The Battle at Apache Pass

The Battle at Apache Pass
Film poster by Reynold Brown
Directed by	George Sherman
Produced by	Leonard Goldstein
Written by	Gerald Drayson Adams
Starring	Jeff Chandler John Lund
Music by	Hans J. Salter
Cinematography	Charles P. Boyle
Edited by	Ted J. Kent
Distributed by	Universal-International
Release dates	1952 (1952)
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$681,000
Box office	$2 million (US rentals)

The Battle at Apache Pass is a 1952 Universal-International western film starring John Lund as United States Army Major Colton, and Jeff Chandler repeating the role of Apache chief Cochise, whom he played two years earlier in 20th Century Fox's Broken Arrow. Jay Silverheels also reprised his role of Geronimo from the same film.

The film was rated as the No. 1 moneymaker in Variety magazine's list of box-office pictures, when it came out in April 1952. The film is a highly fictionalized account combining the events of "The Bascom Affair" of 1861 and the "Battle of Apache Pass" of 1862, the first time that the Indians meet modern (for the age) artillery.

Plot

In 1862, as the Civil War rages in the Southeastern states, the Southwest is far away from the battle lines, but in New Mexico Territory, good relations between Fort Buchanan's commanding officer, Major Colton (John Lund) and the Chiricahua Apache chief Cochise (Jeff Chandler) are threatened by the arrival of venal government agent Baylor (Bruce Cowling) and his equally dishonest scout Mescal Jack (Jack Elam). In breach of existing treaties, Baylor plans to resettle the Apaches to the San Carlos Reservation and when Geronimo (Jay Silverheels), the chief of the rival Mogollon Apaches attacks the Tucson stagecoach and kills women and children, Baylor threatens to also transport the Chiricahuas to San Carlos. When confronted by Colton and Baylor, Cochise calls a council of Apache elders and they vote to banish Geronimo, who must also give up one of his stagecoach captives, schoolteacher Mary (Beverly Tyler). After assuring his pregnant wife Nona (Susan Cabot) that his interest in the attractive young schoolteacher is not romantic, Cochise brings Mary to Fort Buchanan and entrusts her to Major Colton, counseling him that she would be a fine wife. At the same time, Baylor and Jack plot with Geronimo to frame Cochise for Geronimo's attack on a ranch. During Colton's inquiry into the attack, his subordinate, Lieutenant Bascom (John Hudson), is promised a promotion by Baylor for rescuing the boy who was kidnapped during the attack. Cochise tells Bascom that it was Geronimo who committed the attack, but Bascom accuses him of lying and takes Nona hostage, while executing by hanging three braves, including Cochise's brother, Little Elk (Tommy Cook). As Cochise mourns and then prepares to retaliate against Bascom's position, Mescal Jack goes to him in the pretense of warning him about an Army attack, but Cochise calls him a liar and puts him to death. Colton's trusted Sergeant Bernard (Richard Egan) informs him of the situation, causing Colton to shut down Fort Buchanan and prepare to transfer everyone, including Mary and Baylor, to Fort Sheridan, a more secure redoubt, some distance away. From the hills along the trail, Cochise watches the procession, as does Geronimo and, as shooting begins, the wounded Baylor goes towards the Indians' positions, shouting that he is their friend, but Geronimo kills him. Colton and Sergeant Bernard use the expedition's cannon to rout the warriors, as Cochise finds Nona, who has been hurt, and takes her to the wagons so that Army doctor Carter (Regis Toomey) can treat her. Geronimo calls Cochise a weak leader, but in a one-to-one battle, Cochise wins and, instead of killing Geronimo, banishes him. Nona's son is born and Nona gives her friend Mary a precious Apache bracelet. Colton and Mary look at each other with affection and Cochise tells them that time has come for peace, as he rides away with Nona.

Cast

Starring

• John Lund {Major Colton}
• Jeff Chandler {Cochise}

With

• Susan Cabot {Nona}
• Bruce Cowling {Neil Baylor}
• Beverly Tyler {Mary Kearney}
• Richard Egan {Sergeant Bernard}
• Jay Silverheels {Geronimo}
• John Hudson {Lieutenant Bascom}
• Jack Elam {Mescal Jack}

• Regis Toomey {Doctor Carter}
• Tommy Cook {Little Elk}
• Hugh O'Brian {Lieutenant Harley}
• James Best {Corporal Hassett}
• Richard Garland {George Culver}
• Palmer Lee {Joe Bent}
• William Reynolds {Lem Bent}
• Paul Smith {Trumpeter Ross}
• Jack Ingram {Johnny Ward}

Production

The film was announced in June 1951.

Evaluation in film guides

Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide gives The Battle at Apache Pass 2½ stars (out of 4) indicating that "Chandler reprises his BROKEN ARROW role as Cochise". The Motion Picture Guide assigns it 2 stars (out of 5), describing it as "[N]ot the greatest western ever made, but interesting for its portrayal of Indians as rational human beings able to cooperate with the white man".

External links

• The Battle at Apache Pass at the American Film Institute Catalog
• The Battle at Apache Pass at IMDb
• The Battle at Apache Pass at AllMovie
• The Battle at Apache Pass at the TCM Movie Database
• The Battle at Apache Pass at TV Guide (1987 write-up was originally published in The Motion Picture Guide)