vincentlynch-moonoi This is very much a Western, except that it takes place in the Everglades. This time they aren't Sioux or Navajo, but Seminoles. But make no mistake...this is pretty much a Hollywood Western. Which is okay...and I still give it some bonus points for taking place during the Seminole Wars...something not covered very much in American cinema.We don't really learn much about Chief Osceola and the Seminole Indian Wars. But what we do see is the personal battle between a commanding officer (Richard Carlson) and his lieutenant (Rock Hudson). And we see the beauty of the Everglades (and yes, much of the film was actually shot in the Everglades), and in stunning color. Anthony Quinn is here as Osceola, but it's not a particularly good role for Quinn. I don't know enough about the real history of this time period in Florida, but I'm sure the film is ridiculously un-historic. Certainly the way they present Osceola dying is totally incorrect. And, while there appear to be Seminole Indians in the cast, all the speaking parts of Seminole Indians are actually white actors with heavy makeup (such as Hugh O'Brian...who is laughable).So, taken with a grain...or maybe a cartload...of salt, it's a good enough Western, and Rock Hudson does nicely here. I'm undecided about Richard Carlson's acting here. It is good to see Barbara Hale in the lead female role; she was a better actress than usually credited. And, they managed to wring out a somewhat happy ending in what was in reality a sad affair.

MartinHafer "Seminole" is very much like the great John Ford film, "Fort Apache" from a few years previous. Both are about an insanely inflexible commanding officer who ignores advice from what should have been his trusted scout...a man who knew how to deal with the natives. Instead, the officers are intent on using the military's might to subjugate the local tribe...and go blustering into battle like bulls in a china shop! Of course, "Fort Apache" is a better film but both are worth your time.The film begins with a court martial and Lt. Caldwell (Rock Hudson) is on trial for his life. His testimony is the story you then see. Caldwell arrives for his post under Major Degan (Richard Carlson). The Major is a major butt-head--and he won't listen to Caldwell despite Caldwell's experience dealing with the Seminole Indians. Instead, the Major just wants to trudge through the swamps with his men and attack and kill the tribe...and Caldwell warns him that it would be suicide. Not surprisingly, when they do go in search of Osceola and the other Seminole tribesmen, they are soundly defeated...and the idiot Major blames Caldwell! Later, the Major offers to talk to Osceola under a flag of truce...and then arrests Osceola and has him beaten! Like I said, the Major is a butt-head! So is this movie any good? Well, yes and no. I think bkoganbing did a terrific review--talking about the pluses and minuses in the film. It's true that much of the equipment was not true to the period but I also had to laugh at the film being set among the swamps of Florida and the soldiers NEVER sweated or were beset by bugs! The soldiers would have been wearing WOOL and it's rarely less than about 80 in the winter there...and nearly 100 in the summer...yet no sweat!! However, despite its deficiencies and historical inaccuracies, it is interesting and well worth seeing because it portrays the Seminole rather well.

Robert J. Maxwell One thing that can be said without fear of contradiction in this fictionalized but surprisingly balanced story of the Seminole Wars in Florida, is that Richard Carlson as the stern and punctilious Commander of Fort King has never given a more energetic performance.He's hardly recognizable as the thoughtful amateur astronomer of "It Came From Outer Space." His voice seems to have soared to a new octave. He paces back and forth, spitting out his plosives, explaining to the newly arrived Lieutenant Rock Hudson that the Seminoles, previously peaceful, refuse to be relocated to Oklahoma like any reasonable tribe. Instead they've become a "renegade band" under the leadership of Anthony Quinn as Osceola, a real historical figure.Hudson looks a little ridiculous in the Army uniform of 1835 -- that toy soldier hat, those fringe-dripping golden epaulets -- just as all the other soldiers do, just as our soldiers will look to the people of 2135. This is an early performance and it's earnest and artless.Let me anticipate a post-script. First, the Seminole weren't the original inhabitants of the Everglades. They replaced a less sophisticated society called the Calusa, now represented only by buried artifacts and momentous mounds of sea shells. Second, the Seminole are still there and still live in huts called chickees. The Seminole didn't hold with slavery and they were joined by many runaways, which didn't endear the Seminoles to their white neighbors. Now they seem to survive through tourism and by keeping out of the way. When an Eastern Airlines passenger aircraft plowed into the Everglades about 20 years ago, no Seminole showed up in the rescue party. They can hardly be blamed. The Everglades are slowly being drained to provide water for communities elsewhere. It's changing the National Park from swamp to grassland, which seems like a bad idea, but that's just my opinion.Out from behind the lectern and into the movie. It's a product of the 1950s. After a grueling three-day trudge through the swamp, the men remain closely shaved by the studio barber. A clip on the jaw suffices to render a man unconscious for as long as the script requires. The sound track employs cries of the kookaburra, an Australian kingfisher that first was used in "Tarzan and the Green Goddess" (1938), in which Tarzan of the Apes discovers an ancient recipe for salad dressing.The female interest, Barbara Hale, is pretty, wears her hair in a modern style instead of the unsightly loaves of the period. She wears Max Factor and is never without precisely applied lipstick. And her role is a familiar one that has always worked -- she's torn between the uniformed Rock Hudson and their old friend, Anthony Quinn, who now leads his tribe in the swamp. Hudson is a tall, handsome white man. Quinn is a poor, proud, impassioned half-Indian. Guess who gets her.If you've seen John Ford's "Fort Apache" (1948) you'll have a decent idea of the plot. Martinet (Henry Fonda) wants war; younger officer (John Wayne) tries to discourage him.

drystyx Most people, especially in the future, will see the credits, and miss a lot of the plot simply looking for the Professor. Russell Johnson barely appears.This is a fairly decent adventure. It's tempting to call it a Western, but technically that would be hard to do. It's West of Europe, but the location of Florida is more of a "Southern".Still, this is a basic Western adventure. We have the hero struggling against a thick headed officer in handling the local natives.The truth be known, most Westerns of the golden era were like this, depicting the native Americans as basically honorable and victims of corrupt white men. Here, we get the super honorable natives, and a few honorable white men, trying to "do the right thing" with a few malcontents messing things up.What sets this above the average "western" or "southern version of a Western", is the famous battle scene. This was one of the most dramatic skirmish scenes ever filmed. It involves about twenty five soldiers against hidden natives, who do appear from hiding to attack. It is well blocked, and very exciting. It ranks as one of the most memorable battle scenes ever.The journey through the swamp is also well done, and dramatic.Aside from that, the story is a little routine. Sme major stars, and a beautiful woman add to the attraction.This is a fairly well done film, that should rank moderately over a "5" in a realistic rating. Not as slow paced as most modern movies, but not as fast paced as most golden age Westerns.