Indian Fighter, the

 

 

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United Artists presents "INDIAN FIGHTER" (1955 88 min/Color) -- Starring: Kirk Douglas, Elsa Martinelli, Walter Matthau, Diana Douglas, Walter Abel & Lon Chaney Jr.

Directed by André De Toth

Trail guide Johnny Hawks (Kirk Douglas) agrees to shepherd a wagon train through Sioux territory. Johnny tries to convince the Sioux to leave his charges alone, but white trader Wes Todd (Walter Matthau) and embittered Indian brave Grey Wolf (Harry Landers) escalate the tensions. When Todd and his partner Chivington (Lon Chaney Jr.) contrive to rob the Indians of their gold, Sioux chief Red Cloud (Eduard Franz) prepares to wipe out the settlers.

The first film assembled by Kirk Douglas' own Bryna Productions, The Indian Fighter is an excellent (and gritty) Technicolor western

Special footnote: -- Kirk Douglas did most of his own horse riding and, at one point, broke his nose attempting a stunt that called for him to make his horse fall. Instead of leaning back in the saddle when yanking the horse's head around to the side, Douglas leaned forward and took the full force of the horse's heavy head right in the face. First feature from Kirk Douglas' then new production company, Bryna, named for his mother

BIOS:
1. André De Toth [aka: Sâsvari Farkasfawi Tóthfalusi Toth Endre Antai Mihály] Director)
Date of Birth: 15 May 1912 - Makó, Csongrád, Hungary, Austria-Hungary [now Hungary]
Date of Death: 27 October 2002 - Burbank, California

2. Kirk Douglas [aka: Issur Danielovitch Demsky]
Date of Birth: 9 December 1916 - Amsterdam, New York
Date of Death: Unknown

3. Elsa Martinelli [aka: Elsa Tia]
Date of Birth: 30 January 1935 - Grosseto, Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy
Date of Death: Unknown

4. Walter Matthau
Date of Birth: 1 October 1920 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 1 July 2000 - Santa Monica, California

5. Walter Abel
Date of Birth: 6 June 1898 - St. Paul, Minnesota
Date of Death: 26 March 1987 - Essex, Connecticut

6. Lon Chaney Jr. [aka: Creighton Tull Chaney]
Date of Birth: 10 February 1906 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Date of Death: 12 July 1973 - San Clemente, California

7. Eduard Franz [aka: Eduard Franz Schmidt]
Date of Birth: 31 October 1902 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Date of Death: 10 February 1983 - Los Angeles, California

8. Hank Worden
Date of Birth: 23 July 1901 - Rolfe, Iowa
Date of Death: 6 December 1992 - Los Angeles, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 4 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 88 min on DVD ~ United Artists ~ (May 20, 2003)

I was very disappointed with this movie.
I saw the original TV airing of this movie in 1962. Over those 40 years, I still remember scenes of the movie, which were not part of this copy. There was a statement at the beginning of the movie, which indicated that the Indian would not speak in their native tongue so the audience would be able to understand the movie better. In addition, I remember that in the end, a soldier (the bugler), silhouetted by the dusk light was standing on a hill holding a girl.
The story line was weak, nearly uninteresting. I felt fidgety watching this poor film. The only thing, which kept me watching, besides the fact that I just threw away good money on this new release, was the fact that I had fond childhood memories of the Indian fighter. But, in all honesty, I have pulled better movies out of Wal-mart's $5.88 bins.
The movie DID appear to be choppy in its story line, as though it might have been pieced together, as if the original film had some damaged parts and were left out. Also, the movie ended abruptly, leaving me feeling cheated. There were several scenes, which looked grainy, as though they might have been 3rd generation copies.
I want a refund! If I had sent this in a theater, I would have walked out and demanded back my ticket price.

Have no idea what the guy who complained about the picture being fuzzy, shifting quality and looking chopped up was drinking the night he viewed this movie. Picture quality was excellent and saw no sign of it being chopped up. An excellent western.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Somber but beautiful western adventure
This entertaining and colorful western is about the relationship between red men and white men and the differences in the values and ideals between the two cultures. Read more

Published on May 29 2004

1.0 out of 5 stars disappointment
Either the original or transfer was terribly faulty but picture was poor. Aspect changed from moment to moment. Read more

Published on May 31 2003 by William W. Miller

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