INDIAN UPRISING

US, 1952, 75 minutes, Colour.
George Montgomery, Audrey Long, Carl Benton Reid.
Directed by Ray Nazarro.

Indian Uprising is a short and small-budget western – but it tackles a large subject, the Apache uprisings, the role of Geronimo, the role of the military in trying to keep the peace and the final confrontation with Geronimo and his exile with the Apaches to Florida.

The film focuses on the man in charge of dealing with Geronimo, Chase Mc Cloud played by George Montgomery (a regular in small-budget features, Philip Marlowe in The Brasher Doubloon and later director and writer of small-budget television films). Geronimo is played by Miguel Inclan. One of the interesting features of the film is that the conversations between the Indians and the whites are all spoken in Spanish with a translator.

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, there was a change of attitude towards treatment of the Indians in films with such features as The Devil’s Doorway and Broken Arrow. This film follows in that vein. The whites express the traditional prejudices against the Indians, considering them as savages and less than human, exploiting the gold mines in the mountains, using the military to enforce the greed, the difficulties of politics and Washington and the orders for the military. It presents the Indians both sympathetically and unsympathetically. However, there is a lot of argument for the rights of the Indians. This was featured in several films about Geronimo (with Chuck Connors) and Walter Hill’s 1993 film with Matt Damon as the officer who negotiated with Geronimo.

The film is of interest in its presentation of the clashes between Indians and whites as perceived by Hollywood in the early 1950s.

1.Brief interesting western? Locations? Battles? Musical score?

2.The title, the reference to Geronimo, the Apache uprising, the clashes with the military? The actions of Geronimo – justified or not?

3.The film’s giving the background of Indian-white relationships? The harsh attitudes of many of the settlers, the greed of the miners? The lobby groups in Washington and the harsh decisions made by politicians? The administration of these decisions by the military?

4.Geronimo, his son and his son trying to ape his father? The other Indians and their following Geronimo? The miners and their confrontations, framing the Indians? The Indians not able to believe the whites? The possibilities for treaties? Geronimo, the battles, finally going to Florida?

5.The military, sympathy for the Indians, the harsh administration? The new commander?

6.Captain Mc Cloud, his attitude towards the Indians, following orders, his having to mellow? His friendship with Norma, her work as a teacher on the reservation? Modifying his views? His dealings with Geronimo’s son? With the miners? Fighting – and their reporting him to Washington for violence? His being relieved of his post, no promotion? The new commander? The build-up to the confrontation with Taggert? The killing of Old Sagebrush and making it look like an Indian murder? The build-up to the final battles, Mc Cloud and his fight with Taggert?

7.The miners, the claims, their rights? Sagebrush and the genuine miners? Taggert and the money dealers? Pretending to be on the side of the law? Double-dealing behind people’s backs?

8.An insight into the relationships between whites and Indians in the 19th century – in a modest film?