Directed by Robert Aldrich
Starring Burt Lancaster, Jean Peters, John McIntire, Charles Buchinsky, John Dehner, Paul Guilfoyle, Ian MacDonald, Walter Sande, Morris Ankrum, Monte Blue
Kino Lorber has announced that a Blu-Ray of Robert Aldrich’s Apache (1954) will be available later this year.
It’s a solid little picture with a great cast. The downbeat ending was changed to something United Artists felt audiences would like. Apache was a big hit, so maybe UA was right. But Lancaster and Aldrich were not. The success of this one landed Aldrich the chance to director Lancaster and Gary Cooper in Vera Cruz (1954), a much bigger picture.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
Jean Peters certainly was a good sport!
I understand that the Kino Blu Ray is from a brand new restoration.
There was a German,Koch Blu Ray a few years back from an older master
which I am lead to believe was less than stellar. I’ts always comforting
that older classics are getting constant upgrades,I will certainly go for the
Kino version.
Another Western that needs a new (hopefully 4K) restoration is Aldrich’s
THE LAST SUNSET. There are several official Euro versions available all
below par not really up to DVD standard even.
I hope Kino can get Universal to supply a brand new master,they certainly
need too. In many ways THE LAST SUNSET is more of a Dalton Trumbo
Western as opposed to an Aldrich effort the film divides opinion but for me
the good elements far outweigh the bad.
When all is said and done THE LAST SUNSET is a beautiful looking film
and really needs the restoration that it really deserves.
Toby, I hope John K is right about the Kino Lorber Blu-ray APACHE(filmed in 1953, released 1954) being from “a brand new restoration.” Is it a 2k? 4K? or just ?
As I’ve said before, I like this Hecht-Lancaster production, which is loosely based on Paul I. Wellman’s Historical Novel, BRONCHO APACHE(1936), which is based on fact as well as fiction. Also, John McIntire, as scout Al Sieber, is good, as always.
Paddy Lee(Caftan Woman), yes, I see your point about Nalinle(Jean Peters). In the real story, as opposed to the reel story scripted by James R. Webb, the women Massai encountered were not so lucky.
In 1973, I first read about the Historical Massai in a book titled FREDERIC REMINGTON’S OWN WEST(1960). This was a book of magazine articles written and illustrated by Remington. ” Massai’s Crooked Trail” was first published by HARPER’S MONTHLY MAGAZINE(January, 1898). Remington wrote of Massai, “It is a bold person who will dare to say that a wilder savage ever lived than an Apache Indian, and in this respect no Apache can rival Massai. Massai was a bronco Chiricahua whose tequa tracks were so long and devious that all of them can never be accounted for. Three regiments of cavalry, all the scouts both white and black and Mexicans galore had their hack, but the ghostly presence appeared and disappeared from the Colorado to the Yaqui. No one can tell how Massai’s face looks, or looked, though hundreds know the shape of his footprint.” The real Massai became a phantom of the desert Southwest. Remington continues, “Massai then became a problem to successive chiefs of scouts, a bugbear to the reservation Indians, and a terror to Arizona. If a man was killed or a woman missed, the Indians came galloping and the scouts lay on his trail. If he met a woman in the defiles, he stretched her dead if she did not please his errant fancy. He took pot-shots at the men ploughing in their little fields, and knocked the Mexican bull drivers on the head as they plodded through the blinding dust of the Globe Road…”
Frederic Remington was an artist-correspondent for HARPER’S MONTHLY MAGAZINE, who had accompanied the Tenth Cavalry on its searches
for Massai and the Apache Kid(another bronco Apache and a whole other story). Remington received a lot of his information from Al Sieber. Sieber related that he, “never saw Massai but once, and then it was only a piece of his G string flickering in the brush.” This reminds me a little of Theodore Victor Olsen’s novel THE STALKING MOON(1965), which in 1968 was made into the movie of the same title starring Gregory Peck, Eva Marie Saint, Robert Forster, and Noland Clay(a real Apache). THE STALKING MOON is a gripping movie well worth watching and Olsen’s book is a good read.
