	...	Capt. Charles Gates
Karl Swenson	...	Willy Rukeyser (settler)
Douglass Watson	...	Maj. Cartwright (CO, Ft. Lowell)
Dran Hamilton	...	Mrs. Riordan
John Pearce	...	Corporal
Gladys Holland	...	Mrs. Rukeyser
Margaret Fairchild	...	Mrs. Abbie Ginsford
Aimée Eccles	...	McIntosh's Indian woman (as Aimee Ecclés)
Richard Bull	...	Ginsford (settler)
Otto Reichow	...	'Dutch' Steegmeyer (Indian Agent, San Carlos Reservation)

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:15 (re-rating) (cut) | Iceland:16 | West Germany:12 (f) (re-rating) | West Germany:16 (f) (original rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Denmark:11 (2003) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Coronado National Forest, Arizona, USA

Company:

Associates & Aldrich Company, The

Trivia:

Although technically not credited as such, Burt Lancaster was virtually a producer on the film, helping bring it to screen, taking points instead of an upfront salary and having a say in the editing stages.

Quotes:

Lt. Harry Garnett DeBuin: Where will he fight us?
McIntosh: He don't mean to fight you no place, Lieutenant. He only wants to kill ya.

A nearly perfect western you shouldn't miss

A small group of Apaches has just stolen some horses and left the reservation. Their number and immediate intentions are unclear to the commander of the nearest US Calvary outpost, but his youngest Lieutenant wishes to give them the benefit of the doubt according to his Christian philosophy.

The Calvary's scout is a grizzled, weather-beaten man played to perfection by Burt Lancaster. He knows exactly what the Apaches intentions are, and seems flabbergasted by the commander of the base for whom he serves. Nevertheless, he follows his orders all the while never missing a chance to foretell what will be the result of the Commander's delays.

The premise of this movie does follow the most cynical views that one people may hold for another, and there's no point in arguing their accuracy here. Different from many other films about Indian uprisings, at least this one attempts to explain the motives of the Apaches. To appreciate any film the premise must be "swallowed", but there are many who will not be able to keep it down long enough to enjoy the excellent writing, wonderful performances, and "not a frame viewed without purpose" editing and directing. I recommend this film completely and consider it an 8 out of 10, which I give to very few films.

Upon the first viewing this has become one of my favorite, if not my very favorite, western of all time. Not for the squeamish due to extreme violence to both people and animals.