weezeralfalfa Directed by veteran George Marshall, this generally excellent western was partially based on the novel "Frontier Fury", by the noted writer of Western novels: Will Henry, in turn, largely based on a historic battle, given various names, between a confederacy of various tribes of Eastern Oregon and Washington and a US army unit, commanded by Colonel Steptoe(Stedlow in the film). This was seen as a defeat by the greatly outnumbered army unit, although hardly the semi-massacre suggested in the film. The official stats suggest only abut 10% of the soldiers were killed or wounded, which about equals the rough estimate for the Indians. The prominent characters played by Ward Bond(Holden) and Jeff Chandler(Sgt. Bell)are fictional, as relates to the main battle. However, Bond's missionary pastor/doctor clearly is mostly based on Marcus Whitman, who was long before invited by the Indians to establish a mission near present Walla Walla. He was murdered, as part of a general massacre and abduction of Europeans, after the Indians noticed that his European patients were much more likely to survive a measles outbreak than his Indian patients. This incident, which occurred a decade before the 1858 battle featured in the film, is represented by the Indian attack on the mission complex, in which Bond(Holden) is shot dead by the chief of the hostile Indians: Kamiakin. Thus, the film blends these two chronologically disconnected historical themes into a single story. Why was this story characterized as happening in 1868 instead of the actual '58? to justify the advanced firearms used? Although the outspoken chief Kamiakin dies in the film, in fact, like Chief Crazy Horse, this long important belligerent never died in battle. He was well played by Michael Ansara, who makes several impressive speeches in councils.I only wish that the film had spent some time dramatizing the remarkable escape of the army group, being surrounded by a much larger number of Indians, much like Custer. It only alludes to such in a discussion of plans, then suddenly we are back at the mission. The film very well dramatizes their difficult flight to relocate on a chunk of ancient earth crust elevated 1000 feet above the rolling Palouse Hills, while being pursued by Indians. However, after 10 hours of fighting, their ammunition and water was about exhausted. If the Indians had known this, they could have pretty well finished them off with a concerted night attack. instead, as discussed in the film, an army scout located a weak spot in the Indian's siege, revealed by a campfire count. Thus, a nocturnal escape attempt through this area was decided upon, with rain as an additional obscuring factor. Amazingly, it worked, and they marched an incredible 90 miles in 24 hours to safety, while the Indians concentrated on gathering the equipment they left behind, once their escape was discovered. As in the film, the main Indian allies of the Europeans were the Nez Perce, who greeted the retreating army. The army and Nez Perce would, in time, become adversaries, as dramatized in "I Will Fight No More".The outdoor scenes were filmed mostly in the NE corner of Oregon, rather close to where the historical action took place. Incidentally, 'Pillars of the Sky' refers to the mountain ranges in this region, we presumably getting an occasional look at the Wallowa range. At this time(1858), the Indians were being besieged by gold prospectors and homesteaders, as suggested in the film. Chandler(Bell) begins with very adversarial relationships with the elderly Stedlow(Willis Bouchey) and his subordinate officer captain Gaxton. These relationships morphed into mostly mutual respects during and after the big battle. Gaxton and Bell were at odds over Caxton's estranged wife Calla(Dorothy Malone), who shows up as a survivor of an Indian attack on a wagon. This fickle woman claims she never loved Gaxton and has long loved the hard-drinking Bell. Then, during and after the big battle, she changes her mind, admitting that it was mostly her fault that she and Gaston didn't get along well in the past.Several reviewers complain that the big action scene comes too late to maintain interest in the film to that point. However, in reality, battles were very often preceded by attempts to settle issues by negotiations, which is what the first 45 min of the film is mostly about, along with working out the differences between various army officers. When I think of other Westerns of this era, many had only one big battle, and it occurred late in the film. Thus, I don't see this film as being out of line in that respect. Besides, this was quite a lengthy battle scene, the real battle lasting 10 hours, until darkness. Thus, the reported casualties were actually remarkably few, with this consideration. It was pointed out at this web site that the Indians actually rode bareback or on blankets, in contrast to most westerns, where a saddle was often hidden under a blanket.I don't have any major complaints about the many players, except perhaps Dorothy. Instead of playing an actual Indian chief, as he did in several other films, Chandler plays an army officer quite sympathetic to the plight of the Indians, rather like John Wayne's character in "Fort Apache", for example. I thought he was quite adequate for his role, as was Bouchey as Stedlow. Ward Bond has one of his best roles. I also liked him in "Wagon Masters". There were actually too many characters for me to keep them all straight. Presently available at YouTube, as well as an expensive DVD. Amazingly, I rated this higher than "The Searchers" I'll stick with that.