In 1893, or ’94, Massai in a canyon at the Mescalero Reservation in New Mexico, Massai approached a group of women picking nuts. He kidnapped one, a seventeen-year-old married mother of two named Zanagoliche. He took her deep into New Mexico’s desert mountains. Although taken by force, tied up, and threatened, Zanagoliche willingly agreed to be Massai’s wife. Eventually the pair had six children, including daughter Alberta Begay, and spent a dozen years living in the remote desert areas of Arizona and New Mexico. Massai was killed and his body was burned by a posse of white men in the San Mateo Mountains of New Mexico in September, 1906. Zanagoliche and children returned to the Mescalero Reservation. Daughter Alberta Begay lived until 1980.
Haven’t seen any restoration/technical stuff on Apache yet. It could use some work, for sure.
Toby, well, here’s being hopeful that it will be a good master for the Blue-ray release of APACHE.
John K, just last week I watched THE LAST SUNSET(filmed in 1960, released 1961). I have it on the KIRK DOUGLAS: CENTENNIAL COLLECTION issued by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Yes, it needs restoration work. Ernest Laszlo’s photography in Eastman Color needs to be shown at its best. The Mexico locations used are magnificent. Also, the cattle drive is not from stock footage and is realistically done.
I first watched the movie on the NBC SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES in 1966 and later read Howard Rigsby’s(writing as Vechel Howard) novel SUNDOWN AT CRAZY HORSE(1957). The book is very different from Dalton Trumbo’s screenplay. All the unsettling bentness of the story comes from the mind of Trumbo. So, yes I agree that it is more of a Trumbo Western than a Robert Aldrich one.
Walter.may I say you are a wealth of information.
Graham, I’ve been very interested in the History of the Apache ever since, as a youngster, I watched the Sam Katzman produced and William Castle
directed CONQUEST OF COCHISE(filmed in 1952, released 1953). I first watched it on the Memphis, Tennessee WREC-TV Channel 3 “Early Movie” in the 1960’s. John Hodiak portrayed Cochise in this movie and Robert Stack as the cavalry officer on a mission. This movie and others spurred my interest, so I read much more about the Apache and other tribes. I’ve been intrigued by stories about the Bronco, or Broncho(wild) Apache. In 1970, I first read about the Bronco Apache Kid in a book titled WESTERN SHERIFFS AND MARSHALS(1955) written by Thomas Penfield and illustrated with black and white drawings by Robert Glaubke.
Yes, I enjoy all this and more.
Walter,
Tremendous background information above.
All I know is that APACHE will be a brand new master supplied by MGM/UA.
Yes,THE STALKING MOON is an excellent film and the recent Warner Archive
Blu Ray is beautiful.
Glad you agree that THE LAST SUNSET is more of a Trumbo picture than an
Aldrich one,I was sticking my neck out here.
I thought Trumbo’s humanity and respect for all living things shines through
in the film-only fault I wish bad guys Neville Brand and Jack Elam were given
more to do.The “bentness” you describe I feel does not come from the complex
Douglas/Carol Lynley relationship but the degrading Joseph Cotten role-personally,I never cared for Cotten in Westerns and his role in this one is
mean spirited,to say the least.
John K, I’m glad that MGM/UA is supplying a new master for APACHE. I wonder if they’ll have in 1.37:1 or 1.85:1(cropped)?
THE STALKING MOON is an excellent movie and the photography of the Arizona, Nevada, and Sonora, Mexico landscapes by old hand Charles Lang is beautiful. I think I’ll pull the movie out and watch it again, soon.
Opinion is divided, as you say, on THE LAST SUNSET. I can understand why Lauren Bacall turned down the role of Belle. Bacall was uneasy with the subject material, as I am.
Walter,
CONQUEST OF COCHISE is a fun movie and for a Castle/Katzman effort
there seems to be a lack of stock footage for a change.
I am certain that you would be an admirer of Aldrich’s ULZANA’S RAID
arguably the last truly great Robert Aldrich picture.
As you know,the film is NOT for the faint hearted.
I guess I will generate a degree of flak here but I also admire Winner’s
CHATO’S LAND certainly Bronson did bring a degree of dignity with his
portrayals of Native Americans (DRUM BEAT,RUN OF THE ARROW)
I thought that the two Westerns Winner directed (the other being LAWMAN)
had the benefit of good scripts from Gerald Wilson.
Both of Winner’s Westerns had very superior casts.
John K, yes, CONQUEST OF COCHISE is well worth watching, despite the Historical inaccuracies. I don’t suppose Columbia Studios wardrobe department had any 1850’s military uniforms. Anyway, I like and recommend the movie.
