THE INDIAN FIGHTER
US, 1955, 88 minutes, Colour.
Kirk Douglas, Elsa Martinelli, Walter Matthau, Diana Douglas, Walter Abel, Lon Chaney Jr, Eduard Franz, Alan Hale Jr, Elisha Cook Jr.
Directed by Andre De Toth.
The Indian Fighter is a familiar western story, the Indians trying to be in peace with the whites, greedy goldminers upsetting the Indians and killing them, the lone Indian fighter who is able to make peace between whites and Indians. Kirk Douglas, a year before he was nominated for an Academy Award for Lust for Life as Van Gogh, is full of zest in the central role. A twenty-year-old Elsa Martinelli is introduced. Walter Matthau, in an early role, is one of the villains along with Lon Chaney Jr. Douglas’s former wife, Diana Douglas, is one of the pioneers in the trek west. Elisha Cook is a photographer in the military, excited by the prospect of photographing the west.
The film was made in Cinemascope, in attractive locations. Ben Hecht, the celebrated playwright, contributed to the screenplay. The film was directed by Andre De Toth, a director of many genre films including Springfield Rifle, Man in the Saddle, Day of the Outlaw. He also made the most famous of the 3D films of the 50s, House of Wax.
1.The popularity of this kind of western? Pioneering? The Indians? White treatment of Indians? Possibilities for peace? Goldmining?
2.The widescreen location photography, the forts, the mountains, the plains? The musical score?
3.Johnny Hawkes, his work as an Indian fighter, his friendship with the Indians, the initial encounter with Gray Wolf and Red Cloud? Hostilities and friendship? The gold prospectors and their greed, the violence towards the Indians? Johnny Hawkes and his love for Onahti? His friendship with Susan Rogers, the people on the trek, the young boy?
4.The Indians, Gray Wolf, his provoking problems? Crazy Bear and his helping the miners for drink? Red Cloud and his judgments, leading the Indians, the possibilities for peace? Onahti?
5.The military, the captain and command? The information coming in about murders? About the Indians? Attitudes towards the Indians?
6.Shivington, a villain, greed, gold, working with Wes Todd? Wes Todd and his double-dealing? Friendship with Hawkes? Work with Shivington? The report of Shivington’s death – and Hawkes bringing him in? The loss of credibility for the miners?
7.The travellers west, Susan Rogers, friendship with Johnny Hawkes, her son? His comments on action, the Indians, shootings? The various traders? Crabtree and his background of orchards?
8.The build-up to the confrontation, the pursuits, Gray Wolf and his hostility? The killings by Todd and Shivington?
9.The military and their thinking Johnny Hawkes a traitor, his going to the Indians, his being able to make peace? The point of a son with Onahti and Red Cloud and his having descendants both Indian and white?
10.A western of the 1950s? In retrospect?
