Fort Yuma (1955)

A disgruntled settler kills an Apache chief at Fort Yuma, and the fort's commander knows that the chief's son, Manga Colorado, will seek revenge and go on the warpath.

Director:

Lesley Selander

Writers:

Danny Arnold (story), Danny Arnold (screenplay)

Stars:

Peter Graves, Joan Vohs, John Hudson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Peter Graves	...	Lt. Ben Keegan
Joan Vohs	...	Melanie Crown
John Hudson	...	Sgt. Jonas
Joan Taylor	...	Francesca
William 'Bill' Phillips	...	Sgt. Milo Hallock (as Wm. {Bill} Phillips)
James O'Hara	...	Cpl. Taylor (as James Lilburn)
Abel Fernandez	...	Mangas
Addison Richards	...	Gen. Crook

Storyline

A disgruntled settler kills an Apache chief at Fort Yuma, and the fort's commander knows that the chief's son, Manga Colorado, will seek revenge and go on the warpath. He sends word by a courier to Fort Apache where a supply column is due to head across the desert to Fort Yuman, but the courier is killed by Mangas. The column, under the command of Lieutenant Ben Keegan who hates Apaches because he doesn't trust them, and because his assigned scout is Jonas, the brother of an Apache girl, Francesca, whom Keegan has been having an affair with. Also accompanying them is Melanie Crowne, who is going to do missionary work among the Apaches. Mangas attacks the column wiping out everybody but Keegan, Jonas and Melanie. Francesca is killed while trying to warn Keegan, and he realizes how foolish he had been in his prejudice and in keeping his love secret. The Apaches, dressed in the uniforms of the dead soldier, plan to gain entrance to Fort Yuma and massacre the men there.

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Plot Keywords:

fort yuma arizona | yuma arizona | yuma territorial prison | territorial prison | prison | 

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Taglines:

Every Flaming Second of the Last Apache Massacre...And the Searing Love Story That Brought It to and End!

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite what another Trivia entry claims, the number of on-screen killings in the film was not reduced to 10 for censorship reasons. In fact, there are over 30 on-screen killings during the course of the film, of whites and Indians.

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Goofs

As the two troopers are being buried, the reflection of the key lighting is clearly visible in the bugle.

User Reviews

Men of Two Worlds

There's more talk than action in this well-mounted Technicolor Western programmer (set at Christmas, although it makes little of that fact) which could have just as well been called 'Fort Apache' - had that title not already been taken - since most of the story concerns the trek from one fort to the other through hostile Indian territory.

To complicate matters, blond, blue-eyed cavalryman Peter Graves hates Indians while drawn reluctantly to dusky maiden Joan Taylor, whose brother John Hudson attracts the interest of missionary Joan Vohs.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 October 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fort Yuma

Filming Locations:

Kayenta, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bel-Air Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1