The beast of the wild
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The beast of the wild |
| Original title | Arrowhead |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1953 |
| length | 105 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Charles Marquis Warren |
| script | Charles Marquis Warren |
| production | Nat Holt |
| music | Paul Sawtell |
| camera | Ray Rennahan |
| cut | Frank Bracht |
| occupation | |
| |
The beast of the wilderness is an American Western from 1953 with Charlton Heston and Jack Palance in the lead roles . The script is based on the novel Adobe Walls by William Riley Burnett .
action
Texas in 1878. Fort Clark is a US cavalry post in the middle of Apache territory . The civil scout Ed Bannon and his partner Sandy Mackinnon kill three Chiricahua Apaches and prevent a peace treaty between the Apaches and the whites. Bannon warns Colonel Weybright before the plan of the chief Chattez in a reserve in Florida to relocate. He doesn't trust the Indians and sees the plan as a deception . Having grown up among Apaches as a child, he thinks he knows how Indians think.
When it becomes known that the chief's son Toriano is returning from the east coast , Bannon believes in a ruse . Weybright dismisses Bannon and is killed a short time later in an attack by the Apaches. Bannon returns to Fort Clark to approach the young widow Lela Wilson, but Lela is friends with Captain North and rejects him. Sergeant Stone and other soldiers blame Bannon for the trouble with the Apaches and want to drive him out of the fort. However, Bannon stays and starts a relationship with the half-Mexican-half Indian washerwoman Nita.
While the Indians living near the fort are given name tags and guarded, Toriano comes to the fort. Bannon's reservations about the Indians are proven when a rebel group of Apaches under Toriano attacked the fort during the night. The next morning, Bannon and Mackinnon kill Nita's brother Spanish, who is standing with Toriano. In a passionate address to the officers, Bannon warns again about the Indians. Peace with them is impossible. The following night, Nita tries to kill Bannon, but he is able to seize her. He accuses her of spying for Toriano and wants to have her locked up. Nita takes her knife and kills herself.
Captain North goes with a detachment to peace negotiations with the Apaches. Toriano has set an ambush and is attacking. Half of the soldiers are killed in the battle. Realizing that Bannon was correct in his views on the Indians, Captain North places Bannon in command of an attack on Toriano. Bannon uses his knowledge of Indian tactics and can fight back the Apaches with his men. A face-to-face fight ensues between Toriano and Bannon . Bannon defeats Toriano; the rebellious Indians agree to negotiate peace with the whites.
criticism
The lexicon of the international film about the film: "Despite good actors and the remarkable use of Technicolor colors, it is more of an average Western with the common enemy images ."
The film magazine Cinema "The technically clean and well-played film is considered one of the most anti-Indian westerns." The conclusion is as follows: "Technically tip top, but reactionary morality"
Bosley Crowther of the New York Times describes the film as monotonous, which is due to the producer's prejudice against Indians. The film is neither good nor exciting.
background
The world premiere took place on August 3, 1953. In Germany the film first appeared on 12 October 1954. The film was shot at original locations near Bracket Greenville, Texas.
The stuntman and actor Richard Farnsworth plays a small role as a cavalryman . For Brian Keith it was the first film in which he was named in the credits . Production designer Hal Pereira and decorator Sam Comer provided the equipment . The costumes were made by Edith Head .
According to the credits, the figure of Ed Bannon is based on the German-born soldier, scout and interpreter Albert Sieber (1843–1907).
Web links
- The beast of the wilderness in the Internet Movie Database (English)