The Command (1954)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

David Butler

Writers:

James Warner Bellah (novel)
Samuel Fuller (writer)

Release Date:

13 February 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

An army doctor, with no combat experience, is forced to take command of a cavalry troop escorting a wagon train through hostile Indian country when the unit's commanding officer dies. |

Plot Keywords:

Wilhelm Scream | Based On Novel

Cast

Guy Madison	...	Capt. Robert MacClaw
Joan Weldon	...	Martha Cutting
James Whitmore	...	Sgt. Elliott
Carl Benton Reid	...	Col. Janeway
Harvey Lembeck	...	Pvt. Gottschalk
Ray Teal	...	Dr. Trent
Robert Nichols	...	2nd Lt. O'Hirons
Don Shelton	...	Maj. Gibbs
Gregg Barton	...	Capt. Forsythe
Boyd 'Red' Morgan	...	Cpl. Fleming
Zacharias Yaconelli	...	Mr. Pellegrini
Renata Vanni	...	Mrs. Pellegrini
Tom Monroe	...	Pvt. Nikirk

Also Known As:

Rear Guard (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Warnercolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (WarnerPhonic/RCA) (magnetic prints) | Mono (optical prints)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #16709, General Audience) | Sweden:15 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Warner Ranch, Calabasas, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

WILHELM SCREAM: As an Indian is shot off of his horse during the wagon convoy attack.

Quotes:

Sgt. Elliott: Well, injuns fight two ways, Captain. When they're running against a little outfit, they go ring around right away and close in quick for the kill. But if they're running against a big outfit, like we're tied up with now, they'll keep hacking and chopping away at your weak spots until they wear you down. Then make a ring around. And once they get you in a circle, you're finished.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Lucky Me (1954)

Another that needs to be on DVD

A great Western that entertains well. It is a movie, along with "Charge at Feather River", where Guy Madison plays a character that though having to fight the Indians, also understands their situation.

The chemistry between Madison's and Whitmore's characters was very well played. It is well paced with story moments and action moments fitting together well.

As a historical note, the Winchesters used by the troopers were incorrect as props but then this was a 1950s Western when no one cared about those details. Spencer Carbines would have been correct but unavailable. The one interesting gun prop is in the scene where the scouts are chased back to the column and meet up with the Capt. and others. One of the troopers is obviously holding a Schofield revolver which though quite unusual, were used by the U.S. Cavalry in small numbers.

I really hope that this movie is released on DVD someday soon.