Spikeopath Pillars of the Sky (AKA: The Tomahawk and the Cross) is directed by George Marshall and adapted to screenplay by Sam Rolfe from the novels "Frontier Fury" & "To Follow a Flag" written by Will Henry. It stars Jeff Chandler, Ward Bond, Dorothy Malone, Keith Andes and Lee Marvin. A Technicolor/CinemaScope production, photography is by Harold Lipstein and music is by Joseph Gershenson.Oregon County 1868, and the Native Indian tribes have been shunted on to government sanctioned reservations. As the U.S. troops arrive to lay the roads through Indian territory for new settlers, the Indian chiefs decide to fight back. Led by Chief Kamiakin (Michael Ansara), the Indians attack leaving the army short on numbers, all that's left is a small band of soldiers and some civilians. Can they survive on guts and religious comfort alone? It was originally intended to be made with John Ford directing and John Wayne starring, but come 1956 the pair were unable to commit to the production. They had another Western to make that year, The Searchers! Plot is familiar for Pillars of the Sky, but the even handed portrayal of the Indians and a pro-Christian bent in the narrative, lifts it out of the ordinary. Picture is further boosted by some excellent action sequences that are skilfully crafted by director Marshall (Destry Rides Again/How the West Was Won). Indian attacks, via horseback or flaming arrows assault, considerably raise the pulse, while the sight of the army desperately trying to conquer the rocky terrain while under attack is a bona fide piece of Oater grit. With the exteriors actually filmed on location in Oregon at Joseph & La Grande, the backdrop is gorgeous, expertly brought to life in Technicolor "Scope" by Lipstein (No Name on the Bullet/Von Ryan's Express). While Gershenson (Horizons West/The Man from the Alamo) scores it with genre compliant riffs on Cavalry marches and Indian flavouring.That it isn't better known or thought of higher comes down to a so so set of acting performances and a pointless love triangle that pads the picture out with boorish periods of chat. Malone, looking beautiful as per usual in colour, is basically a token character, who serves only to be a romantic interest that causes friction between Chandler and Andes. In fact her dialogue is minimal. Marvin has only a small role, and he offers up a quite poor Irish accent as well, while Andes fails to convince. Chandler does cut a decent rugged figure, portraying First Sergeant Emmett Bell as a man you would fight alongside, but it's a performance that lacks charisma, something that Duke Wayne no doubt would have brought to the role. It's left to Bond to take the acting honours, where in an unusually restrained role for him as strongly Christian Dr. Joseph Holden, he gives good value for money as he plays it out with stoic nobility. With a great DVD transfer and the correct aspect ratio used, the film looks absolutely terrific. It has flaws for sure, but it comes easily recommended to the Western fan. 7/10

ccthemovieman-1 Since I love westerns, and usually have no problems watching actors like Jeff Chandler, Dorothy Malone, Ward Bond and Lee Marvin, I thought for sure I would enjoy this movie.Wrong. The lead, "1st Sgt. Emmetr Bell" (Chandler) was a unlikeable, bitter guy who gets a quick slam in about "having no use for the Bible" and appearing as a bitter guy. My major complaint, however, was that - especially in a western - you better grab the audience's attention early on, if you want to hold. Nothing happens in this movie for at least the first half hour. By then I was bored, and I couldn't have been the only one. If memory serves me, the big calvary-vs. Indians battle doesn't happen for at least an hour.Malone also did not look the part at all. Marvin with an Irish accent? Puh-leeze! They and some of the others either had no credibility or they sounded like they just mailed in their performances. At least they were good enough to film this on location, in the Pacific Northwest, which always looks impressive on film. This might have been an interesting had they punched it up in the first half, but you can't expect to hold audiences with something this lackluster.

frankfob Given the basically no-star cast and the fact that it came from Universal-International, it's understandable that you might think this would be just another run-of-the-mill "B" oater--and you'd be dead wrong. This first-rate western has several things going for it. The breathtaking Oregon locations have been beautifully captured by Harold Lipstein's expert Technicolor cinematography. The colors are lush, and the photography is so atmospheric you can almost feel the chill in your bones as the troops slog through the rugged mountain country. There are several rousingly staged and exciting action scenes, notably a somewhat lengthy sequence in which a wagon train loaded with troops cuts its way through a mass of charging Indians. The performances by a cast of veteran character actors--Lee Marvin in an early role (although his Irish brogue is a bit much), Keith Andes, Charles Horvath, Alberto Morin and Willis Bouchey, among others--are top-notch, Dorothy Malone is beautiful, Jeff Chandler gives a more authoritative (and animated) performance than he usually did and Ward Bond does an outstanding job as a caring and concerned missionary who doesn't want to see bloodshed on either side. The main thing the film has going for it, though, is the subject matter. Rather than having the usual Apaches or Comanches rampaging through the Southwest, the film is set in the Oregon mountain country, and the Indians are not superstitious savages but have been converted to Christianity by missionary Bond, and many in their religious zeal have given up their "animal" names and taken the names of Biblical figures (to further drive the point home, one soldier complains to Bond that, since he has "Christianized" the Indians, they have no qualms about attacking at night; "uncivilized" Indians never attacked at night for fear that if they were killed, their spirits would roam in the dark forever and never find peace). As far as I know, this particular facet of the Indian wars had never been tackled before or, for that matter, since. The story consistently holds your interest (although the triangle between Chandler, Malone and Andes tends to slow things down somewhat), the action scenes are terrific, the photography, as noted, is superb. A very worthy effort from veteran director George Marshall. Well worth your time.