ULZANA’S RAID(1972) is a really good realistic Western Movie portrayal of the Apache Wars of the 1880’s. We had a good discussion of this movie over at Jeff Arnold’s West Blog,
https://jeffarnoldblog.blogspot.com/2018/07/ulzanas-raid-universal-1972.html
In 1973, I first encountered the Historical Ulzana in Paul I. Wellman’s GOD, GLORY, AND GOLD: A NARRATIVE OF THE SOUTHWEST(1954). I think Alan Sharp’s original ULZANA’S RAID screenplay is masterful. Sharp, a native Scot, did some really good research on the Apache and the time period, which was 1885-86.
Unlike in the movie APACHE, where we find it easy to sympathize with Massai(Burt Lancaster) and Nalinle(Jean Peters), screenwriter Alan Sharp and director Robert Aldrich make it difficult, if not down right impossible, to be in sympathy with Ulzana(Joaquin Martinez). Also, I tend to be more in sympathy with Apache scout Ke-Ni-Tay(Jorge Luke) than I am for Apache scout Hondo(Charles Bronson) in APACHE. This is because of Sharp’s writing and the actor portrayals. This is all interesting too me because we have the same producer-director Robert Aldrich and the same producer-actor Burt Lancaster for both movies.
I think the role of McIntosh is one of Burt Lancaster’s best performances of his later years, along with CATTLE ANNIE AND LITTLE BRITCHES(filmed in 1979, released 1981).
Another,sadly unheralded Al Sieber movie is Jack Starret’s epic TV
movie MR HORN with David Carradine as Tom Horn and Richard Widmark
(outstanding) as Sieber.
If some brave soul put this out on Blu Ray I would buy it in a heartbeat.
The first half of the movie has Horn and Sieber dealing with Geronimo and
the even better second half has Horn becoming a killer for hire to the cattle
barons and his downward slide into alcholism. Needless to say the film is pretty
pro Native American.
Had he been able to get his train wreck life together and yes in another
era I guess, Carradine could have been one of the all time great Western stars.
John K, I first watched MR. HORN(filmed in 1978, aired on CBS-TV February 1 and 3, 1979) when it was first shown. I think it is a real good Western and with, as you say, an outstanding performance by Richard Widmark as Al Sieber. Also, with a memorable performance By David Carradine as Tom Horn.
I first read about Tom Horn in 1971 when I read his LIFE OF TOM HORN, GOVERNMENT SCOUT AND INTERPRETER, WRITTEN BY MYSELF, TOGETHER WITH HIS LETTERS AND STATEMENTS BY HIS FRIENDS: A VINDICATION(1904). The book was first published by John C. Coble. I read the University of Oklahoma Press re-print(1964). I’ve been interested in the Tom Horn story ever since.
During the eight years writer William Goldman spent researching and then writing the original screenplay for BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID(1969) he kept running into their contemporary, the very controversial Tom Horn. As a result, Goldman wrote another original screenplay titled MR. HORN with an eye toward casting Robert Redford in the leading role of Tom Horn and Sydney Pollack directing. Well, things don’t always work out as first planned, especially when it comes to getting movies made.
How Historically accurate is it? As most movies, MR. HORN was loosely based on a true story. Some events and people were fictionalized. For example there was no Ernestina Crawford(Karen Black) and Lt. Charles B. Gatewood convinced Geronimo(Enrique Lucero) to surrender, not Tom Horn. All in all, I think the makers of this fine TV movie did capture the spirit of Tom Horn. We don’t ask movies, or TV shows to be History lessons, do we? I think MR. HORN is well worth watching.
There are some DVD’s out there of this rare hard to find TV movie, but beware of poor quality and shortened versions. The movie was originally shown in a 240 minute time slot with commercials. IMDb lists the time has 180 minutes, which is probably close, but I think the original two-parter might have been longer. When CBS-TV later rerun the movie, it was shortened to fit in a 180 minute time slot with commercials. There is an 142 minute color washed out version on YouTube, which is probably the CBS-TV shorter version. Also, there is an 135 minute DVD put out by some Norwegian company.
John K, do you know anything about a German company named Pidax Film? This company released a two-disc DVD of MR. HORN in February, 2020. The title is MR. HORN-HIS WAY TO THE GALLOWS.
