Captain Apache (1971)

A Native American born US Army officer, Captain Apache, investigating a murder, uncovers a presidential assassination plot.

Director:

Alexander Singer

Writers:

Philip Yordan (screenplay), Milton Sperling (screenplay)

Stars:

Lee Van Cleef, Carroll Baker, Stuart Whitman

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lee Van Cleef	...	Capt. Apache
Carroll Baker	...	Maude
Stuart Whitman	...	Griffin
Percy Herbert	...	Moon
Elisa Montés	...	Rosita (as Elisa Montes)
Tony Vogel	...	Snake
Charles Stalmaker	...	O'Rourke (as Charles Stalnaker)
Charly Bravo	...	Sanchez (as Charlie Bravo)
Faith Clift	...	Abigail
Dee Pollock	...	Ben (as D. Pollock)
Dan van Husen	...	Al (as Dan Van Husen)
Hugh McDermott	...	Gen. Ryland
George Margo	...	Sheriff
José Bódalo	...	General (as Jose Bodalo)
Elsa Zabala	...	Witch

Storyline

During the presidency of Ulysses S. Grant, the full-blooded Native American US Army Cavalry officer, Captain Apache, finds himself entangled in a well-planned conspiracy, while on a mission to investigate the death of the Indian Commissioner, Harry Collier. With his sole clue being the victim's cryptic dying words, "April Morning", Captain Apache will soon cross paths with the tough arms-runner, Griffin, as everyone around him who knows something about the puzzling case, eventually, ends up murdered. Is there an intricate plot and an even greater scheme of corruption behind those hideous killings? As the bullets start flying, the inquisitive Captain will shortly find out how deep the conspiracy goes.

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Plot Keywords:

president | presidency | locomotive | native | indian | 

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Taglines:

Take what you can. Kill at will.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Mystery | Thriller | Western

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Certificate:

GP

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was first announced for Yul Brynner in April 1970.

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Goofs

After Captain Apache is captured by Griffin's men outside the telegraph office he's taken to a run down stone building. Behind the building, in the upper right corner of the screen you can see some sort flashing neon sign or billboard in the distance.

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Quotes

Capt. Apache: I don't fight with freaks.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue:

"THE ONLY GOOD INDIAN IS A DEAD INDIAN" Paleface Saying

"THE ONLY GOOD PALEFACE IS A DEAD PALEFACE" Indian Saying

"LOVE THY NEIGHBOR" Source Forgotten

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Connections

Featured in Trailer Trauma (2016)

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Soundtracks

April Morning
Sung by Lee Van Cleef
Music by Dolores Claman
Words by Richard Morris
Guitar solo Juan Márquez (as Juan Marquez)

User Reviews

A lesser LVC Western, but still watchable.

Western star Lee Van Cleef is cast here in the title role, an Indian (!) officer in the Union Army. Clean shaven, wearing a toupee, and caked under more makeup than usual, Van Cleef is on the case when an Indian agent (Luis Induni) is killed. The agents' dying words are "April morning", and Van Cleef must solve the mystery behind this phrase. Among the characters he encounters are Griffin (Stuart Whitman), a gun runner, Griffins' fiancée Maude (ever lovely Carroll Baker), and a pair of thugs, Moon (Percy Herbert) & Snake (Tony Vogel).

The prospect of Van Cleef playing an Indian is the main drawing card of this decent enough but unremarkable film. It's adequately directed by Alexander Singer, a veteran of mostly TV, and scored well enough, by Dolores Claman, but it's also choppily edited, and the story (based on a novel by S.E. Whitman), isn't told in a particularly interesting way (despite the presence of top screenwriter Philip Yordan). What does help, to a degree, is a certain irreverence at times, and vivid location shooting in Spain. More squeamish viewers may appreciate the fact that it's violent without being particularly gory.

The mostly European cast is entertaining enough to watch. Whitman and Baker are fine, but "Captain Apache" is first and foremost a Van Cleef vehicle. He offers a typically stylish and charismatic performance, and, in one hilariously absurd scene, must suck in his gut when he's made to disrobe in front of an Indian chief.

Unmemorable overall, but it's still recommended if one is a fan of the star.

Six out of 10.

Details

Country:

UK Spain

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

27 October 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Captain Apache

Filming Locations:

Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Benmar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1