Starring as Tom Jeffords is James Stewart. What can one say about a Jimmy Stewart performance other than he is up to his normal high standard? His slow-talking, clear-thinking character is the only possible character to act as a go-between for the army and Apache chief Cochise (Jeff Chandler). He brings his usual idealism and kindliness to this role. Chandler, as Cochise, was nominated for an Oscar as best supporting actor. I don't think he deserved that honor, however: his performance is the usual monotone hokum that WASPs used when playing Native Americans. Another caucasian playing an Indian is teenager Debra Paget as the girl Stewart's character falls in love with and eventually marries.
Of course, this was made in 1950, and there can't be any miscegenation in the movies, so one of them has to die before the end of the film. Since the star can't die, so you can figure out for yourself how this film concludes.
It is unfortunate that such a novel idea as sympathetic, honorable Indians rather than the usual warlike, thieving ones should be constricted to such a predictable plot. Still, the film does offer a fine performance by one of Hollywood's greatest stars, so that has to count for something. And at least it's better than the 1996 Broken Arrow. Jeff Chandler may not be a very dynamic actor, but I'll take him over Christian Slater any day of the week.
As postscript, a couple of observations: the most famous Indian actor of his time, Jay Silverheels (better known as Tonto), appears as the renegade Geronimo. And a few years later, the film was made into a television series that ran for a few years in the late 1950's.
Three stars
Copyright 1997 by Dale G. Abersold
