The Indian Fighter (1955)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

André De Toth

Writers:

Robert L. Richards (story)
Frank Davis (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

20 April 1956 (West Germany)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

The Indian Fighter and the Girl...a love as fierce as a fire arrow!

Plot:

A scout leading a wagon train through hostile Indian country unwittingly gets involved with a Sioux chief's daughter.

Plot Keywords:

Wagon Train | Beautiful Woman | Fort | Hung Upside Down | Gold Ore

Cast

Kirk Douglas	...	Johnny Hawks
Elsa Martinelli	...	Onahti
Walter Matthau	...	Wes Todd
Diana Douglas	...	Susan Rogers
Walter Abel	...	Captain Trask
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Chivington (as Lon Chaney)
Eduard Franz	...	Red Cloud
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Will Crabtree (as Alan Hale)
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Briggs (as Elisha Cook)
Ray Teal	...	Morgan
Frank Cady	...	Trader Joe
Michael Winkelman	...	Tommy Rogers
William Phipps	...	Lt. Blake
Harry Landers	...	Grey Wolf / Captain Trask Attaché
Hank Worden	...	Crazy Bear / Guardhouse Keeper

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:PG | West Germany:12 (nf) | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #17674) | Sweden:15 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Bend, Oregon, USA

Company:

Bryna Productions

Trivia:

Hank Worden, who has a substantial role as the Indian Crazy Bear, also does a cameo appearance as the jailer at the cavalry fort guardhouse; likewise, Harry Landers plays both Grey Wolf and also one of Captain Trask's attachés.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the beginning of the film, after Red Cloud shows to Johnny Hawks two men hung by the feet, Hawks stands talking to Red Cloud and Grey Wolf. Then his hands appears either grabbing the holster or by his sides, alternately, when it cuts from one shot to another.

Quotes:

[In order to rescue Wes, Johnny must defeat Gray Wolf to a fight to the death]
Wes Todd: What does that mean?
Johnny Hawks: I gotta fight him for your hide.
Wes Todd: What happens if you lose?
Johnny Hawks: Well, my troubles will be over... yours will just begin.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Special London Bridge Special (1972) (TV)

While far from perfect, it handled the Indians in a way far more credibly than most films of the day

With a title like THE Indian FIGHTER, you'd think that this was the standard "let's kill all the Indians" type movie so typical in the 1940s and 50s. However, like some of the better cowboy and Indian films of the era (such as the great FORT APACHE and the not so great CHEYENNE), the reason for the Indians hating the Whites is explained--they are not just unreasoning savages or idiots, but people justifiably angry at their mistreatment by the invading Whites. Because of this, I appreciated the film and was also happy that it also wasn't like some of the newer breed of films that paint the Indians and completely noble and the Whites as the epitome of evil! It did seem well balanced AND featured mostly Indians in Indian parts (though, oddly, they chose an Italian lady to play the female leading Indian!).

The rest of the film, while entertaining and having the usual great performance by Kirk Douglas, also is very simplistic and poorly thought out at times. For example, the motivation for why Douglas saved Walter Mathau's sorry butt at the beginning of the film is unclear. It defied common sense not to just let the Indians kill Mathau. Plus, at the end of the film, Douglas' confrontation with Douglas and Lon Chaney, Jr. was a long time coming but was resolved awfully quickly--making it seem very anti-climactic. Still, overall it does stand out from the HUGE number of look alike Westerns and it is worth your time.