DRUMS ACROSS THE RIVER

US, 1954, 78 minutes, Colour.
Audie Murphy, Walter Brennan, Lyle Bettger, Hugh O ’Brian, Mara Corday.
Directed by Nathan Juran.

Drums Across The River is one of those standard westerns made by Universal in the fifties, often featuring Audie Murphy. The emphasis in this film is between white and Indians and the villainy as well as the optimism of race relationships flowering into co-operation. Audie Murphy is very much at home in this kind of film and makes a sympathetic hero.

1. A good Western? A western concerning the frontiers and clashes with Indians?

2. A Universal B film of the 50's? Audie Murphy vehicle? The conventions of the frontier town, the Ute Indians and the clashes with the whites? Heroes and villains, the army?

3. Colour photography, locations, Western sets, Indians? Music?

4. The credibility of the plots the Western town, Colorado, the frontiers and wealth and poverty? The Brannons and their situation in the town?

5. Walker and his manipulation? The clash with the Indians? The villainy of Walker and his gang, Gary Brannon and his heroism?

6. Audie Murphy as Gary? Genial character, reputation of his father, his reaction to the Indians killing hie mother? Hie working for Walker and then reacting against him? His girl friend? His being framed by Walker after making peace with the Indians? His heroism as regards the Indians, visit with the Chief, participating in the Chief’s funeral? His about to be hanged? His vindication by attacking Morgan, by leading Walker and his gang to the Indian burial ground? A Western hero? His father in relationship to his son, knowing the Indians, the death of his wife, his not wanting Walker to succeed?

7. Walker as conventional villain? Business interests, devious methods and unscrupulous? His use of his gang, Morgan, the girl at the saloon? His violence against the Indians? Hie being killed? Morgan as the tough man of the West and his skill over Gary? Gary’s turning the tables? Walker's men and their fears?

8. The importance of the theme of white and Indian? The presenting of the Ute Indians with dignity, the Chief and hie son? Peace, the burial sequences? The final peace with the army?

9. The Western and the American heritage? Types of men and women in the West? Good and evil, law and order? Justice and its swift administration, evidence and people’s feelings? doing their judgment for them? Fear and survival and violence?

10. What insights into the West? The Indian theme as seen in later decades?