Interesting Western, made when Bob Aldrich already was an established Hollywood-director. He had directed several Westerns, and well-known for his films, such as "Attack" and "Flight of the Phoenix". You can notice his experience when you watch this film. To make this picture Aldrich needed his big director-name, otherwise I think he couldn't dare to make "Ulzana's Raid" (althrough made during the New Hollywood-era).
This wasn't just another Western, it was a serious try to make a violent film with battle between the white and the native Americans, maybe with ambition to stay neutral or being distanced. The film didn't succeeded with that ambition but yet it wasn't a failure and it got a rather unique mood. Burt Lancaster was a good choice in the lead, but the character McIntosh isn't the type you learn to love from the first frame he enters the screen (and no classic Lancaster-type), and yet he is not an anti-hero. You never get to know him. This is a very experienced, but rather quiet character (anti-Lancaster). You don't get to know his right hand Ke-Ni-Tay neither, and none of their enemies or allied. I think this is perfect for the film.
Maybe the story could have been developed more. It is hardly one of the very strongest Western-movies I have seen, since it isn't a film that makes you feel a lot of different emotions such as Ford's, Hawks' or Leone's movies did, but still a very interesting film because it is original in many ways and that is reason enough to not miss it. A bold film, made in an interesting time.
Rating: 7 of 10.
This wasn't just another Western, it was a serious try to make a violent film with battle between the white and the native Americans, maybe with ambition to stay neutral or being distanced. The film didn't succeeded with that ambition but yet it wasn't a failure and it got a rather unique mood. Burt Lancaster was a good choice in the lead, but the character McIntosh isn't the type you learn to love from the first frame he enters the screen (and no classic Lancaster-type), and yet he is not an anti-hero. You never get to know him. This is a very experienced, but rather quiet character (anti-Lancaster). You don't get to know his right hand Ke-Ni-Tay neither, and none of their enemies or allied. I think this is perfect for the film.
Maybe the story could have been developed more. It is hardly one of the very strongest Western-movies I have seen, since it isn't a film that makes you feel a lot of different emotions such as Ford's, Hawks' or Leone's movies did, but still a very interesting film because it is original in many ways and that is reason enough to not miss it. A bold film, made in an interesting time.
Rating: 7 of 10.