Taza, Son of Cochise (1954)

The flick gets noisy action , crossfire , spectacular raids , a love story , and intrigue , it is slowly but surely built up , being quite entertaining . This Cavalry vs. Indians Western , set in 1872 , when Cochise and General Howard sign a treaty , but it is broken by the white men . Then , peacemaking Apache chief Cochise (Chandler, the last of Jeff's appearances as the Apache chief) dies and handing over the reins of power to Taza (Rock Hudson , Sirk's favorite actor) . When tomahawk and carbine split the West asunder appeared Taza . Then , the Chiricahua Apaches are torn between following Cochise's peace loving son Taza and his brother Naiche (Rex Reason) who is following the warlike renegade Apache warrior Geronimo (Ian McDonald), chief of Apaches Chiricaguas and his band of rebel Indians , the most blood-thirsty of Apaches . But in San Carlos reservation happens the riots , as the hopelessness of resistance against a foe you know you can't beat originate the rebellion . They will confront American cavalry in charge of General Crook (Robert Burton) and his officials . As the fate of the great Southwest lays in his hands , for this war the hour of decision in the last and deadliest of the Indian wars . Enjoyable chronicle of Taza , Cochise'son , and his tribe isolated at Saint Carlos reservation and the strong fight between the Apache tribe led by Geronimo and the US cavalry , sustaining the interest for quite a while . This moving movie is an epic portrait of the historic story about the celebrated Indian battles against the USA cavalry , being inaccurate historically . As it has a highly fictionalized account of Taza's life , although famed Apache war chief Cochise did indeed have a son named Taza . An-Universal-International-Picture gets Western action , shootouts , romance , breathtaking raids on fort , colorful outdoors with big skies , being wonderfully photographed by Russell Metty and turns out to be fun . It's a medium budget film with good actors , technicians , production values and pleasing results . This Indian-on-the-warpath tale is based on historical characters : Cochise , Taza , Geronimo , Mangus , general Howard , and general Crook who tries to subjugate the great Apache warrior . At the ending , when takes place the Indian ambush , possesses all the sweep , grandeur and noisy action of the greatest Westerns of an age long past . Cast is pretty good . As Rock Hudson is acceptable as the known Apache who attempts to keep the peace between US cavalry and Indians . Rock gives category to the role , providing courage and uprightness . As well as the gorgeous Barbara Rush ; and Gregg Palmer as Capt. Burnett is nice as a honorable officer who is in charge of maintaining law and order . Fine acting from a great support cast such as : Rex Reason , Morris Ankrum , Eugene Iglesias , Robert Burton , Joe Sawyer and Lance Fuller . The best acting is given by Ian MacDonald as Geronimo who provides stature to the character , delivering sincerity and bravura . Brief interpretation from Jeff Chandler , he was known , until his early death , for playing Indian chief Cochise , a dignified portrait well shown in : ¨Broken arrow¨ (50) by Delmer Daves , that was acclaimed as the first Hollywood movie to side with the Indians , the first time the Red Indian was depicted as a human being rather than a brute savage merely to bite the dust at the hands of the US cavalry , as well as ¨Battle of Apache Pass¨ (1952) and ¨Taza , son of Cochise¨ (1954) , this latter Jeff/Cochise is briefly glimpsed as a dying man at the beginning . This trilogy of the Apache chiefs result to be one of the best considering some of the other attempts to portray the Apache war leaders .This motion picture was professionally directed by Douglas Sirk in colorful style and 3D , though has a few flaws . Douglas Sirk often cited this film as the favorite of his own films since he always wanted to make a Western . The great filmmaker Sirk later to shot the most successful of the Rock's fifties films , his fetish actor , such as : A time to love a time to die , Magnificent obsession , All that heaven allows , Battle hymn , and Written on the wind .

