Western

The Battle at Apache Pass

- The Fighting Story Of The Great Cochise!

Major Jim Colton is a sympathetic leader who has a working relationship with Apache leader Cochise. Colton is undermined by corrupt and politically ambitious Indian agent Neil Baylor who sets up a false attack, and the abduction of a local farmer's son. While Colton is away investigating the matter, Baylor convinces Lieutenant Bascom that Cochise's band is to blame, and incites him to lead an expedition against the Apache band to return the boy.

Release Date : 1952-05-09

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Universal International Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Maj. Jim Colton

Original Name : John Lund

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cochise

Original Name : Jeff Chandler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nono

Original Name : Susan Cabot

Gender : Female

Character Name : Neil Baylor

Original Name : Bruce Cowling

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mary Keerney

Original Name : Beverly Tyler

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sgt. Reuben Bernard

Original Name : Richard Egan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Geronimo

Original Name : Jay Silverheels

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lt. George Bascom

Original Name : John Hudson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mescal Jack

Original Name : Jack Elam

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Carter

Original Name : Regis Toomey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Little Elk

Original Name : Tommy Cook

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lt. Robert Harley

Original Name : Hugh O'Brian

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cpl. Hassett

Original Name : James Best

Gender : Male

Character Name : George Culver

Original Name : Richard Garland

Gender : Male

Character Name : Joe Bent (as Palmer Lee)

Original Name : Gregg Palmer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lem Bent

Original Name : William Reynolds

Gender : Male

Character Name : Trumpeter Ross

Original Name : Paul Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Johnny Ward

Original Name : Jack Ingram

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Cochise does not break his word - it's Geronimo. The Battle at Apache Pass is directed by George Sherman and written by Gerald Drayson Adams. It stars Jeff Chandler, John Lund, Bruce Cowling, John Hudson, Susan Cabot, Jay Silverheels, Gregg Palmer and Jack Elam. Music is by Hans J. Salter and cinematography Charles P. Boyle. A Technicolor production, the location's for the shoot were at Moab, Utah, with Arches National Park, Colorado River, Courthouse Wash, Ida Gulch and Professor Valley forming the backdrops to the story. The film is a fictionalised account of The Bascom Affair of 1861 and the Battle of Apache Pass that occurred in 1862, the latter of which saw the Indians witness for the first time in the region an artillery attack by means of mountain howitzers. It deals in the events that led up to the battle and focuses on the in fighting between Chiricahua warriors Cochise and Geronimo. Although both Chandler and Silverheels reprise their character roles from Broken Arrow 1950, The Battle at Apache Pass takes place prior to the events depicted in the 1950 movie. As solid as they come story wise, and with beautiful Technicolor scenery, Sherman's film is only really let down by not having acting gravitas in the American roles. Messrs Lund, Cowling and Hudson are OK, but the material needed more assured performers to play off of the excellent Chandler. On the feminine side Cabot does the best with what little she is given to do, while Beverly Tyler, playing a pretty important character narratively speaking, is just a pretty tug-of-war prop device. However, it's easy to look away from the lack of dramatic worth in the acting because Sherman's action set ups are very good, with the actual battle of the title brilliantly constructed in a rock formed valley, featuring reams of extras, lots of war-fare and the thunder of howitzers filling the ears. While Boyle's (Horizon's West/Tomahawk) photography is sumptuous and a credit to the cinematographer's craft. Salter's score, tho, is only standard fare, with familiar Redskin strains for the Indians and drum beat military thrusts for the Cavalry sequences. A fine film to look at, with a more than interesting story driving it forward, it sadly, tho, needed more grit from a good portion of the cast. 6.5/10