Column South

This is a passable western but no extraordinary, a routine cavalry versus Indians yarn with thrills, attacks, treason and fort assaults. A standard Western in which Audie and the US cavalry face off and defeat the enemy. Set 1961, New Mexico, earlier the American civil war with Lt. Jed, Audie Murphy, who really efforts to conciliate his troops and the local war-crazed Navajo tribe commanded by Menquito : miscast Dennis Weaver. But his attempts are undermined by the superior officer, Captain Lee : Robert Sterling and a racist commandant : Ray Collins. Along the way Murphy is sent to command a detachment forming a long column across Indian territory while are assaulted by Indians .There are some Confederate sympathizers who undertake dark machinations to Indians follow a warpath. At the end occurs the last flamingo stand at Fort Union . Against treason and Navajo fury, the US cavalry rides!

This is an acceptable, but nothing special Western in which Indians are coerced to go on war by scheming US commanders who try to gain control Southern territories when next to take place the imminent American Civil War : 1861 to 1865. The picture with various pacing threads was well starred by Audie Murphy, playing in his usual style as an officer who fights to prevent war tensions and quell the impeding battles while has a peculiar love/hate with the heroine . Audie was the most decorated soldier in WWII and performing his self-bigraphy : To hell and back. And he starred a lot of Westerns as Texas Kid, Legend of Sam Guard, Cimarron Kid, Sierra, Legend of Billy Kid, Apache rifles, Night passage, Posse from hell, Arizona raiders, The unforgiven, Red badge of courage, 40 guns to Apache Pass, Guns of Fort Petticoat, among others. Remaining cast formed by nice actors as a tough officer interpreted by Robert Sterling, his beautiful sister played by Joan Evans who falls for Murphy and Ray Collins as cunning commanding who attempts to trigger war between Navajo Indians and cavalry to his command as for the Confederates can gain control of the South territory. And support cast with plenty of familiar faces as Dennis Weaver, Russell Simpson, James Best, Gregg Palmer, Johnny Downs, Ralph Moody, Richard Garland , Bob Steele, Denver Pyle, among others.

It contains a colorful cinematography in Technicolor by Charles P. Boyle, but an allright remastering being extremely necessary. As well as thrilling and atmospheric musical score by uncredited Henry Mancini and Herman Stein. Well produced by Ted Richmond who subsequently to have an important career financing blockbusters as Salomon and queen of Sabah, Villa rides, Red sun, Return of Magnificent Seven and Papillon. The motion picture was professionally directed by Frederick De Cordoba, though with no originality. Cordoba was a craftsman who made all kinds of genres with penchant for comedy, musican and adventure, in films as Buccaner's girl, For the love of Mary, Bedtime for Bonzo, Frankie and Johnny, I'll take Sweden, He come the Nelsons. Rating 5.5/10. Passable and acceptable.

Column South is an interesting western, fusing drama and tension throughout. There isn't much action but the tension between the Indians and the cavalry is well done. The north-south angle makes it more interesting. The finale ends with a well-made action. It's interesting that the Indians are in the fort firing at the cavalry.

The Civil War is about to break out, and there's trouble afoot with the Navajos on their reservation. Let. Audie Murphy has a good relationship with the Indian Chief Dennis Weaver, but his C.O,, Captain Robert Sterling doesn't trust them and is a Southern sympathizer. So when General Ray Collins, who is in on the plans to form the Confederacy wants the Navajos to revolt, he has Sterling plant guns, then issues orders that if they are found among the Indians, to move them to an inhospitable bit of territory.

It's a pretty good Audie Murphy vehicle directed by Grederick de Cordova, who would spend decades producing THE TONIGHT SHOW. Joan Evans is Sterlings Unionist wife, and there a nice small role for Bob Steele, Look quick for Denver Pyle as a Confederate spy for that double BONANZA feeling.

Westerns that feature a cavalry theme don't hold much attraction for me but this one managed to hold my attention. It has an above average story by William Sackheim that helps - an above average and hard working cast, with above average photography by D.O.P. the Award nominated Charles P. Boyle (Anchors Aweigh '45)

The DVD copy I was given by a friend is from the Umbrella series: Six Shooter Classics (they really must do something about that silly marketing title). Universal originally used the magnificent IB Technicolor process for this film but this disc is well below average (compared with Umbrella's earlier 'Tumble Weed' that looked perfect). Sound transfer is also below standard. Robert Sterling ('Roughshod' '49) is good as the Fort Commander, with good support from Ray Collins, Greg Palmer (Lee) and Joan Evans. Dennis Weaver does very well as the Indian chief with his motley Hollywood tribe. Music is mostly from the Universal stock library and offers little help. Audie Murphy is reliable as always in his way. Veteran director Frederick De Cordova keeps things moving and probably helped with the good dialogue (as he was known to do). Have certainly seen far worse.

Column South is directed by Frederick de Cordova and written by William Sackheim. It stars Audie Murphy, Joan Evans, Robert Sterling, Dennis Weaver and Ray Collins. Music is scored by Joseph Gershenson and photography by Charles P. Boyle.

The Breach Between The North And South Was Rapidly Widening. A Grim Spectre Of Civil War Hovered Over The Land. It Was A Time of Crisis. . .A Time For Choosing Sides.

Story essentially involves Jed Sayre (Murphy), a friend to the local Navajo Indians, relinquishing his command of Fort Union to Captain Lee Whitlock (Sterling), who after arriving with his sister Marcy (Evans), demands changes to how the Fort is run and expects Jed to end his friendship with the Navajo. When a prospector is discovered murdered it is presumed the Navajo are the guilty party, so setting in wheels in motion for Jed to try and quell the impending war with the Indians and thus having to fight his friend Menguito (Weaver) In the mixer is the impending Civil War, with deserters, traitors and political shenanigans at HQ also taking a hand in proceedings. While Jed and Marcy dance around the inevitable with their love/hate relationship.

In spite of dangling some interesting narrative threads, Column South sadly doesn't rise above being a routine Cavalry Vs Indians Western. But it's never dull and Murphy fans get the usual committed performance. What is of most interest here is the location for the shoot, shot in Apple Valley, California, it's an appealing Oater location with its surrounding hills and craggy rocks that are formed down in the valley. To my knowledge, Apple Valley was only used in one other Western film, Richard Carlson's Four Guns to the Border in 1954, which is a shame because as I say, it's both a looker and carries a harsh edge that some of the great Western movie photographers really could have done great work with.

As it is, Column South is better than average, and certainly an easy film to while away the time with. But the running time doesn't allow the interesting factors in the story to get expanded, thus leaving the film with unfulfilled potential. 6/10