This movie is well-famed and Rock Hudson looked great ( as he always did even to non-gay men). The long hair and darkened skin make him an awesome looking Indian. His Features are White but this was more often the case in Hollywood movies about Indians than roles of Indians played by real Indians. It is Ironic that Taza's son became an actor and acted in early westerns.. I learned this fact by IMDb. I shall use it in my future writing.No-- It took 45 yrs to force Geronimo to Surrender and his legend is founded largely on the fact that he was never caught but due to many of his own warriors becoming scouts, he was forced to surrender. It is sad but in a very harsh way--just punishment that these scouts were stripped of their roles as Scouts and sent to the same prison where Geronimo was. They served much longer sentences than what they were given. This is yet another unfairness done to the APACHE and to Geronimo. Who died in his mid-eighties from alcoholism and from falling from his horse on the way home from a saloon. HE wound up in a irrigation ditch all night and caught pneumonia as a result and died shortly after. Not a fitting end for a man that could raise the back of the hair on many a settler and many a cavalry soldier who had to think about his chances of surviving a battle with him. He almost beat the US army--but alcoholism is a disease that killed far more Indians than cavalry soldiers ever did. The Native American had NO time in their history to develop a resistance to the effects of alcohol---both the immediate effects and the long-term effects shortened the lives of most Native Americans who drank it. In the much later movie GERONIMO starring Gene Hackman and Robert Duvall, the camera takes us on the long train ride to Florida in the end of the movie. Some Apaches who did not become traitors to Geronimo were being chastised by loyal warriors and Geronimo reminds them that they are so few that it would be good for them to learn to get a long- -he reminds them that all they have is each other.Geronimo was a name that leaps off of the pages even now--- but in his lifetime-- anything written about him was read immediately because it was usually news about his ongoing exploits. It is very sad that they allow the mistake of saying that he was captured to be stated as truth among his own people. Because the fact that he was not captured or killed even though the forces used to find and arrest or kill him were massive, is a testimonial to the skill of the Apache and to Geronimo himself. I believe the final number that surrendered was under 100. However, I would not want to be a settler and live anywhere Near where that 100 Apache were running free. They were intelligent, skilled warriors and Geronimo has been called a tactical genius. Since he was NEVER captured-- that must be true.I must clarify: I do not believe that Geronimo Was EVER actually Captured-- He did surrender twice and after the second surrender, he was sent to prison in Florida. He was treated with respect by white soldiers with high level rank and other Apache though that respect from White Generals did deteriorate, he was NEVER just dismissed by his peers. This movie shows that happening again and again. This is tragic for the Apache was never really conquered and to say that he was, cheats him of the truth. Entire Armies were sent against them but they were NOT actually beaten in the common sense of the word. IF I was an Apache-- I would want that fact to remain clear and would be angered by a sloppy screenplay from Hollywood that disputes the truth of the Apache's wartime accomplishments. They have never been equalled. Warren E.Justice

Taza was originally in 3-d. 3-d was a novelty that was to bring back the TV viewers, an there are shots that fit the specialized view, to surprise the movie goer. Seen it once it's a surprise after that it's a distraction. Have to wait for holograms to surround you ala "real life". Rock takes on responsibility after the brief time of Jeff Chandler on screen. The apaches seem to actually be in typical apache "wickiups", an in the Arizona desert. He knows that the whites must be Accomodated and his people must accept the changes coming whether they want them or not. there is a lot of action, including a terrific apache vs. cavalry massacre, led by taza, so he's no wimp, an just as much a warrior as his father. An investment for a long non-stock footage fight, showed that heyday of the western included plenty of shooting and a massacre not hinted at but shown. The bad apaches kill some settlers, an here is a typical 3-d arrow coming out of the screen effect. eventually taza becomes a respected and accepted Indian chief , an foils the bad Indians who won't bend with the winds of change. It was very sympathetic to the Indians but had a large scale Indians vs. cavalry scene for the action and danger of the west,showing Indians were a power to be reckoned with. I am part Shawnee and have to set this as one of several 50's films that was sympathetic to the Indians and the their situations plus lotsa shooting an whooping, cause the Indians fought, as well as negotiated. not quite in the "john ford" category or near the movie experience of "the Searchers", but well worth the price of admission in the 50's and will entertain today. Rock was learning his craft an carried the movie well as a non-Indian acting in a good part.

Jeff Chandler reprises his role as Cochise (in "Broken Arrow") and, in the first ten minutes, dies after instructing his youngest son, Hudson's Taza, to keep the Apaches on the path of peace. Taza's half brother Nache (Rex Reason), however, wants to slaughter all white eyes. Barbara Rush is the Apache princess torn between the two brothers. On location, brutal desert sun, despite body make up, severely burned Hudson, mostly shirtless to exhibit his physique. Film was shot and released in 3-D with expected effects of rocks, spears, and arrows flying from the screen. As a churning Western, the Apache POV places "Taza" in a group of early 50s Westerns, such as "Broken Arrow" (James Stewart) and "The Savage" (Charlton Heston), that sided with Indians and culminated in "Apache" (Burt Lancaster). Moral score card is reckoned by pairing white and Apache villains. With brisk direction, handsome cast (notably Rush and Reason), and Technicolor capturing expanses of red-orange desert, "Taza" is respectably good of its kind. In dealing with Indians vs. whites, "Taza" may be a bit cavalier, but tongue-in-cheek? No. Hudson here was only one stair tread away from achieving major stardom in "Magnificent Obsession"--and looks it.