Dawn massacre
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Dawn massacre |
| Original title | A thunder of drums |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1961 |
| length | 96 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 16 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Joseph M. Newman |
| script | James Warner Bellah |
| production | Robert Enders |
| music | Harry Sukman |
| camera | William W. Spencer |
| cut | Ferris Webster |
| occupation | |
| |
The Dawn Massacre is a 1961 American western directed by Joseph M. Newman .
action
In the 1870s, the headstrong and inexperienced Lieutenant McQuade was ordered to Fort Canby, Arizona. He soon turned the commander, the hard-hearted Indian fighter Captain Maddocks, against him with his boldness. He gets into further trouble when he tries to renew his old love affair with Tracey Hamilton, who lives in the fort with her fiancé Lieutenant Gresham.
Gresham knows about the affair between Tracey and McQuade. When one day he does not return from a patrol, McQuade accompanies Maddocks and his search party. To McQuade's horror, they find Gresham and his people killed by Indians. McQuade is shocked to realize that his carefree affair with Tracey could be one of the reasons Gresham wasn't focused on his mission. In order to be able to avenge his comrades, McQuade wants to be used as bait. Maddocks hopes this will divert the Apache's attention from himself and his people.
With a handful of men, McQuade awaits the Indian attack on a cliff. The Apaches attack at dawn, but are crushed by Maddock's forces. During the fight, the lieutenant's only friend, Sergeant Rodermill, is killed by an arrow. When McQuade returns to the fort, he finds Tracey packing. She wants to go back to the east coast. As he says goodbye to her, he realizes that Maddock's motto is the only correct philosophy of life for a cavalryman. Maddock's motto is: “Bachelors are the best soldiers. All they have to lose is their loneliness. "
Reviews
The lexicon of international films sees the film as a "[f] ormally somewhat above average Western that sings praises of masculinity and military virtues, with the Indians being roughly listed as the enemy."
AH Weiler of the New York Times praised author Bellah's dialogues and Newman's hard work as a director. Nevertheless, the film is once again proof that Indians and cavalry as well as passions are not a good mix.
Awards
The film was nominated for the Golden Laurel in the Top Action Drama category at the 1962 Laurel Awards . He finished fifth.
background
The MGM production premiered on September 26, 1961 in New York. The film first appeared in Germany on March 9, 1962.
Duane Eddy, known as a rock musician at the time, appeared in front of the camera for the second time in this film. Richard Chamberlain made his debut in a cinema production here.
One of the stuntmen was the future director Hal Needham .
Screenwriter Bellah was known for his western stories, which were published by the Saturday Evening Post , among others . Bellah was often viewed as a misanthropist and referred to by his own son as a fascist, racist, and first-class fanatic. John Ford was one of the directors who used Bellah's stories as the script base. Ford defused Bellah's obvious hatred of Indians.
Web links
- A Thunder of Drums in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Massacre at dawn. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed December 21, 2019 .
- ↑ Critique of the New York Times (Eng.)
- ^ Scott McGee: A Thunder of Drums (1961) - Articles. In: Turner Classic Movies . Retrieved December 21, 2019 .