The trials and tribulations of bitter veteran Captain Maddocks and argumentative rookie Lieutenant McQuade at a cavalry desert outpost.The trials and tribulations of bitter veteran Captain Maddocks and argumentative rookie Lieutenant McQuade at a cavalry desert outpost.The trials and tribulations of bitter veteran Captain Maddocks and argumentative rookie Lieutenant McQuade at a cavalry desert outpost.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
Mark Allen
- Cole Daugherty
- (uncredited)
John Ayres
- Capt. Owen Yates
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThere actually was a Fort Canby. First laid out in 1852, actual construction didn't begin until 1863 at Cape Disappointment, WA. It was occupied by Union troops in 1864. It became a combination lighthouse and coastal battery. While it was heavily fortified, it never fired a shot in anger. It was deactivated after World War II in 1947. It was named after Gen. Edward R.S. Canby, whose military career was spent in the west, including Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah and California. During the Civil War he won a major battle in New Mexico that led to his promotion from colonel to general. He was murdered along with a minister at peace conference by a Modoc Indian, who attacked him without warning while they talked. The general was shot twice in the head and his throat was cut.
- GoofsOn the night before the final battle: around the campfire, bottom right, ribbed shoe-prints are clearly visible in the dust. They were obviously made by modern footwear with synthetic soles.
- Quotes
Captain Stephen Maddocks: [Addressing 1LT McQuade] I am a long way from a Bible Thumper, but one thing I do believe, the sum total of man's experience with morality is the Ten Commandments. If we do not try to live by them, we throw away the God given chance for decency.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Kain's Quest: The Stone Killer (2015)
Featured review
A hard frontier school
It's usually a bad sign for a western when a title is given that has nothing to do with the story. There's no thunder and no Indian war drums. But A Thunder Of Drums is a nice combination of soap opera and horse opera.
Richard Boone is one bitter commander of a forgotten frontier outpost in post Civil War Texas and has George Hamilton a new young lieutenant from the east assigned when he wanted someone with a little frontier experience. But there seems to be more than that in his hostility toward Hamilton.
As for Hamilton he doesn't help his own cause by immediately taking up with Luana Patten who is the fiancé of James Douglas another lieutenant on the post. Hamilton has history with Patten and he's looking to write a few new chapters.
But in the last 45 minutes of the film it's all cavalry business as Boone seeks to destroy a band of hostiles in the area and try to make sure the right tribe is blamed for some recent raids. It's a bitter school for his young officers Hamilton, Douglas and Richard Chamberlain.
A Thunder Of Drums is based on a story from western writer James Warner Bellah who was the source of the famous John Ford classic cavalry western Fort Apache. Some similarities in some of the characters are present here. They're not romanticized though in the way John Ford would do.
Such people as Arthur O'Connell as the first sergeant and troopers Slim Pickens and Charles Bronson have some small parts. Bronson who does not last long as Hamilton's orderly tries to tempt him in small ways. Definitely he's not a John Ford type character.
A Thunder Of Drums is a gritty western with good performances from the ensemble cast.
Richard Boone is one bitter commander of a forgotten frontier outpost in post Civil War Texas and has George Hamilton a new young lieutenant from the east assigned when he wanted someone with a little frontier experience. But there seems to be more than that in his hostility toward Hamilton.
As for Hamilton he doesn't help his own cause by immediately taking up with Luana Patten who is the fiancé of James Douglas another lieutenant on the post. Hamilton has history with Patten and he's looking to write a few new chapters.
But in the last 45 minutes of the film it's all cavalry business as Boone seeks to destroy a band of hostiles in the area and try to make sure the right tribe is blamed for some recent raids. It's a bitter school for his young officers Hamilton, Douglas and Richard Chamberlain.
A Thunder Of Drums is based on a story from western writer James Warner Bellah who was the source of the famous John Ford classic cavalry western Fort Apache. Some similarities in some of the characters are present here. They're not romanticized though in the way John Ford would do.
Such people as Arthur O'Connell as the first sergeant and troopers Slim Pickens and Charles Bronson have some small parts. Bronson who does not last long as Hamilton's orderly tries to tempt him in small ways. Definitely he's not a John Ford type character.
A Thunder Of Drums is a gritty western with good performances from the ensemble cast.
helpful•90
- bkoganbing
- Aug 8, 2016
- How long is A Thunder of Drums?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 37 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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