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?

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Plot Keywords:

trial | seminole indian | indian war | native american attack | u.s. army | 

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Taglines:

The flaming fury of the EVERGLADES INDIAN WARS!

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 October 1953 (UK)

Also Known As:

Die Rache der Seminolen

Filming Locations:

Everglades National Park, Florida, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,400,000, 31 December 1953

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Carlson claims Florida as part of the United States and indeed it was. It had been discovered and settled by Spain and then neglected. A few Brits came and introduced some rudimentary rules, but the Seminole were conducting raids over the border into Georgia. Andrew Jackson was ordered to put a stop to this. He did so by invading Florida and summarily hanging seven Brits. Spain subsequently ceded the territory to the US.

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Connections

Referenced in Drive-in Movie Memories (2001)

User Reviews

don't look for the professor

Most people, especially in the future, will see the credits, and miss a lot of the plot simply looking for the Professor. Russell Johnson barely appears.

This is a fairly decent adventure. It's tempting to call it a Western, but technically that would be hard to do. It's West of Europe, but the location of Florida is more of a "Southern".

Still, this is a basic Western adventure. We have the hero struggling against a thick headed officer in handling the local natives.

The truth be known, most Westerns of the golden era were like this, depicting the native Americans as basically honorable and victims of corrupt white men. Here, we get the super honorable natives, and a few honorable white men, trying to "do the right thing" with a few malcontents messing things up.

What sets this above the average "western" or "southern version of a Western", is the famous battle scene. This was one of the most dramatic skirmish scenes ever filmed. It involves about twenty five soldiers against hidden natives, who do appear from hiding to attack. It is well blocked, and very exciting. It ranks as one of the most memorable battle scenes ever.

The journey through the swamp is also well done, and dramatic.

Aside from that, the story is a little routine. Sme major stars, and a beautiful woman add to the attraction.

This is a fairly well done film, that should rank moderately over a "5" in a realistic rating. Not as slow paced as most modern movies, but not as fast paced as most golden age Westerns.