ma-cortes
This is the story of Sgt. Emmet Bell (Jeff Chandler) who found his weakness in the arms of another man's woman (Dorothy Malone) and his strength in the power of another man's God . In Oregon Country , 1868 , numerous tribes of Native Americans with Biblic and Evangelist names have been placed on a reservation north of the Snake River . Here a priest called Holden (War Bond) , has constructed a church , and many of the tribes have accepted Christianity and Christian names such as Samuel , Aaron , Abraham , Jacob ; in fact , the three Indian chiefs hold Christian names : Elias , Isaias and Zacarias . But the White Men are building a bridge that across the river to Indian territory to areas north . When the cavalry, under the command of Col. Stedlow (Willis Bouchey) and Capt. Tom Gaxton (Keith Andes) arrive they intend to make peace but the tribal chiefs feel their treaty has been violated . As the cavalry column advances into the reservation , Kamiakin (Michael Ansara) carries out razzias against the US Cavalry and settlements . A-Universal-International-Picture gets Western action , shootouts , a triangular love story , breathtaking Indian raids on Yankees regiments and results to be quite entertaining . This moving movie is an epic portrait of the thrilling story about several tribal chiefs decide to unite their forces against the trespassing whites who open a road across the reservation and are building a bridge crossing their lands . It's a medium budget film with good actors , technicians , production values and pleasing results . At the ending , when takes place the Indian assault , possesses all the sweep , grandeur and noisy action of the greatest Westerns of an age long past . The picture contains spectacular charges of Indian riders , including an overwhelming final when the US soldiers are besieged at a church turned into a strongly defended fort . Nice acting from a great cast . As Jeff Chandler is good as a honorable and Cristian Sergeant who is in charge of maintaining order and attempts to keep the peace between US cavalry and Indians . Chandler gives stature to the role , providing sincerity and bravura . Chandler was famous , until his early death , for playing Indian chief Cochise , a dignified portrait well shown in : ¨Broken arrow¨ , ¨Battle of Apache Pass¨ and ¨Taza , son of Cochise¨ . Although Chandler also played all kinds of genres , such as : ¨Return to Peyton Place¨(drama) , ¨Flame of Araby¨ (adventure) , ¨Merrill's marauders¨ (wartime , in his last film) , until his early death at 42-year-old . Dorothy Malone as gorgeous and pleasant wife , proves to be a great actress , as usual . And support cast is frankly excellent , such as : Ward Bond , Keith Andes , Lee Marvin , Sydney Chaplin, Olive Carey and special mention for the veteran Willis Bouchey as well as Michael Ansara as violent Indian chief vowing to lead the tribes in battle against the encroaching white men . This exciting and stirring Western was beautifully photographed in Cinemascope , print in Technicolor by Harold Lipstein , Universal's ordinary cameraman. And an original and shining score from William Lava and Heinz Roemheld , though uncredited .This motion picture was professionally directed by George Marshall in colorful style , though has a few flaws . He realized a great number of films , especially Westerns . His first Western was ¨Wild Gold¨(1934) and he subsequently directed ¨Destry rides again¨ with James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich in which years later he would make a remake titled ¨Frenchie¨ with Audie Murphy and Marie Blanchard . As George Marshal introduces hilarious elements and amusement in his Westerns , such as ¨Texas¨ , ¨Fancy pants¨, ¨Advance to the rear¨, and also directs Musical Westerns as ¨Red Garters¨ and ¨The second greatest sex¨ . Being particularly known for his co-direction of the epic Western ¨How the west was won¨ along with Henry Hathaway and John Ford .
