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Apache (film)
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Wikipedia article
'Apache' is a 1954 American Western film directed by Robert Aldrich and starring Burt Lancaster, Jean Peters and John McIntire. The film was based on the novel 'Broncho Apache' by Paul Wellman, which was published in 1936.BOOKS RECEIVED: ANTHOLOGIES The Scotsman October 15, 1936: 13. It was Aldrich's first color film.
Plot
Following the surrender of the great leader Geronimo, Massai the last Apache warrior is captured and sent on a prison train to a reservation in Florida. But he manages to escape in Oklahoma and heads back to his homeland to win back his woman and settle down to grow crops. His pursuers have other ideas, though.
Cast
* Burt Lancaster as Massai
* Jean Peters as Nalinle
* John McIntire as Al Sieber
* Charles Buchinsky as Hondo
* John Dehner as Weddle
* Paul Guilfoyle as Santos
* Ian MacDonald as Clagg
* Walter Sande as Lt. Col. Beck
* Morris Ankrum as Dawson
* Monte Blue as Geronimo
Production
In April 1952 Burt Lancaster announced he would star in a film based on the novel, to be produced by himself and Harold Hecht. Lancaster had previously played an American Indian in 'Jim Thorpe All-American'.Looking at Hollywood: Burt Lancaster Awarded Role of Indian in 'Bronco Apache' Chicago Daily Tribune April 14, 1952: d3 Both Lancaster and his love interest, played by Jean Peters, appeared in brownface in the film.
For four years Lancaster and Hecht had been based at Warner Bros. However in June 1953 they announced they would make two films with United Artists, starting with 'Apache'.BURT LANCASTER MAKES U. A. DEAL: Movie Star and His Partner, Harold Hecht, Find a New Outlet for Productions By THOMAS M. PRYOR New York Times June 24, 1953: 30.Looking at Hollywood: Lancaster Gets Indian Role in 'Bronco Apache' Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune2 Dec 1952: a5. The film would be the first in a series of movies Lancaster made for United Artists. It was originally budgeted at $742,000.Kate Buford, 'Burt Lancaster: An American Life', Da Capo 2000 p 137
In July 1953 the producers hired Robert Aldrich as a director.ALDRICH TO DIRECT FOR NORMA STUDIO: Former Production Assistant Achieves Goal on 'Bronco Apache' With Lancaster New York Times August 1, 1953: 8. Aldrich says this was on the back of his second feature as director, 'World for Ransom', along with the fact that he had previously worked for Hecht-Lancaster on other movies as an assistant and had tried to buy the original novel himself.mr. film noir stays at the table Silver, Alain. Film Comment; New York Vol. 8, Iss. 1, (Spring 1972): 14-23.
The ending of the novel featured the leading character killed by US troops. "Of course, United Artists and Hecht became apprehensive of that so called down-beat ending," said Aldrich. "I made noise but they didn't hear me; then you go through the steps but you know they're going to use that happy ending."
Shooting
Filming started October 19, 1953, in Sonora, after a week of rehearsal.REPUBLIC TO FILM 'THE BIG WHISPER': Virginia Van Upp Will Write and Produce Drama Under New Studio Financing Policy New York Times October 1, 1953: 34. Lancaster tore a ligament while filming a horse scene on the film.Lancaster Limping, but Production Plans Spurt; Glynis Will 'Interrupt' Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times27 Oct 1953: B9. He returned to filming relatively quickly.BRONCHO' ON LOCATION: Charting the New Course of the Latest Hecht-Lancaster Independent Picture By WILLIAM H. BROWNELL JR. New York Times December 27, 1953: X7.Reception
Box office
The film was a big hit, earning over in theatrical rentals during its first year of release and $6 million in overall North American rentals. Aldrich subsequently directed Hecht-Lancaster's next film, 'Vera Cruz'.Kate Buford, 'Burt Lancaster: An American Life', Da Capo 2000 p 140The film earned in American and Canadian rentals during 1954,'The Top Box-Office Hits of 1954', 'Variety Weekly', January 5, 1955 and it went on to generate total gross receipts of in the United States and Canada. In France, the film sold 1,216,098 tickets at the box office.[http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.com.au&sl=fr&u=http://www.boxofficestory.com/box-office-robert-aldrich-c23331915&usg=ALkJrhiBj0BwkGhyaAI9UwR7ZxAaQO_fGg French box office results for Robert Aldrich films] at Box Office Story
Critical
. At the time, Clyde Gilmour praised the film as "one of the most exciting and entertaining westerns Hollywood has produced," while the New York Times criticized it as "slow and dull." Retrospective reviews have praised the film for its "acceptance of the alien nature of the Apache" and "more than the standard revisionist bromides."See also
* Winnetou
* Whitewashing in film
References
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