War Arrow is a 1953 western film directed by George Sherman based on the Seminole Scouts and starring Jeff Chandler and Maureen O'Hara. Filmed by Universal-International, the film was shot in Agoura, California.
Plot synopsis
Major Howell Brady (Jeff Chandler), a cavalry officer, is sent from Washington D.C. to Fort Clark, Texas, to subdue a Kiowa uprising that has been raiding both white settlements and villages on Seminole reservations. Brady requests that the post commander Colonel Meade (John McIntire) send his troops out in fast moving small units to engage the Kiowa but the Colonel fears his men would be slaughtered in piece meal actions and only feels the Kiowa are impressed by large numbers of troops.
Together with his two sergeants, Brady enlists the help of the Seminole chief, Maygro (Henry Brandon}, by giving him $500 and promising his people food and land. The three of them arm 25 Seminoles with state of the art Henry repeating rifles and train them as counter guerillas; luring the Kiowa in then ambushing them. Col. Meade and his officers resent Brady’s interference and mistrust the Seminoles.
At Fort Clark, Brady meets and falls in love with Elaine Corwin (Maureen O'Hara), the widow of a cavalry officer. However, when "Brady's Bunch" of Seminoles successfully repel a Kiowa attack, Brady spots a white man with the Kiowa. Although he does not get a good look at him, he recovers his sabre. The engraved sabre turns out to belong to Captain R. G. Corwin, the supposed deceased husband of Elaine. The Seminoles confirm Corwin is still alive through torturing a Kiowa prisoner.
Meanwhile, Meade fails to deliver promised food to the Seminole so Maygro leads his people from the fort. Brady steals the food from the fort and delivers it himself to Maygro, for which Meade jails Brady. Brady is freed by Elaine and some of the Seminoles.
Brady discovers the Kiowa are preparing to attack the fort that is defended by only 20 men due to Meade's forces being away pursuing the elusive Kiowa. He returns to warn Meade, but he ignores him. He is about to throw Brady back in jail when a cavalry patrol returns with the same news that the Kiowa are preparing to attack. A fierce battle ensues and the Kiowa are defeated. Amongst the dead is the traitor R. G. Corwin, whom it turns out has been collaborating with a group of Mexicans to incite war.
Cast
- Jeff Chandler as Maj. Howell Brady
- Maureen O'Hara as Elaine Corwin
- John McIntire as Col. Jackson Meade
- Suzan Ball as Avis
- Noah Beery, Jr. as Sgt. Augustus Wilks
- Charles Drake as 1st Sgt. Luke Schermerhom
- Henry Brandon as Chief Maygro
- Dennis Weaver as Pino
- Jay Silverheels as Satanta
- Jim Bannon as Capt. Roger G. Corwin
- Stephen Wyman as Capt. Neil
Quotes
Wars are won by initiative, not authorisation - Major Brady.
References
External links
- War Arrow at the Internet Movie Database
- Jeff Chandler at the Internet Movie Database
- Maureen O'Hara at the Internet Movie Database
- Vista Records Review of the film