Dragoon Wells Massacre (1957)

I may as well say at the outset that I am biased toward this movie. I liked westerns as a teenager and I liked westerns movies in color with recognizable actors. As an older fellow I now like mostly black and white movies westerns included. I stumbled on the production company filming this movie while on vacation with my folks in southern Utah desert in the summer of 1956. Iwas able to wander around the location and Stayed to watch about four takes of a two shot involving Okeefe and Cabot. After waiting eight months I saw the movie and a local theater and found the plot to be far more complex than most. This is not a run-of-the-mill 50s, one hero type, Western. I recommend it to anyone who likes some character development and appreciates the product of some of the good talents offered by Hollywood both in front of and behind the camera. I would like to find it on DVD.

In the opening scenes three wagons converge on the site of a massacre; one is a trader intending to sell goods to the Apache, another contains too convicts being sent east for trial and almost certain hanging and the thirst is a stage coach. There is also one survivor of the massacre; Capt. Matt Riordan who was spared because he once saved the life of the attacking Apache chief. He takes command of the group as they head to the fort at Dragoon Wells. It isn't long before they are attacked and lose the stage coach; the survivors continue on though. Needing every gun the marshal releases the prisoners but tells them that they will still stand trial when they get through the Indian Territory. The next night things get worse when they learn that one of their number is not to be trusted... and they only learn this after he has killed one man and tried to escape causing the loss of another vehicle. They continue on towards the nearest relay station where they hoped to alert the authorities; the Apaches have got there first though and the only survivor is a young girl. Forced onwards with little water tempers fray within the group, more die at the hands of their enemy and just when reach an army fort and it looks as if their troubles are over they find it abandoned and its well salted!This is a decent western where the key characters; the captain, two convicts, the marshal and his deputy, the trader and two women are quickly and effectively introduced before the real action starts. When it does start people that look like they are main characters get killed leading to a sense that anybody could die here... always a good way to raise the tension! The cast did a solid job making their characters convincing; some are likable, some aren't but they are believable. I was surprised that we often saw the horses being targeted, and in one case falling over a cliff; while this seems believable most films of this sort prefer to only show people dying... presumably fearing viewers will be put off otherwise. The film looks great with vivid colour and a spectacular setting; it is just a pity the version shown on television had been cropped to fit old 1.33:1 screens rather than the original 2.35:1. If you enjoy westerns this one is worth watching, if you have a choice watch it in the original aspect ration though.

Marshal Bill Haney, his assistant Tom and driver Jud are transporting prisoners Link Ferris and Tioga through Apache Indian territory and hopefully on to Fort Smith, Arkansas. On an adjacent trail, shifty Indian trader Jonah McAdam happens upon a cavalry troop that has been massacred by the Yellow Claw lead Apaches, the only survivor of the attack is Capt. Riordan, who orders McAdam to take him to Fort Dragoon Wells. Before they set off they are met by the prison wagon and not too long after that a stagecoach carrying Ann Bradley, Phillip Scott and Mexican entertainer Mara Fay also arrives on the scene. All of them now under serious threat of attacks by the Apaches. So Riordan orders the two prisoners to be unshackled so they can aid the defence of the group as they attempt to make it to Fort Dragoon Wells. But the Apache are not the only problem facing them, not all in the group are quite what they seem and with food and water at a premium, the odds are heavily stacked against them making it to safety. As it was directed by journeyman Harold D. Schuster and coming out of B-studio Allied Artists, the omens weren't that great for Dragoon Wells Massacre being anything other than a poor B Western picture. That it breaks free from budgetary restrains and becomes a fine genre entry is largely down to three key points. First is the screenplay by Warren Douglas, secondly is a few fine acting performances and thirdly is having William Clothier on cinematography duties. Though very similar in plotting to a number of other Westerns, this boasts a great script that gives weighty substance to the characters, and with Schuster effectively not letting the pace sag, the pic is both entertaining and intriguing. It would have been easy for this to turn out as a bunch of stereotypical caricatures meandering across the plains, but thanks to Douglas these become real people in very real peril. They not only must survive the constant attacks as the Indians try to pick them off at opportune moments, they must also survive each other. Thus with twists and surprising developments popping up during the journey, story doesn't lack for inventiveness. Casting aside Mona Freeman's awful and grating on the nerves turn as Ann Bradley, the cast deliver some quality characterisations, particularly notable are Barry Sullivan (Ferris), Dennis O'Keefe (Riordan), Jack Elam (Tioga) & Katy Jurado (Mara Fay). While Sebastian Cabot is weasel personified as Jonah McAdam. William Clothier is no strange name to Western fans, his work with John Ford, Howard Hawks & Budd Boetticher ensures he's a name to be excited about on a Western credit list. As usual, he doesn't disappoint. Superbly photographing the rugged terrain (Kanab, Utah) as it imposes on our under duress group, he also does fine work with the close up shots as well. Shot in CinemaScope with De Luxe Color, it's a shame that the print is of average quality. This is a film that is crying out to be remastered, but its lesser known status lends one to believe that that is unlikely to ever happen. However, it's a testament to Clothier's ability that the piece still manages to look fabulous. There's some bad editing in the mix, and in truth Schuster is no skilled craftsman when it comes to action set pieces. Yet the faults are easily forgiven, for this is all about character emphasis, as nobody on this journey is merely canon fodder, they all are given time and thought to involve the audience. So that coupled with Clothier's work makes this a strong Western that's recommended with confidence to the serious Western fan. 7.5/10

As Westerns go, this one is a little different. The plot is nothing new, Captain Matt Riordan has to guide a group of travellers across the plains to Dragoon Wells Camp after they have been attacked by Indians. Not all the members of the party is what they appear to be.This movie is different in the sense that we appear to have a very standards stereotypical group of traditional Western movie characters. However the script is very different, in a sense trying to break the mould, filling out many of the characters. A lot of them feel very fleshed out giving a richness to the movie that you would not expect. The movie takes chances and personally, I like that, something that has the guts to be different. However, the downside of this means that there are several moments where a couple of the key players are acting extremely out of character. Not enough though, to damage the movie as a whole.The film does have one major flaw. The Ann Bradley character is simply the most irritating woman ever seen in a film. The audience is meant to care about this character, yet for the first 3/4 of the movie all I wanted was to see an arrow put through her head.Overall, this is pretty good fare, I would recommend this to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre. - 6/10