I know that having a Jew from New York (Jeff Chandler) play Cochise is NOT the most enlightened thing a film studio could have done, however, in most other respects Hollywood actually tried to get it right in this simple film. Instead of American-Indians being one-dimensional and bad or stupid, here they are real people and the complexities of the relationship between them and the rest of America is actually considered--a rarity in 1950s Hollywood.
The movie begins with Jimmy Stewart playing an ex-scout out West during the latter portion of the 19th century. He happens upon an injured Apache teen and nurses him back to health. Most Whites would have probably shot him or left him and Stewart's kindness had a huge impact on the boy. So, later, when they are captured by Apaches, the boy begs them to let Stewart go--as he is their friend. A bit later, Stewart realizes that his own perceptions about Indians changed through meeting and spending time with one, so maybe, he reasons, he can learn the language and customs and act as a bridge between the two clashing cultures. Eventually, he goes to live with the Apaches and slowly gains their trust and a strong friendship with their chief, Cochise. There's a lot more to the film than this, such as his relationship with an Apache lady, but this is just something you'll have to learn about by seeing the film--I don't want to spoil it.
Overall, an amazingly sensitive portrait of American-Indians and a film that tried to show the common ground between them and the rest of America. A lovely film that I really enjoyed, though the film did seem to end a bit more abruptly than I might have liked. Still, it was probably the best portrayal of this group since the 1920s and 30s (with films such as THE VANISHING American and THE SQUAW MAN).
The movie begins with Jimmy Stewart playing an ex-scout out West during the latter portion of the 19th century. He happens upon an injured Apache teen and nurses him back to health. Most Whites would have probably shot him or left him and Stewart's kindness had a huge impact on the boy. So, later, when they are captured by Apaches, the boy begs them to let Stewart go--as he is their friend. A bit later, Stewart realizes that his own perceptions about Indians changed through meeting and spending time with one, so maybe, he reasons, he can learn the language and customs and act as a bridge between the two clashing cultures. Eventually, he goes to live with the Apaches and slowly gains their trust and a strong friendship with their chief, Cochise. There's a lot more to the film than this, such as his relationship with an Apache lady, but this is just something you'll have to learn about by seeing the film--I don't want to spoil it.
Overall, an amazingly sensitive portrait of American-Indians and a film that tried to show the common ground between them and the rest of America. A lovely film that I really enjoyed, though the film did seem to end a bit more abruptly than I might have liked. Still, it was probably the best portrayal of this group since the 1920s and 30s (with films such as THE VANISHING American and THE SQUAW MAN).