No revisionist Western here, in fact all the players seem to be in conflict with one another most of the time. Actually, it's Charlton Heston's character Ed Bannon who appears to be the equal opportunity hater in the story, he expresses his displeasure with just about everyone, including his sidekick Sandy (Milburn Stone) during an opening segment.
The first appearance of Jack Palance on the scene was fairly impressive, he looked like he could have passed for a real Apache Indian. The idea that he was a returning Eastern student to take up the mantle of the Invincible One for the Chiricahuas was an interesting element, particularly since he never stated that role for himself. Perhaps even more so was the blood brother pact Bannon forced on his Apache foe to set up the final confrontation between them. However the denouement between the two did come across as a bit of a letdown, Bannon seemed to handle him just a bit too easily.
Nice support here from Brian Keith as Captain Bill North, and Katy Jurado as Bannon's half Mexican, half Apache paramour Nita. I couldn't really grasp the dynamic there from Nita's perspective; Bannon was pretty much a heel toward her most of the time. Nor could I rationalize the attraction Leila Clark Wilson (Mary Sinclair) held for the Indian scout when he was such a lout to her as well, especially in the company of more refined guests. Social manners were apparently not his strong point.
Based loosely on the life of real life Indian scout Al Sieber, it appeared to me the connection was pretty much by reference only. Though Sieber did engage Apache Indians in battle during his scouting days, he was just as apt to be cooperative while running work crews that included Native Americans. Sieber even gave up scouting for a time in the 1890's when he became dissatisfied with treatment of the Apaches at the San Carlos reservation.
The first appearance of Jack Palance on the scene was fairly impressive, he looked like he could have passed for a real Apache Indian. The idea that he was a returning Eastern student to take up the mantle of the Invincible One for the Chiricahuas was an interesting element, particularly since he never stated that role for himself. Perhaps even more so was the blood brother pact Bannon forced on his Apache foe to set up the final confrontation between them. However the denouement between the two did come across as a bit of a letdown, Bannon seemed to handle him just a bit too easily.
Nice support here from Brian Keith as Captain Bill North, and Katy Jurado as Bannon's half Mexican, half Apache paramour Nita. I couldn't really grasp the dynamic there from Nita's perspective; Bannon was pretty much a heel toward her most of the time. Nor could I rationalize the attraction Leila Clark Wilson (Mary Sinclair) held for the Indian scout when he was such a lout to her as well, especially in the company of more refined guests. Social manners were apparently not his strong point.
Based loosely on the life of real life Indian scout Al Sieber, it appeared to me the connection was pretty much by reference only. Though Sieber did engage Apache Indians in battle during his scouting days, he was just as apt to be cooperative while running work crews that included Native Americans. Sieber even gave up scouting for a time in the 1890's when he became dissatisfied with treatment of the Apaches at the San Carlos reservation.