Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

TrueHello Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

JohnHowardReid Copyright 1956 by Universal. New York opening at the Palace: 7 September 1956. U.S. release: 1 September 1956. U.K. release: 3 September 1956. Australian release: 1 November 1956. Sydney opening on a double bill at the Capitol (ran one week). 7,925 feet. 88 minutes.SYNOPSIS: John Philip Clum is appointed Indian Agent at the San Carlos Apache Reservation, where he finds the Army using violent means to suppress the Indians. Clum asserts his authority to help the Apaches, thus earning the displeasure of the people of Tucson. In gratitude, the Indians send Tianay to keep house for him. This arouses the jealousy of Clum's fiancée, Mary Dennison. COMMENT: In the present=day climate of racial tolerance, integration and understanding, it's a big surprise that this screen biography of a true-life Indian agent who blazed this particular trail, is not constantly revived. Admittedly, next to its patent earnestness, the picture's main virtue is its expansive CinemaScope location cinematography. However, regard for a movie's artistic scope has never stopped TV managers dead in their tracks before. So why now? Maybe the film lacks excitement. That it does, though those who decry Hollywood for distorting reality will certainly have cause to rejoice in this exception. No doubt the nagging wife is pretty close to the essence of what really happened too.It's a pity that the direction of this worthy script should be so flatly pedestrian. Less than talented directors like Jesse Hibbs (former football star) welcomed CinemaScope because it relieved them of the burden of having to think in terms of visual excitement. Now simply the scope itself is the thing. No dramatic compositions, no effective cutting, no pointed camera movement necessary. No need to draw fine performances either, because for most of the time the actors are lost in the landscape. When studio scenes take over, why that's a good time for patrons to duck out to the candy bar. Unless of course you're such a rabid fan of Audie Murphy, you don't care a fig what long speeches he gets off his chest, or how stiffly he stands, just so long as his magnified pudgy face is right up there in front of you!

