Apache battle on the black mountains
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Apache battle on the black mountains |
| Original title | Oh! Susanna |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1951 |
| length | 84 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Joseph Kane |
| script | Charles Marquis Warren |
| production | Joseph Kane |
| music | R. Dale Butts |
| camera | Jack A. Marta |
| cut | Arthur Roberts |
| occupation | |
| |
Apache battle on the black mountains (original title: Oh! Susanna ) is an American western from 1951. Rod Cameron starred and directed Joseph Kane. The German-language premiere of the work took place on September 11, 1953.
action
In 1875 the treaty for peace made with the Indians of the Black Mountains became increasingly fragile due to the discovery of gold. The territory of the Indians (contrary to the film title chosen by the West German distributor, it is Sioux who live in the Black Hills (plural); in the US original this is portrayed correctly) may not be entered by whites. The cavalrymen of a fort near the village of Dawson, under the command of Colonel Unger, have to oversee the observance of the agreement, which creates great tension with the civilians. Unger himself is a staunch Indian hater and was given command without West Point training only through the benevolence of some politicians interested in gold. He takes advantage of the post to make constant reproaches to the academy graduate Calhoun, an officer very popular among his soldiers; Unger is encouraged by the saloon owner Jordan, who sells the most modern weapons to the prospectors. The singer Lia Wilson, who works for Jordan, is an ex-lover of Calhoun, but is currently being raved about by Unger and the newly arrived Lieutenant Cutter.
It is not easy for Calhoun: his Indian scout drinks too much, quits duty after a dispute with the captain and is killed a little later by his tribesmen as a traitor; he also has to force the old prospector Ledbetter, together with his wife and son, to repent. When a replacement arrives, he only gets the two worst types from Unger, including Emers, who only thinks about deserting for the purpose of exploring the yellow precious metal, but whom he can later bring to his senses in a fight. When the Calhoun department goes on vacation to the Jordans saloon, a pre-programmed brawl breaks out, while the captain shuns the changed Lia with his advertising. After he was able to end the scuffle just in time, he escapes a troop sent by Jordan in the wilderness and can wound the loudmouthed gold prospector Rennie, who is protected from punishment due to false testimony from other civilians. The ball for the new officers is also a disaster because Cutter is late and the other ladies - above all a Mrs. Worth - refuse Lia. Calhoun's attempt to bring the despised home home is again stopped by Unger.
In order to finally force an advantage for the gold diggers, Jordan lets some white people masked as Indians raid a ranch. Unger then orders the entire crew of the fort to be deployed, with the exception of the men of Calhoun, who once again criticized this order. The latter's task of defending the military post becomes all the more dangerous when Unger marches north, while the smoke signals testify to strong warrior associations in the south. Lia, now repentant, comes to inform the captain that Jordan has sent some wagons with weapons and ammunition into the mountains. Contrary to his orders, Calhoun sets out to stop this small column, which he succeeds. But the Sioux (Apaches) have already attacked the fort, with such an overwhelming force that the department, which with difficulty passes the entrance gate, has little chance of saving the inmates and itself. On the orders of the captain, the women and children are sent to the ammunition depot, which is to be blown up in the event that the blue coats are defeated. Just as Calhoun's loyal Sergeant Barhydt is about to set off the explosion, the Indians suddenly pause, and Chief Pactola allows Calhoun, who has always stood up for contract loyalty, to leave with the survivors, but without ever returning. On the way the trek encounters Unger's soldiers, who were almost completely slaughtered. As he dies, he confesses the great mistakes he made with Calhoun.
Years later, in the German version, Calhoun returns to the now pacified Black Hills with the rank of colonel; In the US original, he rides - also promoted - to other arenas of armed conflict such as Powder River, Warbonnet, Wounded Knee and White Clay Creek.
criticism
The lexicon of international films saw a “Western from the pioneering days, exciting, but with a militaristic disguise.” Joe Hembus called it “a cheap imitation of John Ford's To the Last Man, which was written four years earlier ”. Bosley Crowther complained about the one-dimensionality of the characters.
Remarks
In the same year 1951, screenwriter Charles Marquis Warren made his directorial debut Deadly Arrows on the same topic (films about the defeat of Custer at Little Bighorn) .
The original title "Oh! Susanna", borrowed from a popular minstrel song, has no relation to the plot; It can be assumed that this song - published in 1847/48 - was known among the cavalrymen of the late 19th century and was possibly used as a marching song. The assessments made by the "Lexicon of International Films" and by Joe Hembus must be considered questionable: The work of Republic regular director Joseph "Joe" Kane is a "cheap imitation" of "Until the Last Man" ("Fort Apache") not because he succeeded in creating a few interesting sketches of the soldier's existence in a fort, which even seem more realistic than with John Ford, who was always intent on romanticizing. The REPUBLIC was Hollywood's most famous low-cost studio, but the increasing pressure from TV competition had ensured that this company also tried its hand at more complex productions, and had done so for a long time (starting with Raoul Walsh's "Dark Command" / "Black Command" from 1940). "Oh! Susanna" is just one more piece of evidence that often disdained assembly line filmmakers like Kane were able to make better films thanks to their routine.
Web links
- Apache Battle of the Black Mountains in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Apache battle on the black mountains. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .
- ^ Joe Hembus: The Western Lexicon, expanded new edition by Benjamin Hembus - 1567 films from 1894 to today. Munich 1995, ISBN 3-453-08121-8 . P. 42
- ^ Review of March 30, 1951