Ulzana's Raid
The film, according to screen play author Alan Sharp, was a Vietnam era anti-war commentary at a time when you just weren’t cool if you weren’t. Sharp also claims the film was inspired by John Ford’s classic, The Searchers. Lofty company self-selected.
Chiricahua Apache chief Ulzana rebels against Indian agency abuse at San Carlos and jumps the reservation to lead his band on a killing spree. Troopers sent from Fort Lowell to warn settlers are ambushed. One trooper kills the woman he is escorting to safety before killing himself. The Apaches play catch with his heart.
Aging army scout McIntosh (Bert Lancaster) is sent with a detachment of soldiers under inexperienced Lieutenant Garnet DeBuin (Bruce Davison), guided by Apache scout Ke-Ni-Tay (Jorge Luke). DeBuin is shocked by the brutality of the attacks. Ulzana feels the pressure of pursuit. He and his warriors use their ponies as a decoy, sending them one way while they go another on foot. The ploy fails when Ke-Ni-Tay reads the sign. The ponies have no riders. McIntosh pursues the ponies, killing the two Apache leading them. One is Ulzana’s son.
Ulzana raids another farm, burning the homesteader and raping his wife. They leave her alive, reckoning the cavalry will divide their strength to give the woman an escort to safety. An escort they can ambush for their ponies. McIntosh recognizes the plan. The escort becomes decoy to a counter-attack. The Apache attack. DeBuin is late with his counter-attack. McIntosh is mortally wounded. Ke-Ni-Tay confronts Ulzana with the news his son has been killed. Ulzana drops his weapons, singing his death song Ke-Ni-Tay kills him and buries him.
DeBuin and the remainder of his command return to Fort Lowell. McIntosh, knowing he won’t survive, remains behind to die alone.
The story is fiction, though Sharp maintains it has “factual equivalents” and is therefore authentic. The film lost money, though Sharp remained proud of it. It received some critical acclaim though it didn’t need any. Sharp had a high enough opinion of it all by himself.
Next Week: The Outlaw Jose Wales
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Ride easy,
Paul
Chiricahua Apache chief Ulzana rebels against Indian agency abuse at San Carlos and jumps the reservation to lead his band on a killing spree. Troopers sent from Fort Lowell to warn settlers are ambushed. One trooper kills the woman he is escorting to safety before killing himself. The Apaches play catch with his heart.
Aging army scout McIntosh (Bert Lancaster) is sent with a detachment of soldiers under inexperienced Lieutenant Garnet DeBuin (Bruce Davison), guided by Apache scout Ke-Ni-Tay (Jorge Luke). DeBuin is shocked by the brutality of the attacks. Ulzana feels the pressure of pursuit. He and his warriors use their ponies as a decoy, sending them one way while they go another on foot. The ploy fails when Ke-Ni-Tay reads the sign. The ponies have no riders. McIntosh pursues the ponies, killing the two Apache leading them. One is Ulzana’s son.
Ulzana raids another farm, burning the homesteader and raping his wife. They leave her alive, reckoning the cavalry will divide their strength to give the woman an escort to safety. An escort they can ambush for their ponies. McIntosh recognizes the plan. The escort becomes decoy to a counter-attack. The Apache attack. DeBuin is late with his counter-attack. McIntosh is mortally wounded. Ke-Ni-Tay confronts Ulzana with the news his son has been killed. Ulzana drops his weapons, singing his death song Ke-Ni-Tay kills him and buries him.
DeBuin and the remainder of his command return to Fort Lowell. McIntosh, knowing he won’t survive, remains behind to die alone.
The story is fiction, though Sharp maintains it has “factual equivalents” and is therefore authentic. The film lost money, though Sharp remained proud of it. It received some critical acclaim though it didn’t need any. Sharp had a high enough opinion of it all by himself.
Next Week: The Outlaw Jose Wales
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
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