For those who want to read more about the real Tom Horn, the following books are good ones:
Dean Krakel, THE SAGA OF TOM HORN: THE STORY OF A CATTLEMAN’S WAR(1954).
Chip Carlson, TOM HORN: BLOOD ON THE MOON, DARK HISTORY OF THE MURDEROUS CATTLE DETECTIVE(2001).
Larry D. Ball, TOM HORN: IN LIFE AND LEGEND(2014).
Will Henry, I, TOM HORN(1975), which is Historical Fiction.
Walter,do any of these have anything to do with TOM HORN starring Steve McQueen?
Just to clarify a few points I think Walter is less happy with the “bentness” (great word) in THE LAST SUNSET than myself and I guess he is thinking about the Kirk Douglas/Carol Lynley relationship which I feel was tastefully done.The only negative point,as mentioned before, the Joseph Cotten character and one degrading scene in particular. I also liked the respect for nature/animals subtext in the film which is pure Trumbo the orphaned calf,the ground nesting birds,so rare to find these kind of scenes in a Western.
CATTLE ANNIE & LITTLE BRITCHES is a wonderful picture and a filling swan song as Lancaster’s final Western.
Bringing the two Michael Winner Westerns into the mix may not have been such a good idea,lots of folk don’t like them but I do,I certainly like Gerald Wilson’s scripts. As an extra on the Twilight Time Blu Ray for CHATO’S LAND Wilson states that the Apache learned the art ot torture from Jesuit Priests but Jeff Arnold claims this is nonsense.
As it would happen Wilson spent some time living in Muswell Hill a place where I happen to have been born,yes folks I’m a genuine “Muswell Hillbilly” Wilson used to take his Irish Wolfhound for walks in Highgate Woods where I spent many happy hours playing as a child,it’s a magical place,for me at least. A friend of mine,knew Wilson back in the 80’s before he knew me in fact. Wilson had some pretty engaging tales and here’s a favorite of mine. One of Wilson’s projects which never happened was a film about the legendary bounty hunter Ralph “Papa” Thorson. The film was later made with Steve McQueen as THE HUNTER and McQueen just happened to look nothing like Thorson. As Gerald Wilson had plenty of work at that time he was reluctant to leave London so the prospective producers flew Thorson over to London to work with Wilson.On one occasion Wilson and Thorson dined at the legendary oyster bar Wheeler’s in Soho. Thorson pointing to the refrigerated display said I’ll have a dozen of those,Wilson thinking that he had ordered oysters,but in fact he had ordered a dozen avocado prawns,a large avocado half stone removed and stuffed with fresh prawns…man.that’s some appetite and that was only for starters.
Mr Wilson,I believe now lives in Ireland.
John K, THE LAST SUNSET is one strange wild ride out on the beautifully photographed ardently used arid Mexico landscapes(calls out for restoration) involving a chaotic family tragedy in more blended ways than one. It is worth watching, despite screenwriter Dalton Trumbo’s and Kirk Douglas’ fascination with the sensationalist aspect of the movie, whether tastefully done, or not. I’m leaving it there.
I like the idea that Trumbo attempts to respect nature/animals/birds in a Western, but he does it in a typical wrong-headed city-boy way. My family’s background is in the raising of cattle, horses, mules, hogs, and chickens. I grew up driving, herding, and working with cattle from one end of our Owl Holler Ranch to the other(I’ve lived and worked in cities, also). The only way you can get an orphan calf to follow you, is to milk bottle feed the little feller, not blowing in its nostrils. As for ground nesting birds, probably Killdeer, don’t go picking up the nest with your hands, this will disturb the nearby parents. Frankly, I didn’t enjoy watching the sadistic dog whispering going on with Jackboy.
