Seminole (1953)

A cavalry lieutenant recounts his efforts to make peace with the Seminole Indian tribe, under an evil major.

Director:

Budd Boetticher

Writers:

Charles K. Peck Jr. (story), Charles K. Peck Jr. (screenplay)

Stars:

Rock Hudson, Barbara Hale, Anthony Quinn

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Rock Hudson	...	Lt. Lance Caldwell
Barbara Hale	...	Revere
Anthony Quinn	...	Osceola
Richard Carlson	...	Major Harlan Degan
Hugh O'Brian	...	Kajeck
Russell Johnson	...	Lt. Hamilton
Lee Marvin	...	Sgt. Magruder
Ralph Moody	...	Kulak
Fay Roope	...	Zachary Taylor
James Best	...	Corp. Gerad
John Daheim	...	Scott (as John Day)

Storyline

Having a welcome strategic expertise in both the hot and dank Florida swamplands and the local tribe of Seminole Indians, the brilliant and ethical West Point graduate, Second Lieutenant Lance Caldwell, is transferred to scheming Major Degan's Everglades outpost, in 1835. Supposedly impeding the development of white civilisation, the Seminoles must be expelled from their native lands at all costs; all that stands between the aspirations of the venomous commanding officer and the last of the Indian clans is Caldwell. Sooner or later, a dead sentry and a fiery clash with the men of the powerful Seminole leader, Chief Osceola, will stain the vast and impassable marshes with blood, as a strong-willed beautiful woman stands in the middle. Can Caldwell be the voice of reason and compromise?

---

Plot Keywords:

trial | seminole indian | indian war | native american attack | florida | 

---

Taglines:

The fighting story of the great Chief Osceola!

---

Genres:

Adventure | Western

---

Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Usually a government office has a picture of the current President. In Colonel's office is a picture of George Washington rather than Andrew Jackson who was President in 1835.

---

Connections

Featured in Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That (2005)

User Reviews

A little bit sterile, but still worth watching.

An extremely clean-cut Rock Hudson is a West Point graduate sent to help the Major at Fort King flush out some Seminole who live in the Floridian swamps. He has some history with the tribe, and it's leader - a rather unconvincing Anthony Quinn, so wants to try finding a peaceable solution to their relocation. Needless to say, they have no intention of being sent to a reservation and the battle lines are drawn. Add to the mix an intransigent by-the-book Major (Richard Carlson) whose only objective is to obey his orders - regardless of casualties; and Barbara Hale as the go-between between the parties and we get quite an enjoyable, if not particularly action-packed adventure story told by way of a retrospective at Hudosn's court martial for murder and treason. The photography is lovely, and the script and direction are sufficient to pass the time.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 October 1953 (UK)

Also Known As:

Seminole

Filming Locations:

Everglades National Park, Florida, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,400,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1