Apache (1954)

Refusing to let himself be re-settled on a Florida reservation, Massai, an Apache warrior, escapes his captors and returns to his homeland to become a peaceful farmer.

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writers:

James R. Webb (written for the screen by), Paul Wellman (novel) (as Paul I. Wellman)

Stars:

Burt Lancaster, Jean Peters, John McIntire

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Burt Lancaster	...	Massai
Jean Peters	...	Nalinle
John McIntire	...	Al Sieber
Charles Bronson	...	Hondo (as Charles Buchinsky)
John Dehner	...	Weddle
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Santos
Ian MacDonald	...	Clagg
Walter Sande	...	Lt. Col. Beck
Morris Ankrum	...	Dawson
Monte Blue	...	Geronimo

Storyline

Following the surrender of Geronimo, Massai, the last Apache warrior is captured and scheduled for transportation to a Florida reservation. Instead, he manages to escape and heads for his homeland to win back his girl and settle down to grow crops. His pursuers have other ideas though.

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Plot Keywords:

arizona territory | reservation | military | army | apache indian | 

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Taglines:

In 1952 - 'High Noon'... In 1953 - 'Shane'... And now - a different breed of man in a different breed of motion picture!";

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

There really was a renegade Apache warrior called Massai, who was a bloodthirsty killer renowned for stealing, raping and murdering. He did indeed escape from a prison train bound for Florida and made his way back to his homeland. It is, however, doubtful that he was six feet tall and had blue eyes like Burt Lancaster.

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Goofs

The corn wasn't corn at all but rush, an aquatic plant. You can see the difference between them. The plants have no cob.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Lt. Col. Beck: Do you think he means it this time?
Al Sieber: We'll see.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits: This is the story of Massai, the last Apache warrior. It has been told and re-told until it has become one of the great legends of the Southwest. It began in 1886 with Geronimo's surrender.

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Connections

Referenced in Aldrich Over Munich: The Making of 'Twilight's Last Gleaming' (2012)

User Reviews

Burt Lancaster & Jean Peters as blue-eyed Apaches

If you can suspend disbelief that Burt Lancaster and Jean Peters are Apaches, then this isn't a bad western. If you can't, well then there's gonna be a lot of low ratings posted here.

In 1886, Geronimo and his braves surrender to the U.S. Calvary in New Mexico and are shipped off to Ft. Marion, Florida. All except one, an Apache named Massai (Burt Lancaster) who begins a one man war against the whites.

Massai escapes from the train that is shipping the Apaches back east and makes his way back to New Mexico. From there, he attacks wagons, soldiers, bridges etc., making life hard for the authorities. He kidnaps Nalinle (Jean Peters) and takes her up to the hills with him while Indian scouts John McIntire and Charles Bronson hunt them down.

Massai finds an isolated spot in the high country and starts to plant a small corn field from seed he got from a Cherokee farmer (Morris Ankrum). He also gets Peters pregnant with child.

The ending scene in Massai's little cornfield is pure Hollywood. The action scenes are tight as we see Lancaster jumping from rock to rock as he picks off at least 10 of the Indian scouts that have him surrounded. But then as Massai is wounded and runs into McIntire in the cornfield, disbelief occurs and the conclusion seems tacked on in order to make a happy ending out of it. You'll have to see it for yourself.

Still, it's entertaining enough as it is. It's based on a true incident and Lancaster at least brings some dignity to his role as the noble warrior turned farmer who wants to be left in peace. It could've turned out a lot worse.

I give it a 6 out of 10 for his performance alone.

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 1954 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Bronco Apache

Filming Locations:

Agoura Ranch, Agoura, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,240,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hecht-Lancaster Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1