Chuka

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Movie
German title Chuka
Original title Chuka
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1967
length 98 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Gordon Douglas
script Richard Jessup
production Jack Jason
Rod Taylor
music Leith Stevens
camera Harold Stine
cut Robert Wyman
occupation

Chuka is an American western directed by Gordon Douglas from 1967. An alternate title is Going It alone at Fort Clendennon . Richard Jessup wrote the screenplay based on his own novel. The German-language premiere was on August 31, 1967.

action

1876: On the way to a new assignment, the saddle tramp and gunslinger Chuka, who can be hired as a killer, comes to an Arapahoe Indian camp. The Indians are starving, Chuka witnesses a victim being buried. Before he rides on, he gives chief Hanu his mouth supply.

On his further way he meets a stagecoach in distress and with it reaches Fort Clendennon, which is threatened by the Arapaho Indians under Hanu. The carriage passengers include the former lover of Chukas, Veronica, and her niece Helena. The commandant of the fort is Colonel Valois, who leads a tough regiment against his crew, which consists exclusively of those who have been transferred to prison. Sergeant Hansback unconditionally supports the completely incompetent and alcoholic Valois, as he had saved his life in an earlier battle. The relationship between Chuka and Hansback is tense at first, as the saddle tramp despises the commander. However, a wild fight between the two clears the situation and the men respect each other from then on.

Since the Colonel strictly refuses to help the starving Indians out with food and weapons for the hunt, they prepare for battle. While Chuka has old feelings about Veronica, there are always dicey situations with the Indians who, thanks to his shooting skills, go relatively lightly for the whites. Among other things, he frees the scout Trent, who was captured by the Indians. But in the end it becomes clear to everyone involved that an attack on the fort by the outnumbered Indians is imminent, and with it the death of all defenders.

When the battle finally breaks out, Valois, Trent, Hansback and the entire crew fall. Veronica is killed by an arrow and Chuka is fatally injured by a spear throw. Hanu riding into the burning fort sees Chuka when he holds his revolver to Helena to her temple. He is ready to shoot her so as not to let her fall into the hands of the Indians. Hanu spares the two. In the final shot of the film you can see a single burial mound inside the fort. The end leaves open whether this is Chuka's grave, buried by Helena, but the circumstances only allow this inference.

The tomb is that of Chuka's former lover, Veronica. It is obvious that Chuka buried the dead Veronica there. In the final report of the commanding officer, he explains that Chief Hanu remembered the two women during interrogation, but otherwise refused to give any information about their whereabouts. Since Veronica is also not to be found among the dead, it is the logical conclusion that Chuka buried the deceased in the grave and left the fort together with Helena.

background

  • Chuka is the first and only feature film to be produced by Rod Taylor .
  • The film is also the first and only foray into the western genre for British character John Mills .

Reviews

  • Joe Hembus writes in his Western Lexicon: “A pretty wild thing with few survivors.” He also quotes Jean-Pierre Coursodon / Bertrand Tavernier from their book “30 Ans de Cinema Americain”: “Long sweeping pans follow the trajectories of projectiles ( ...) to their destination, an operation that Douglas is increasingly delecting. The film has a nostalgic lyricism, a strength and a fantasy in design that you don't often find with this director. "
  • The Protestant film observer draws the following conclusion: “A western that is sympathetic, educational and entertaining because of the lack of clichés. Recommended for ages 16 and up. "

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Joe Hembus : Western Lexicon - 1272 films from 1894-1975. Carl Hanser Verlag Munich Vienna 2nd edition 1977. ISBN 3-446-12189-7
  2. ↑ Evangelischer Presseverband Munich, Review No. 385/1967