Rainey Dawn
I'm not a big fan of the western genre - meaning I watch some of them but not a lot of them. So this review is coming from one that watches westerns on occasions - depending on who is in the film, recommendations and/or what the movie is about. It was Lon Chaney that attracted my attention to this film mainly but I am also interested in film biographies and histories.While this film maybe not be perfectly accurate it is a good film that gives us a fairly decent idea of what might have took place during the real Daniel Boone's life. I enjoyed the movie.There are 3 songs in the film - although it's not exactly a musical those scenes are like a musical. They could have left them out of the film but it did not take away from the film to me.Anyway - I liked this film and would watch it again.8/10
mark.waltz
The battle for territory in the wilds of the old west gets a hand from settlers who obviously want to wipe the natives out, not smoke the peace pipe with them. The Shawnee tribe has gotten to the point here where they attack before they can be attacked, and even the peace-loving Daniel Boone (Bruce Bennett, best remembered for his role as Mildred Pierce's estranged husband) can't stop them, even though he tries desperately.The film opens with a truly brutal massacre of several scouts, resulting in scalping, and has an intense scene where Bennett must prove his worthiness to Shawnee chief Lon Chaney by running through two rows of Indians and survive as they attack him. Peace rules briefly, but a scheming Frenchman desperately wants to prevent this from continuing, causing more conflict by poisoning Chaney's mind against the Americans moving westward.This rather cloudy color western is an enjoyable action film with a few songs thrown in. The script tries to soften the brutality of the Shawnees by showing us their motivations behind the attacks.
ma-cortes
This is a low-budgeted film about the famous adventurer and explorer Daniel Boone (Bruce Bennet) . After the guidance a settlers party from North Caroline to the fertile valley of Kentucky , Boone undergoes several adventures . This time Boone is living along with his wife and sons in Boonesborough , when his eldest son is kidnapped and murdered by the Shawnees Indians . Boone unites a group to track down a carriage full of children that are surrounded by the Indians , but he's taken prisoner and submitted deadly proof ; later on , he escapes . Chief Blackfish (Lon Chaney Jr.) and Boone accord a meeting in the location named Thousand Waterfalls but an Indian masquerading posing as white men threatens the peace . Then , the savage Indians attack the fort Booneesborough .This shoe-string budget movie chronicling the further feats of our frontier hero , displays adventures , action , and spectacular outdoors . Filmed in Mexico and with Mexican actors as secondaries , such as Claudio Brook and Eduardo Noriega , and giving a surprisingly good acting by Lon Chaney Jr. including a touching weeping . Worn-out color , granulated and lousy cinematography , in spite of gorgeous landscapes . The flick was regularly directed by Albert Gannaway , also in charge of production and soundtrack which includes some songs . The film didn't help to spread Boone-mania among the kids of the 50s and 60s . Other adaptations about this frontiersman hero are the followings : the classic version (1934) by David Howard with George O'Brien and John Carradine , and the known TV series with Fess Parker .The picture is partially based on real deeds , the actual events are the followings : Daniel Boone (1734-1820) long hunter , Indian fighter , trail-blazing pioneer and first of the frontier folk heroes was born in Pennsylvania . Moving to North Carolina he settled in the Yadkin Valley , supporting his family by hunting, often making long trips for profitable animal skins . The long hunters were so called because their long wildness hunts might last more than a year . Boone was impressed by the Indian hunting grounds of Kentucky and determined to make his home in this unsettled , fertile land rich with game.The journey was thwarted by hostile Indians who killed six of the party including Boone's eldest son . With a band of hardy woodsmen , Boone set forth and blazed a trail , known as the Wilderness Road , through the Cumberland Gap of the Appalachian Mountains to the Kentucky River , where they built a fort named Boonesborough , to which later brought his family and a group of settlers. In January 1778 Boone was captured by Shawnee Indians and adopted into tribe as the foster-son of Chief Blackfish . In June escaped escaped to warn Boonesborough of an impeding Shawnee attack . Frustated by legal nullification of his Kentucky lands claims, Boone moved on to Missouri . Boone died aged eighty-six in his son's farmhouse in Missouri.
Albert Ohayon
**Some Spoilers**Good B western with plenty of action and good acting. Mexican locations standing in for Kentucky are also very pleasing to look at. Bruce Bennett as Daniel Boone is strong and stoic. I especially liked his interplay with his wife and many children. Lon Chaney Jr. is surprisingly good as the Indian Black Fish. The film is a little too short at 76 minutes, but what we get moves at a good clip. Most of the film was shot outdoors which is a definite plus. The final battle scene is well staged and exciting. We don't have a clue how Daniel and his group are going to survive but rest assured Daniel uses his brains to save everyone from a massacre.A good film for western fans ages 8 and older(the younger ones might be a little bothered by some of the killings and occasional scalping). I give it 6 trail blazers out of 10.