Dragoon Wells Massacre (1957)

A cavalry officer, the sole survivor of an Indian attack, and a wagon load of prisoners travel through hostile Indian country.

Director:

Harold D. Schuster (as Harold Schuster)

Writers:

Warren Douglas (screenplay), Oliver Drake (original story)

Stars:

Barry Sullivan, Dennis O'Keefe, Mona Freeman

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Barry Sullivan	...	Link Ferris
Dennis O'Keefe	...	Capt. Matt Riordan
Mona Freeman	...	Ann Bradley
Katy Jurado	...	Mara Fay
Sebastian Cabot	...	Jonah
Max Showalter	...	Phillip Scott (as Casey Adams)
Jack Elam	...	Tioga
Trevor Bardette	...	Marshal Bill Haney
Jon Shepodd	...	Tom
Hank Worden	...	Hopi Charlie
Warren Douglas	...	Jud
Judy Strangis	...	Susan (as Judy Stranges)
Alma Beltran	...	Station Agent's Wife
John War Eagle

Storyline

A cavalry officer, the sole survivor of an Indian attack, and a wagon load of prisoners travel through hostile Indian country.

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Plot Keywords:

arizona territory | arizona | territory | apache territory | arizona desert | 

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 April 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dragon Wells Massacre

Filming Locations:

Kanab, Utah, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Allied Artists Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

Better than you'd think

Monogram Pictures changed its name to Allied Artists in an effort to change its image from that of a cheap B-studio. For the most part, it didn't really work. Allied Artists' product suffered from the same deficiencies that Monogram's did: shoddy production values, lesser talent--both in front of and behind the cameras--and a lack of originality in its stories. This film, however, does not fall into that mold. While the story--survivors of an Indian attack make their way across the desert to safety--may seem trite, what is done with it isn't. Director Harold D. Schuster, a former editor, is hardly a household name, but he has made several tight little B pictures (1954's "Loophole" is a first-rate film-noir thriller about a bank teller framed for a robbery), and this is one of them. Dennis O'Keefe does a very good job as a cavalry officer who survives an Indian attack, and must lead a disparate group to safety across the desert. They come across a group of traders who aren't exactly what they seem to be, and must band together with them for mutual protection. Jack Elam plays a gunfighter who isn't quite what he seems to be, either. There's a good musical score, Schuster handles the action scenes quite well, and there are some interesting plot twists. Altogether, a well-paced, intriguing little western, highly recommended.