weezeralfalfa
Directed by veteran George Marshall, this generally excellent western was partially based on the novel "Frontier Fury", by the noted writer of Western novels: Will Henry, in turn, largely based on a historic battle, given various names, between a confederacy of various tribes of Eastern Oregon and Washington and a US army unit, commanded by Colonel Steptoe(Stedlow in the film). This was seen as a defeat by the greatly outnumbered army unit, although hardly the semi-massacre suggested in the film. The official stats suggest only abut 10% of the soldiers were killed or wounded, which about equals the rough estimate for the Indians. The prominent characters played by Ward Bond(Holden) and Jeff Chandler(Sgt. Bell)are fictional, as relates to the main battle. However, Bond's missionary pastor/doctor clearly is mostly based on Marcus Whitman, who was long before invited by the Indians to establish a mission near present Walla Walla. He was murdered, as part of a general massacre and abduction of Europeans, after the Indians noticed that his European patients were much more likely to survive a measles outbreak than his Indian patients. This incident, which occurred a decade before the 1858 battle featured in the film, is represented by the Indian attack on the mission complex, in which Bond(Holden) is shot dead by the chief of the hostile Indians: Kamiakin. Thus, the film blends these two chronologically disconnected historical themes into a single story. Why was this story characterized as happening in 1868 instead of the actual '58? to justify the advanced firearms used? Although the outspoken chief Kamiakin dies in the film, in fact, like Chief Crazy Horse, this long important belligerent never died in battle. He was well played by Michael Ansara, who makes several impressive speeches in councils.I only wish that the film had spent some time dramatizing the remarkable escape of the army group, being surrounded by a much larger number of Indians, much like Custer. It only alludes to such in a discussion of plans, then suddenly we are back at the mission. The film very well dramatizes their difficult flight to relocate on a chunk of ancient earth crust elevated 1000 feet above the rolling Palouse Hills, while being pursued by Indians. However, after 10 hours of fighting, their ammunition and water was about exhausted. If the Indians had known this, they could have pretty well finished them off with a concerted night attack. instead, as discussed in the film, an army scout located a weak spot in the Indian's siege, revealed by a campfire count. Thus, a nocturnal escape attempt through this area was decided upon, with rain as an additional obscuring factor. Amazingly, it worked, and they marched an incredible 90 miles in 24 hours to safety, while the Indians concentrated on gathering the equipment they left behind, once their escape was discovered. As in the film, the main Indian allies of the Europeans were the Nez Perce, who greeted the retreating army. The army and Nez Perce would, in time, become adversaries, as dramatized in "I Will Fight No More".The outdoor scenes were filmed mostly in the NE corner of Oregon, rather close to where the historical action took place. Incidentally, 'Pillars of the Sky' refers to the mountain ranges in this region, we presumably getting an occasional look at the Wallowa range. At this time(1858), the Indians were being besieged by gold prospectors and homesteaders, as suggested in the film. Chandler(Bell) begins with very adversarial relationships with the elderly Stedlow(Willis Bouchey) and his subordinate officer captain Gaxton. These relationships morphed into mostly mutual respects during and after the big battle. Gaxton and Bell were at odds over Caxton's estranged wife Calla(Dorothy Malone), who shows up as a survivor of an Indian attack on a wagon. This fickle woman claims she never loved Gaxton and has long loved the hard-drinking Bell. Then, during and after the big battle, she changes her mind, admitting that it was mostly her fault that she and Gaston didn't get along well in the past.Several reviewers complain that the big action scene comes too late to maintain interest in the film to that point. However, in reality, battles were very often preceded by attempts to settle issues by negotiations, which is what the first 45 min of the film is mostly about, along with working out the differences between various army officers. When I think of other Westerns of this era, many had only one big battle, and it occurred late in the film. Thus, I don't see this film as being out of line in that respect. Besides, this was quite a lengthy battle scene, the real battle lasting 10 hours, until darkness. Thus, the reported casualties were actually remarkably few, with this consideration. It was pointed out at this web site that the Indians actually rode bareback or on blankets, in contrast to most westerns, where a saddle was often hidden under a blanket.I don't have any major complaints about the many players, except perhaps Dorothy. Instead of playing an actual Indian chief, as he did in several other films, Chandler plays an army officer quite sympathetic to the plight of the Indians, rather like John Wayne's character in "Fort Apache", for example. I thought he was quite adequate for his role, as was Bouchey as Stedlow. Ward Bond has one of his best roles. I also liked him in "Wagon Masters". There were actually too many characters for me to keep them all straight. Presently available at YouTube, as well as an expensive DVD. Amazingly, I rated this higher than "The Searchers" I'll stick with that.
bkoganbing
Pillars of the Sky is an unusual western in that it touches on the role of Christian missionaries in the American West. This film also gives Ward Bond one of the most unusual roles he ever had in his career.Bond plays a Christian missionary preacher/doctor in the Pacific Northwest region. There is still considerable debate among historians as to what they accomplished. It was thought at the time that the conquered Indian tribes would be more humanely treated under preachers than soldiers. There is no doubt that missionaries, not only in the American west, but in other parts of the world colonized by the west, probably saved indigent peoples from some acts of barbarism. Whether though, even with the best of intentions, they had the right to destroy a culture is very much open to debate. And Bond is a man with the best of intentions even as he baptizes the Indians giving them names found in the Bible. One Indian who isn't having any of it is Michael Ansara who's rousing all the tribes to resist the building of a new army post in their territory. But Colonel Willis Bouchey has his orders and Bond is caught in the middle.Another trio caught in the middle is Captain Keith Andes, his wife Dorothy Malone, and Sergeant Jeff Chandler who Malone was previously engaged to. Malone and Olive Carey are captured by Ansara's bunch and Chandler rescues them. This little romantic subplot is exactly what the cavalry doesn't need as Ansara's band is on the hunt for them.Pillars of the Sky was filmed on location in the Pacific Northwest and the photography is first rate. And the Indian attacks are well staged by some very smart Indians. Ansara is a cunning and ruthless foe.It also succeeds in making you admire the courage of our cavalry in carrying out their orders though in fact they are in clear treaty violation. One of the best roles in the film is that of Lee Marvin, an army veteran from the Civil War who is giving the green troops some lessons for survival in a hurry.I did find it a bit much the end Jeff Chandler has in store for him and I think most viewers will also. As Chandler said, Bond may have given the Indians the priceless gift of his God, but was the cost worth it?
