The Charge at Feather River (1953)

In Colorado territory, Miles Archer is asked by the cavalry at Fort Bellows to aid in rescuing two white women abducted by the Cheyenne and to provide security for the railroad construction teams.

Director:

Gordon Douglas

Writer:

James R. Webb

Stars:

Guy Madison, Vera Miles, Frank Lovejoy

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Guy Madison	...	Miles Archer
Frank Lovejoy	...	Sgt. Charlie Baker
Helen Westcott	...	Anne McKeever
Vera Miles	...	Jennie McKeever
Dick Wesson	...	Pvt. Cullen
Onslow Stevens	...	Grover Johnson
Steve Brodie	...	Pvt. Ryan
Ron Hagerthy	...	Johnny McKeever
Fay Roope	...	Lt. Col. Kilrain
Neville Brand	...	Pvt. Morgan
Henry Kulky	...	Pvt. Smiley
Lane Chandler	...	Pvt. Zebulon Poinsett
Fred Carson	...	Chief Thunder Hawk
James Brown	...	Pvt. Connors
Ralph Brooks	...	Pvt. Wilhelm

Storyline

The story involves an overland journey through hostile Cheyenne territory to rescue two white women captured by the Cheyenne. One has turned renegade and is not anxious to be rescued as she is about to be married to Chief Thunder Hawk. Vera Miles dies and the cavalry comes to the rescue in the nick of time by a stream called Feather River. Knives, arrows, spears and tomahawks all come flying at the audience. Frank Lovejoy discourages a rattlesnake with tobacco juice and even gets off a shot into the audience.

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Plot Keywords:

wilhelm scream | camp | campy | 3d | 3 dimensional | 

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Taglines:

Gallantry Never Equalled! Spectacle Never Before Seen!

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Second use of the iconic Wilhelm scream

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Goofs

In the final battle scene, there are three Indians charging the position. The Indian in the middle has his own reins, plus the reins of the rider on the left of screen. This is before they are fired at. Then, as the left-hand rider is shot, hangs on but then falls into the river, the central rider pulls his horse straight.

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Quotes

Miles Archer: I don't get it. Indians don't like to fight at night.
Grover Johnson, Artist: Why?
Miles Archer: Because if they get killed in the dark it'll always be dark in their happy hunting grounds.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Wilhelm Screams (2015)

User Reviews

I remember it well

I saw this movie in its original 3-D run in 1953 and never forgot it. Roughly based the actual Battle of Beecher's Island in Colorado, it's pretty exciting stuff. Some say that this is the movie that killed 3-D with Frank Lovejoy spitting into the face of the audience. I don't know about that, but I do know that I enjoyed it then and enjoyed it again recently on cable. And then, of course, this is THE movie with the Wilhelm Scream, made famous by latter day maestros such as George Lucas. No DVD version released yet...maybe in the not-too-distant future. The love story is sort of stupid and the comedy bits are not very funny, but I know I enjoyed it more than The English Patient, or just about anything that Merchant-Ivory ever released. I suppose the movie was produced to take advantage of Guy Madison's high visibility as TV's Wild Bill, very popular with the kiddies at the time.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 July 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Burning Arrow

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$3,650,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (WarnerPhonic/RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (WarnerColor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1