A THUNDER OF DRUMS

US, 1961, 97 minutes, Colour.
Richard Boone, George Hamilton, Arthur O'Connell, Luana Patten, Richard Chamberlain, Charles Bronson.
Directed by Joseph Newman.

A Thunder of Drums is a cavalry western, the type of story that John Ford liked to make in such movies as Fort Apache, Rio Grande. Richard Boone has a starring role as a crusty commander. George Hamilton, in an early starring role, is the ambiguous romantic hero. It is interesting to see Richard Chamberlain in his early Dr Kildaire days as a conventional western character and Charles Bronson, still years before stardom, is there in the Victor Mc Laglen-type comic role.

The film is colourful, if familiar.

1.Entertaining western? The western forts? Tension in the fort? The Indians? Battles, massacres? The American heritage?

2.Cinemascope and colour, the western locations, the life in the fort, action? Musical score?

3.The title, the relationship between cavalry and Indians after the Civil War? The focus on the Indians, the opening massacre, the group stalking the cavalry men? Apaches or Commanches? The opinions of the scouts, of the soldiers? The expeditions, the massacres, the pursuits, the tricking of the Indians, final confrontation? The film's comment on Indian-white relationships?

4.Maddox as the captain, gruff personality, with the men? His reaction to the massacres? His young officers? His dislike of McQuade?, the background of his lack of promotion, clash with McQuade's father? Sending out the expeditions? Discipline? His advice to McQuade?, riding him hard, the training? Getting advice? Porter and his expedition, Gresham? His being aware of the emotional tangles? The possibilities of drinking, pursuing the Indian women, becoming a good soldier? The dance, the aftermath? Going on the mission, Gresham's death? His strategy for trapping the Indians? His commendation of Mc Quade? Their drinking together at the end?

5.Mc Quade, his training, his father as a general? Arrival, the meeting with Tracy, their past? Being discovered by Porter - blackmailed by Hannah? His being out of place, the attack from Maddox? In training, his advice about the Indian lands? His background and growing up there? The tension with Tracy, the dance, his behaviour, Gresham's discovery? The expedition, Gresham's death? His relationship with the men, the fight with Hannah, friendship with the paymaster? The siege, leading the Indians to them, the final confrontation? Tracy's leaving, his final decision?

6.The young officers and life on the fort, Porter and his mistakes, reaction to McQuade? Gresham, his ability, his betrayal, his wanting to go to his death?

7.The paymaster, age and experience, friendships? Supervision of the troops, the money, their drinking, chasing the Indian women? His action, death?

8.Hannah, the comic type, his laughing, spying, drinking, fights, blackmailing Mc Quade, in action?

9.The women on the fort, Tracy and the marriage, coming from the East, her wanting to go back? In love with Mc Quade, the marriage to Gresham, preparing the dance, the dancing, her behaviour, her leaving? Helping with the girl from the massacre? The other women, wives, the elderly? Social life at the fort?

10.The little girl, the trauma of the massacre, her not being able to speak, Tracy helping her, taking her away?

11.The western themes of the fort, tensions in the fort, fighting the Indians? The American traditions?