ma-cortes In 1870s , Arizona , an Indian agent called John Clum (Audie Murphy) sent from Washington to take charge of an Apache reservation , San Carlos , and he makes up peace between the stiff Union army and the rebel Apache tribes headed by the famous chief Geronimo (Jay Silverheels who played several times this role). He implemented a limited form of self-government on the reservation that was so successful that other reservations were closed and their residents moved to San Carlos . At the beginning , in 1874 , he wins over reservation leader , Chief Eskiminzin , (Robert Warwick) , it causes the Indians to have great respect for him ; but a bit later on , things go awry . Meanwhile , Clum befriends an Indian widow (a very young and attractive Anne Bancroft) given to him as a housekeeper . Then , there appears his Eastern bride (Pat Crowley) , but latter has a lot to learn . Clum tamed Apache war-lust with the power of his faith and conquered a savage warrior in a showdown of raw courage . Conflicts arise when Geronimo's uprising takes place and he crashes against the understanding John Clum . Acceptable picture based on actual events about an authentic Indian agent , John Philip Clum , being adapted from the biography ¨Apache Agent¨ by Woodworth Clum . This role has appeared in several other films as ¨Wyatt Earp¨ by Laurence Kasdan , ¨Tombstone¨ (played by Terry O'Quinn) , ¨Hour of the Gun¨ (performed by Larry Gates) and ¨Gunfight at the O.K. Corral¨ (interpreted by Whit Bissell) . The film has an enjoyable message dealing with a pacifier who fights for the rights of the Apache tribe and based on mutual respect for independence rather than submission to Army , as well as demonstrations of religious faith . As Clum uses of diplomacy and trustworthy in Apache leaders , and then the reservation is put on the road to autonomy . The picture is spoiled by a ridiculous ending when John convinces leader Geronimo to surrender himself to the authorities by means of a ridiculous set-up . Passable acting by Audie Murphy as an Indian Agent sent to try new approach to peace with Apaches . The motion picture was professionally directed by Jesse Hibbs . He was an American director of second features , primarily westerns , at Universal in the 1950's . Being especially known for TV series as ¨Perry Mason¨ (1957) , ¨Gunsmoke¨ , ¨Laramie¨ and ¨F.B.I.¨ (1965) as well as Westerns and Thrillers . He directed various Audie Murphy vehicles such as¨: To hell and Back¨ (1955) , ¨World in My Corner¨ (1956) , ¨Ride a Crooked Trail¨ (1958) and ¨Medal of Honor¨ . Based on facts , these are the following ones : President U.S Grant established the San Carlos Reservation . After an investigation of political abuses within the Office of Indian Affairs , the Dutch Reformed Church was given charge of the Reservation. They sought out a candidate at Clum , he knew that a number of Indian Agents had already come and gone . Some Indian agents sought the position only as a means to line their own pocket , selling government-supplied food and clothing and keeping the profits for themselves . Later on , Clum moved to Florence , Arizona Territory and bought a weekly newspaper , the Arizona Citizen then operating in Tucson , but he moved it to Florence . For the next two years he published editorials criticizing "the Army of Arizona and the political double-crossers in Washington". Following the great silver strike in Tombstone , in 1877 , Clum moved to Tombstone and after the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26 , 1881 , the Earps suffered losses to their family . Clum later became the first mayor of Tombstone , Arizona Territory , after its incorporation in 1881 . He also founded the still-operating The Tombstone Epitaph on May 1, 1880 . Ike Clanton filed murder charges and after a month-long preliminary hearing , Justice of the Peace ruled the men had acted within the law . He helped organize a "Vigilance Committee" to end lawlessness in Tombstone , and his association with that group helped get him elected as Tombstone's first mayor under the new city charter of 1881 . While mayor he became lifelong friends with Wyatt Earp and one of his greatest supporters . His friendship with Earp and loyalty to the business leadership made him a target for the outlaw Cowboys . On December 14 , Clum was on a stagecoach en route to Benson to catch a train for Washington, D.C., where he planned to spend Christmas with his parents and son. He and his newspaper had consistently supported the lawmen . The stagecoach was fired upon by unknown assailants and although the driver Jimmie Harrington was able to outrun the attackers , he had to stop to remove a lead horse that had been shot through and was bleeding to death . Clum was certain the hold-up was cover for an attempt to kill him , so didn't reboard the stage but walked until he found a horse he could borrow . He got to Benson the next day . Clum sold The Tombstone Epitaph and left Tombstone . The newspaper is still published today as a nationally distributed chronicle of the old west. He later served in various postal service positions across the United States .

NewEnglandPat This is a western that should have been better than it was, considering the fine cast and production values that went into the making of the film. Picture is about an Indian agent John Clum's efforts to have reservation Apaches police themselves and the surrender of Geronimo are the picture's highlights. There are the usual animosities between soldiers and Indians, and the agent's clashes with the military's preference to disarm the Apache police creates further tensions. An unnecessary sub-plot has an Apache widow smitten with Clum, who is already married. Audie Murphy was perfect for this kind of role and is good, as is the supporting cast. The movie was filmed in colorful wide screen CinemaScope which captures the beauty of western vistas.

rdpmd An enjoyable movie for a lazy afternoon. But there was a lot of schmaltz and predictable action, and the dialog was a little fake. But at times there was a nicely presented humorous edge to conversations as in the "maybe" style. I also enjoyed it for the typical Old Tuscon movie set location having been there a number of times myself. Being based on a true story the screen writer did a good job. I feel this movie is a good example of the style of westerns of which John Wayne was a good example. It remains simple in format, clear in style, and does not contain excessive goofs. One simple goof I noticed was how clean the Agent's suit was after he had just been rolling in the dirt. A nicely told story, enjoyable to watch, and the kind of movie experience I enjoy without the excessive violence, vulgar language, and smut contained in many modern works.