williwaw Very fine western from the days when MGM ruled Hollywood. It was the premier studio in Hollywood with a great staff of technical professionals and a group of young contract players all of whom would reach stardom, some super stardom: George Peppard, Paula Prentiss, Richard Chamberlain, Yvette Mimieux, George Hamilton, Linda Evans. Jim Hutton, Dolores Hart ( who would become a cloistered nun!) and Luana Patten. et al MGM also had the best and biggest back lot in the Industry and instead of making it a money making venture as Universal did with its back lot, MGM sold the back lot to real estate developers!George Hamilton and Luana Patten of the MGM stock company join Richard Boone in this great tough western. Richard Chamberlain has a small pivotal role but soon would become very famous as Dr. Kildare and reap in more fan mail per week -15,000 letters-than Clark Gable did at his peak at MGM! Richard Chamberlain for a few years was MGM's biggest star.See this movie and enjoy a scenic western with a fine cast.

thesimpsons2222 Joey's comments above are spot on. And you should also notice the visual style of the film: scenes in the fort tend to be in tones of grey or blue, cavalry colours, but most scenes throughout the film have a detail picked out in bright red - clothing, books, drinks,and, finally blood. Compositions are also distinctive: two shots often have one figure closer to the camera, some medium shots have an over-the-shoulder angle. For those who like that kind of thing, there is an interesting Oedipal theme, and the film centres on the rite of passage of the central figure,played by George Hamilton, appropriately vain and self-regarding. Women are sacrificed and marginalised ruthlessly, and there is a further theme about children which I couldn't quite work out.The cavalry/Indians structure is the peg on which a thoughtful narrative has been hung; even the killing scenes avoid the some of current excesses, and there are hints that the Indians have their own culture which the cavalry officers learn to recognise - and exploit. The inferior technology of the Indians is clearly a factor in their defeat.It will be a shocking day when the US Cavalry meet an indigenous population which is tactically and technologically their equal, won't it?

beejer A Thunder of Drums could have been a much better movie given the talent in the cast.Richard Boone plays the grizzled captain of a remote fort in the middle of nowhere. He has little to do other than snarl at the young lieutenants and lament over that lost promotion. Pretty boy George Hamilton is woefully miscast as the new officer on the block. And speaking of miscasting, Arthur O'Connell as the top sergeant is a long way from "Picnic".Charles Bronson appears as one of the soldiers who is either supposed to be comic relief or a slimey peeping Tom, we're never quite sure. The fight between Bronson and Hamilton is laughable considering the outcome.Others in the cast include the bland Luana Patten as the heroine, a young Richard Chamberlain as one of the officers and veteran Slim Pickens who was hardly seen after the opening sequence. And yes, not to forget Duane Eddy as a guitar strumming private. The best that can be said about Eddy is that as an actor he makes a fine musician.Most of the first 2/3 of the picture consists of the Boone character barking at his subordinates. The final third of the film contains most of the action and manages to salvage the picture.I think that for this film could have done with less talk and more action.

Bob-45 Indians attack settlers. Undermanned cavalry tracks Indians. Indians massacre cavalry. Cavalry massacres Indians.This lurid, routine programmer, would be entirely forgettable, except for two extraordinary performances. Richard Boone portrays the Cavalry Commander, with the kind dignity, sensitivity and intensity which only Richard Boone could give. Charles Bronson plays a dirty minded, foul mouthed, but surprisingly noble corporal. For these two performances alone, see the movie.