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Drum Beat ()

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In 1872, Indian fighter Johnny MacKay is appointed peace commissioner for the California and Oregon territory but he faces tough opposition from the renegade Modocs led by their chief Captain Jack.
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Cast verified as complete

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Johnny MacKay
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Nancy Meek
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Toby
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Bill Satterwhite
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Scarface Charlie
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Kintpuash - aka Captain Jack
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Gen. Edward Canby
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Blaine Crackel
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Manok
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Dr. Thomas
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Jesse Grant
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President Ulysses S. Grant
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Modoc Jim (as Frank de Kova)
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Bogus Charlie
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Gen. Gilliam
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Capt. Alonzo Clark (as George Lewis)
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Lily White
Peggy Converse ...
Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Medicine Man (uncredited)
Jonas Applegarth ...
Indian (uncredited)
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Capt. Summer (uncredited)
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Indian (uncredited)
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Minister (uncredited)
Danny Borzage ...
Soldier (uncredited)
Nora Bush ...
Granny (uncredited)
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Young Widow (uncredited)
Oliver Cross ...
Officer (uncredited)
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Col. Meek (uncredited)
Michael Daves ...
Young Boddy (uncredited)
Juney Ellis ...
Mrs. Boddy (uncredited)
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Mr. Dyar (uncredited)
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Grant's Officer (uncredited)
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Veteran One-Legged Soldier at White House Gate (uncredited)
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Gen. Sherman (uncredited)
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Lt. Goodsall (uncredited)
Ron Hargrave ...
Singing Soldier (uncredited)
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Child Street Dancer (uncredited)
Maurice Jara ...
Indian (uncredited)
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Grant's Clerk (uncredited)
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Veteran Soldier (uncredited)
Pat Lawless ...
O'Brien (uncredited)
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Settler (uncredited)
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Scotty (uncredited)
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Indian (uncredited)
Felix Noriego ...
Indian (uncredited)
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Nellie Grant (uncredited)
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Miller - a Settler (uncredited)
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Fairchild (uncredited)
George Ross ...
Sentry (uncredited)
Ken Smith ...
Sentry (uncredited)
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Army Doctor (uncredited)
John Veitch ...
Young Soldier (uncredited)
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William Boddy (uncredited)
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Guard (uncredited)

Directed by

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Delmer Daves

Written by

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Delmer Daves ... (written by)

Produced by

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Delmer Daves ... producer
Alan Ladd ... producer (uncredited)

Music by

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Victor Young

Cinematography by

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J. Peverell Marley ... director of photography

Editing by

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Clarence Kolster

Art Direction by

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Leo K. Kuter

Set Decoration by

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William L. Kuehl

Makeup Department

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Gordon Bau ... makeup artist
Norman Pringle ... makeup artist
Myrl Stoltz ... hair stylist

Production Management

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George C. Bertholon ... unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Eli Dunn ... assistant director: second unit
William Kissell ... assistant director
John Waters ... second unit director
Lee White ... assistant director

Art Department

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Lloyd S. Edwards ... props

Sound Department

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C.A. Riggs ... sound

Special Effects by

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Ralph Ayres ... special effects

Visual Effects by

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Hans F. Koenekamp ... visual effects

Stunts

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Paul Baxley ... stunt double Alan Ladd (uncredited)
Robert Bradshaw ... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Hoy ... stunt double Charles Bronson (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Paul Burnett ... gaffer
Gilbert Germaine ... best boy
Sidney Hickox ... director of photography: second unit
Warren Yaple ... grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Jack Delaney ... wardrobe
Rudy Harrington ... wardrobe
Moss Mabry ... wardrobe

Music Department

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Sidney Cutner ... orchestrator (as Sid Cutner)
Leo Shuken ... orchestrator

Script and Continuity Department

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Fred Applegate ... script supervisor

Additional Crew

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Ben Corbett ... technical advisor
George Ross ... technical advisor

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

President Grant orders Indian fighter Johnny MacKay to negotiate a peace with the Modocs of northern California and southern Oregon. On the way he must escort Nancy Meek to the home of her aunt and uncle. After Modoc renegade Captain Jack's group engages in ambushes and other atrocities, MacKay eventually ends up tracking Captain Jack down and fighting him one-on-one to apprehend him. Written by Ed Stephan

Plot Keywords
Taglines Only the fierce Modocs knew the terrible meaning of each beat of the Drum ! See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Delmer Daves' Drum Beat (United States)
  • Kapten Jack (Switzerland, English title)
  • L'aigle solitaire (France)
  • Tambores de guerra (Spain)
  • Het plateau des doods (Netherlands)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 111 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $1,100,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia Actor Charles Buchinsky (his birth name) changed his name to Charles Bronson, using his new moniker for the first time in this film, and remained so for the rest of his acting career. See more »
Goofs President Grant is shown wearing his Army uniform in the White House. This is inaccurate as General Grant resigned his commission in 1869. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in The Good Life (2007). See more »
Soundtracks Drum Beat See more »
Quotes Dr. Thomas: Don't you feel like a murderer?
Johnny MacKay: No, sir.
Dr. Thomas: Shouldn't you?
Johnny MacKay: I've never shot anyone without cause. My job is to protect the wagon train. When somebody shoots at my people, I shoot back.
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