I agree with Jeff Arnold concerning CHATO’S LAND(filmed in 1971, released 1972)) screenwriter Gerald Wilson’s claim that the Apache learned the art of torture from Jesuit Priests. That claim is nonsense and what is the particular source that Wilson derived this from? The Apache were not part of the slave Indian labor of the mission/rancho system. Anyway, the Jesuits were expelled from New Spain(Mexico) in 1767 for political reasons. We had a good discussion about this subject on this very site, a couple of years ago.
https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2018/07/17/50s-westerns-blu-ray-news-264-the-last-hunt-1956/
I enjoyed your neat Gerald Wilson and Frank “Papa” Thorson story. Believe it or not, you have sparked my interest in screenwriter Gerald “Gerry” Wilson’s career. I rather enjoyed SCORPIO(filmed in 1972, released 1973) a good spy thriller, which Director Michael Winner had Wilson do a re-write on. SCORPIO, which starred Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon, and Paul Scofield, was the first movie to be granted permission to film at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. In spite of the script not portraying the Agency in the best light.
Wilson and his wife Rebecca, who is a former dancer and teacher of dance, live in Westport, County Mayo, Ireland.
John K, and everyone else, stay safe and healthy.
Funny that you brought up The Hunter. I’ve been meaning to pull that one out again. I always liked the way McQueen played with his image with this one — wearing glasses, listening to opera, can’t drive, etc.
Walter,
Thanks for the background information on Tom Horn,and yes,Graham
the Steve McQueen film is another take on his story and was I feel a very good
and underrated movie,at one time,I believe Don Siegel was attached to the
project.
I will have to check out the Pidax disc they are not a bad company I have their
Blu Ray of THE SHOOTIST which is an official release and very good quality
wise.
Another Tom Horn movie which is pure fiction is DAKOTA LIL directed by
Lesley Selander with George Montgomery as Horn. DAKOTA LIL is a very
good Western however and entertaineng,it’s a shame Selander only
directed Montgomery twice,he was an ideal director for him.
A guy is in tall timber when he brings the likes of Michael Winner into the
mix,especially on this blog,and even more so over at Jeff Arnold’s.
I really like the three earlier Winner Brit Flicks WEST 11,THE SYSTEM and
I’LL NEVER FORGET WHAT’IS.NAME. In particular I like their take on the
English Class system. THE SYSTEM is I believe just out on Blu Ray from Kino
and it’s a great Cinema Verite take on the English Seaside resorts,circa 1963.
I also really enjoy his two Westerns LAWMAN and CHATO’S LAND and that’s
about it for me as far as Mr Winner is conerned. Jeff and I beg to differ on
the two Winner Westerns.
My connection to Gerald Wilson is Muswell Hill,Highgate Wood and his friendship with the person who would later become one of my closest friends.
My friend converted the top of his house to his own personal cinema and
Mr Wilson was a frequent guest as I was circa 1993 onwards. My friend had
an extensive 16mm collection.
Gerald Wilson a Canadian spent his early years living among Native
Canadian tribes he also stated that the Apache were originally a North
American tribe and were forced south by Native American enemies and
eventually ended up where non one really wanted to live.
CHATO’S LAND was seen as a major studio breakthrough breakthrough
for Bronson although Winner’s DEATH WISH was his true breakthrough movie,
as far as superstardon goes..
In a meeting between Winner,Wilson and David Picker,head of UA Winner
confronted Wilson saying that he never liked the way Winner cast his films
so why don’t you cast this one.
Wilson rose to the challenge and cast Palance,Richard Basehart,and
James Whitmore. Wilson had hoped to get Robert Ryan for the Simon Oakland
part but sadly by that time Ryan was too ill to withstand extensive location
filming.
I still think CHATO’S LAND is a strong Western in a way for me it’s the last
film of the old Bronson and the first film featuring his new screen persona,
myself I much prefer the Bronson of DRUM BEAT,JUBAL,RUN OF THE
ARROW and so on.
Hello again Walter,
Thanks for the reference to the German Pidax MR HORN.
Sadly it would seem from the Amazon reviews and zooming in on the
artwork the DVD has a German only soundtrack.
I hope that it gets a domestic release,preferably on Blu Ray.
Furthermore Steve McQueen’s TOM HORN is way overdue for a Blu Ray
release.
Interestingly, Gerald Wilson did write CHATO’S LAND as an allergorical
take on the Veitnam War,I don’t always get these Veitnam references in
70’s Westerns but I got this one.
Gerald Wilson did state that Winner could be insensitive at trimes he
certainly was while making THE SYSTEM. He asked Oliver Reed to hit
lovely Jane Merrow,Reed faked the blow. Winner insisted “Really” hit her
which Reed did nearly knocking the poor girl out. Luckily this only required
one take. The crew made their displeasure very clear to Winner.
