To Major Degan(Richard Carlson), commander of Fort King, in Florida's Seminole-dominated region, the only good Indian is a dead Indian. The historic Fort King was located in north central Florida, in the present city of Oscola. However, the events of this film are pictured as taking place in the Everglades, well to the south, south of Lake Okeechobee.
This story is said to have taken place in 1835, when the 2nd Seminole War began, lasting until 1842. This war was instigated by increased demands of white settlers for new land, and the refusal of most Seminoles to honor the Treaty of Payne's Landing, which required them to move to Oklahoma within 3 years. Many chiefs said they were not present to consider the treaty or said they were forced to sign it. During this war, frequent raids on settlers and Indian villages were perpetrated. The official policy of the army was to kill any Indians who resisted capture to be resettled. However, it's clear by his actions and words that Major Degan preferred killing to capturing Indians. During the one campaign we witness, he has his men bayonet what looked like sleeping Indians rolled up in a blanket. They were filled with grass, as the Indians had been following the troop's movements in their "surprise" attack. Instead, the Indians sprang a surprise attack on the troops. The nearby chief called Osceola was renowned for his elusiveness. The capture of Osceola(Anthony Quinn)was Degan's prime objective at present. He had failed to capture him by an armed invasion, hence he decided to try treachery, inviting him to come under a flag of truce to discuss things. Osceola was immediately beaten, and put in 'the pit': a hole in the ground into which rainwater collected. Osceola died there, apparently of a combination of being stabbed and drowning. The chief who stabbed him said he violated the trust of his people, hence deserved to die.. The real Osceola was captured thus, but died in a prison in South Carolina some months later.
Throughout the film, Major Degan's main nemesis within the fort was young Lt. Caldwell(Rock Hudson), who had much experience with the Seminoles and knew their language. He didn't favor relocating them in Oklahoma, and went by a conservative policy in killing them. Degan got irate with Caldwell periodically, and threatened him with court martial for insubordination.
Barbara Hale plays Revere, who had a romance going with both Caldwell and Osceola. The latter looked the more real. But, Revere's main role is as a go-between Osceola and Degan.
The film begins and nearly ends with Caldwell's court martial. The ending is a surprise, although it's hard to imagine this being realistic.
Lee Marvin plays Sergeant Magruder, who occasionally shows up, usually being assigned under Lt. Caldwell...An unrecognizable Hugh O'Brien plays the chief Kajeck, who stabs Osceola.
Probably, the most interesting part for me is the trek through the (real) Everglades by the army, with the changing nature of the mostly difficult terrain. It took quite a few men to push and pull a wagon containing a cannon. In one spot, it sank into a deep hole. Degan chewed out Caldwell for choosing to save the injured man laying on top of the cannon rather than the cannon.
This is a fairly interesting film that illustrates the common problem of subordinate officers not agreeing with a policy of the commanding officer, and hoping to get their point across.
This film came out just 2 year after "Distant Drums", staring Gary Cooper, again about problems with the Seminoles in the 2nd Seminole War. Difficult trekking in the Everglades is also featured. It deals more with stopping gun runners. I would rate the present film above that one, although most of the Seminoles look much more authentic.
This film is available on a cheap DVD in an 8 pack of westerns, even though technically, it's a 'southern'
This story is said to have taken place in 1835, when the 2nd Seminole War began, lasting until 1842. This war was instigated by increased demands of white settlers for new land, and the refusal of most Seminoles to honor the Treaty of Payne's Landing, which required them to move to Oklahoma within 3 years. Many chiefs said they were not present to consider the treaty or said they were forced to sign it. During this war, frequent raids on settlers and Indian villages were perpetrated. The official policy of the army was to kill any Indians who resisted capture to be resettled. However, it's clear by his actions and words that Major Degan preferred killing to capturing Indians. During the one campaign we witness, he has his men bayonet what looked like sleeping Indians rolled up in a blanket. They were filled with grass, as the Indians had been following the troop's movements in their "surprise" attack. Instead, the Indians sprang a surprise attack on the troops. The nearby chief called Osceola was renowned for his elusiveness. The capture of Osceola(Anthony Quinn)was Degan's prime objective at present. He had failed to capture him by an armed invasion, hence he decided to try treachery, inviting him to come under a flag of truce to discuss things. Osceola was immediately beaten, and put in 'the pit': a hole in the ground into which rainwater collected. Osceola died there, apparently of a combination of being stabbed and drowning. The chief who stabbed him said he violated the trust of his people, hence deserved to die.. The real Osceola was captured thus, but died in a prison in South Carolina some months later.
Throughout the film, Major Degan's main nemesis within the fort was young Lt. Caldwell(Rock Hudson), who had much experience with the Seminoles and knew their language. He didn't favor relocating them in Oklahoma, and went by a conservative policy in killing them. Degan got irate with Caldwell periodically, and threatened him with court martial for insubordination.
Barbara Hale plays Revere, who had a romance going with both Caldwell and Osceola. The latter looked the more real. But, Revere's main role is as a go-between Osceola and Degan.
The film begins and nearly ends with Caldwell's court martial. The ending is a surprise, although it's hard to imagine this being realistic.
Lee Marvin plays Sergeant Magruder, who occasionally shows up, usually being assigned under Lt. Caldwell...An unrecognizable Hugh O'Brien plays the chief Kajeck, who stabs Osceola.
Probably, the most interesting part for me is the trek through the (real) Everglades by the army, with the changing nature of the mostly difficult terrain. It took quite a few men to push and pull a wagon containing a cannon. In one spot, it sank into a deep hole. Degan chewed out Caldwell for choosing to save the injured man laying on top of the cannon rather than the cannon.
This is a fairly interesting film that illustrates the common problem of subordinate officers not agreeing with a policy of the commanding officer, and hoping to get their point across.
This film came out just 2 year after "Distant Drums", staring Gary Cooper, again about problems with the Seminoles in the 2nd Seminole War. Difficult trekking in the Everglades is also featured. It deals more with stopping gun runners. I would rate the present film above that one, although most of the Seminoles look much more authentic.
This film is available on a cheap DVD in an 8 pack of westerns, even though technically, it's a 'southern'