In 1872, Indian fighter Johnny MacKay is appointed peace commissioner for the California and Oregon territory but he faces tough opposition from the renegade Modocs led by their chief Captain Jack.
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Title: Drum Beat (1954)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Alan Ladd | ... | Johnny MacKay | |
| Audrey Dalton | ... | Nancy Meek | |
| Marisa Pavan | ... | Toby | |
| Robert Keith | ... | Bill Satterwhite | |
| Rodolfo Acosta | ... | Scarface Charlie | |
| Charles Bronson | ... | Kintpuash - aka Captain Jack | |
| Warner Anderson | ... | Gen. Canby | |
| Elisha Cook Jr. | ... | Blaine Crackel | |
| Anthony Caruso | ... | Manok | |
| Richard Gaines | ... | Dr. Thomas | |
| Hayden Rorke | ... | President Ulysses S. Grant | |
| Frank DeKova | ... | Modoc Jim | |
| Perry Lopez | ... | Bogus Charlie | |
| Isabel Jewell | ... | Lily White | |
 |
Peggy Converse | ... | Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
President Grant orders Indian fighter MacKay to negotiate peace with the Modocs of northern California and southern Oregon. On the way he must escort Nancy Meek to the home of her aunt and uncle. After Modoc renegade Captain Jack's group engages in ambush and other atrocities, MacKay eventually ends up tracking Captain Jack down and fighting him one-on-one to apprehend him. Written by Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>
Plot Keywords:
year 1872 | bare chested male | romantic rivalry | interracial romance | brother sister relationship |Taglines:
Only the fierce Modocs knew the terrible meaning of each beat of the Drum ! See more »Parents Guide:
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Manok: We find out if they start shootin'.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Final fight scene between Alan Ladd and Bronson was at Slide Rock State Park See more »Goofs
When the woman on the stagecoach is shot by a Modoc arrow, if you look closely you can see the filament wire used to "guide" the prop arrow to its target. See more »Quotes
Johnny MacKay: You think they're bluffin'?Manok: We find out if they start shootin'.
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
6 April 1955 (Japan) See more »Also Known As:
Delmer Daves' Drum Beat See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$1,100,000 (estimated)Company Credits
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The stronghold was actually in the lava beds of northern california, now a monument ... this indian war got strung out mostly because army resupply came over the mountains from medford by mule to the klamath valley ... the modocs were successful by inhibiting the resupply ... there is a book called the modoc wars that explains all .. filming done in an arizona location did not even come close to the actual north central california and south central oregon area where the real actions took place