FORT YUMA
US, 1955, 78 minutes, Colour.
Peter Graves, Joan Vohs, John Hudson, Joan Taylor, William "Bill" Phillips, James O' Hara.
Directed by Lesley Selander.
This is a routine western, typical enough of the first half of the 1950s, an independent production unlike the many westerns that came, for example, from Universal Studios.
This is another film about an Apache uprising, the picture of the Apache under the rebellious young chief, the attack on the cavalry, killing the men, taking their uniforms, preparing to attack Fort Apache disguised as the cavalry – which they do.
In the meantime, there are race issues. Peter Graves, in an early role, is a hard man, antipathetic towards the Indians – although in love with his Indian scout’s sister. The Indian Scout wants peace and fights against his brothers and is wary about his sister’s relationship with Graves.
They are sent on a mission, accompanied by an earnest young missionary and the scout’s sister as well as an engaging older soldier, who can read quotes from the Bible, and the young fellow-soldier to whom he is attached. (It is interesting in the light of further developments, the intensity of the relationship, friendship and love, of the older man and the younger man, especially in death scenes.)
The film was directed by Lesley Selander who made a great number of westerns.
1. Familiar Western material from the 1950s? Cavalry, Apache uprising, raids and attacks, the putting down of rebellions?
2. The West, forts, the plains, the mountains? Action sequences, riding, Indian attacks? The musical score?
3. Fort Apache, Fort Yuma, the men, the officers, camaraderie, people living in the forts, the young missionary about to go on her trip to the Indian settlement?
4. The focus on Keegan, stern, his mission, superior officer, Keegan’s dislike of Indians, the confrontation with the scout? Intolerance? His love for Francesca? Her wanting to
go on the trip? The meeting with the missionary, arranging comfort for her?
5. The range of men, scouts going out, the man being surrounded by the Indians and killed with the arrow, the men poisoned at the well? Milo, his friendship with Taylor, wanting promotion, the texts from the Bible, the celebration of Christmas, the 23rd Psalm, the missionary helping him with the text? Riding, quoting?
6. Milo and Taylor, talking together, the final attack, Taylor speared, trying to crawl, Milo upset, his love for Taylor, trying to reach him, his death?
7. The scout, fighting against the Apaches, his belief in peace, his becoming disillusioned, the clashes with Keegan? Protective of his sister? Her going to help Keegan after the raid, her death, burial?
8. The Indians, the chief, hold over people, antagonism, observing the cavalry, pursuing them, the fights and deaths, taking the uniforms, the individual attacks and deaths, the final raid, the closing of the Fort gate, the men coming out, the final battle?
9. The deaths of the men, Keegan in the cave, the women surviving with the scout?
10. Coming back to the fort, the warning, in time, the cavalry attacking the Indians, defeat?