There’s lots of negative stuff about Winner all over the place but he was the
only member of the showbiz community to attend Reed’s funeral.
Winner also championed our beleaguered Police Force and they could sure
use his support these days.
John K, looks like I’m being long winded, but what the hay. I agree that director Lesley Selander and actor George Montgomery would have been an ideal team to have made more movies together. Also, another Tom Horn movie, which is as you say pure fiction, is the BADMEN OF TOMBSTONE(filmed in 1948, released 1949) with Barry Sullivan as Tom Horn. If my memory serves me right, I don’t think that I’ve ever seen this movie.
I don’t know about walking in tall timber, but an individual likes what they like for whatever reasons. If you like Michael Winner’s LAWMAN(filmed in 1970, released 1971) and CHATO’S LAND(filmed in 1971, released 1972) that’s just fine right down to the bone. Everybody likes different things and we are still free to choose, and we have a lot to pick from, especially in movies and TV shows.
The first Michael Winner movie I remember watching is THE JOKERS(filmed in 1966, released 1967) with Oliver Reed, Michael Crawford, Harry Andrews, James Donald, and Michael Hordern. I first watched this movie on either the NBC MONDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES or the NBC TUESDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES in 1969. What a cast in a real humorous heist movie, which was so much fun to watch.
Wow! Someone who converted the top of his house to his own personal cinema and with an extensive 16 mm collection, back in the day. We thought we were in tall cotton, out in the hinterlands, by having a collection of VHS pan and scan tapes, and being able to rent tapes from the good ole Home Film Festival, where we could watch movies from the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, and etc… Also, silent movies. Those were the days!
Back to Charles Bronson. Yes, CHATO’S LAND was a breakthrough movie for him as well as THE MECHANIC(1972) and THE STONE KILLER(1973) all directed by Michael Winner, and all putting Bronson into the top ten at the box office here in the USA for 1973. His best mojo years at the box office were 1973-77.
Thanks for giving more information about screenwriter Gerald Wilson, because you have sparked my interest. So, he actually spent his early years among Canadian Indian tribes, that is interesting.
Take care, stay safe, and stay healthy.
Graham, as John K said TOM HORN(filmed in 1979, released 1980) is another take on the real Tom Horn story. I first watched the movie on the big screen in March, 1980. It was a packed theater, because it had been over five years since the premiere of THE TOWERING INFERNO(1974) and fans wanted to see Steve McQueen. I liked and really enjoyed the movie.
Western novelist Henry Wilson Allen, who wrote under the names Will Henry and Clay Fisher, had published his I,TOM HORN-A LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF THE OLD WEST in 1975. Whereas, William Goldman’s MR. HORN screenplay got things rolling for the proposed Robert Redford movie, Will Henry’s I,TOM HORN got things rolling on the Steve McQueen movie.
McQueen started on a two year research of everything concerning Tom Horn and the era he lived in. He visited Louis L’Amour at his Spanish-Colonial home in Los Angeles. He asked L’Amour if he could borrow some of his books, on the West, for research. L’Amour said no, because he never let any of his books leave his home library, but that McQueen was welcome to come and use the library. So, McQueen would sit in L’Amour’s library for hours reading books on Western History and many of Horn’s own letters, that L’Amour had in his possession.
McQueen and future wife model Barbara Minty visited Cheyenne, Wyoming, where Horn was tried for murder in 1902-03, and his grave located in Columbia Cemetery in Boulder, Colorado. They spent the night at Horn’s grave.
What happened next reminds me of what Toby Roan brought forth in his book A MILLION FEET OF FILM THE MAKING OF ONE EYED JACKS(2019), in that the evidence showed that Marlon Brando wanted to direct the movie all along. Here, although it is just conjecture on my part, Steve McQueen seems to be in the same set of mind. In 1977 Don Siegel was brought on board to direct, but left. In an interview, Executive-Producer Phil Parslow said that Siegel would ask McQueen a simple question and get several complicated responses. Siegel told Parslow, “I don’t know what this man wants to do. I come in every day, he rambles on and on. I just don’t understand him. I don’t think we’ll be able to come to some conclusion of what he wants. One day it’s this, one day it’s that.” Needless to say, Don Siegel left. Later on Phil Parslow left also, leaving McQueen the sole executive-producer. In 1978 Elliott Silverstein came in as director and he had developed a screenplay on the idea of a relationship between Tom Horn and Geronimo based on historical reports that had never been used before. Silverstein said McQueen’s inability to communicate caused problems, so he withdrew from the movie. Next up record producer James William Guerico. After the third day of filming in January, 1979, McQueen personally fired him. Barbara Minty McQueen, who is a really good photographer, actually snapped a photo of McQueen actually firing Guercio.
Was Steve McQueen going to be the next director? The Directors Guild had a rule, which is referred to as the Clint Eastwood rule, stipulating that a producer/ actor, or anyone else previously involved in the movie couldn’t take over the role of director. Producer/actor Eastwood had fired Phillip Kaufman and took over as director on THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES(filmed in 1975, released 1976). As a result, the new rule. William Wiard a television director was hired by McQueen for one reason and one reason only, to be quiet and allow McQueen to be the unofficial director of TOM HORN.
Hey,Walter,
“Wrong Headed City Boy”….man do I resemble that remark.
Thanks so much for the wonderful feedback on everything and reminding
me that we’ve been down this trail before,jeepers,I’ve got a short memory.
BAD MEN OF TOMBSTONE is available on a Warner Archive DVD and it’s
pretty good. Directed by Kurt Neumann this King Brothers Production has
good production values.
I’m glad that I’ve sparked some interest in Gerry Wilson even though some
of his takes on Western history may be questionable.
I don’t know if it’s a British thing but several film collectors have converted
their attics lofts,ect into their own home cinemas,I’m sure our Jerry knows a few
cats who have done just that.
I saw a documentary on Northern Ireland where several film fanatics have
converted their garages into cinemas,on quiet an impressive scale.
I forgot Winner’s THE JOKERS and would like to see it again,do try to catch
WEST 11 and THE SYSTEM I think you will find much to enjoy in both films.
It’s interesting that you mention James William Guerico,ELECTRA GLIDE
IN BLUE happens to be one of my favorite 70’s films and what a wonderful
role for Royal Dano.
Walter,with your ranching background you know far more about what’s
authentic than I ever will I think you discussed some questionable aspects
regarding THE RARE BREED. Even I know the parents will abandon young
birds if they come in contact with humans but just taking it as a movie
I thought the premise was cute enough.
Always a pleasure to engage in these exchanges Walter,for me it’s cetainly
an education.
Wonderful background on McQueen’s TOM HORN,I loved the parts about
Louis L’Amour’s library.
I really need to watch this movie again.
I feel anyone who has not seen THE LAST SUNSET would be fascinated
to see it from Walter’s input alone. It’s certainly a flawed movie but also
a one of a kind Western with many fine elements I hope the film gets the
restoration that it deserves.
Walter you have reminded me of elements in the picture that I’ve forgotten
(what did I say about a short memory) so another look is certainly on the
cards.
Most of Gerry Wilson’s take on the West I got from the extra on the Twilight
Time Blu Ray of CHATO’S LAND he certainly comes across as a “Houstonesque” type of character.
I wonder,indeed if Toby would be up for the commentary on the Kino edition
of THE LAST SUNSET certainly many trails to blaze there.
The Last Sunset is being done by someone else, not sure who.
You’re right, there’d be plenty to cover with that one.
John K, it’s always a pleasure to engage in these exchanges with you. I really enjoy it, because you have such a vast knowledge of movies. Thank you.
I probably was somewhat windy, but I’ve studied so much about the Apache and Tom Horn over the years, it just came out. There is quite a backstory to ELECTRA GLIDE IN BLUE(filmed in 1972, released 1973), but that will have to wait for another time.
We have to make a trip to St. Louis, so stay safe and healthy.
Walter,
Look forward very much to your backstory on ELECTRA GLIDE IN BLUE,
as I mentioned,one of my top 70’s movies. I’ve mentioned before,elsewhere
at a London B Western convention Peggy Stewart found Bronson very hard
work when she appeared in a Have Gun Will Travel episode with him but
she adored Robert Blake. Peggy mentioned when Blake was incarcerated
Anthony Hopkins used to go visit him,according to Peggy they used to
read passages from Moby Dick to each other.
Walter,you have forgotten more about movies than I will ever know it’s an
honour to trade views with you.
Stay safe and well on your trip to St Louis.