All those leftists clamoring for the Washington Redskins to change their name better not get hold of this picture; it might completely disappear from movie archives all together. There are just so many politically incorrect scenes that I'm sure it would drive liberals over the edge. Like those of Shawnees beating on tom-toms in rhythm and the ubiquitous 'How' used as a greeting at one point in the picture. I'm much more tolerant but even I was embarrassed by some of this stuff.
Which is kind of odd because I think the picture was trying to be somewhat revisionist in it's own way. Jay Silverheels' character Tecumseh was portrayed as being generally supportive of the white man's government and wanted to find a way to live peaceably among them. It was his brother The Prophet (Michael Ansara) who aligned with the British and plotted to rid the Indiana frontier of it's Western moving settlers. The story is loosely based on events just prior to the War of 1812, but even the term 'loosely' is used loosely here. Any resemblance to actual history in the story is probably by accident.
The most interesting part of the story, at least to me, was Tecumseh's concept of building an Indian village in the manner of white settlers in an effort to assimilate and be accepted more readily. I don't think I've ever experienced that idea in a movie before and it sounded like it might have worked if given a chance. But then you had the raid that destroyed Tippecanoe and it was downhill for the Shawnees from there.
Except for catching Jay Silverheels in a leading role and the vibrant Techincolor cinematography mentioned by other viewers, there's not much else to recommend here. Jon Hall is pretty much wooden as ever and the film's romantic interest (Christine Larsen), on the fence between Silverheels and Hall, didn't convince me that she belonged with either one. I especially couldn't get over the scene when the Indians attacked the MacGregor home, and Steve Ruddell (Hall) had Laura leave and go for help! What??!! What was he thinking? She should have given him the boot right then and there.
Which is kind of odd because I think the picture was trying to be somewhat revisionist in it's own way. Jay Silverheels' character Tecumseh was portrayed as being generally supportive of the white man's government and wanted to find a way to live peaceably among them. It was his brother The Prophet (Michael Ansara) who aligned with the British and plotted to rid the Indiana frontier of it's Western moving settlers. The story is loosely based on events just prior to the War of 1812, but even the term 'loosely' is used loosely here. Any resemblance to actual history in the story is probably by accident.
The most interesting part of the story, at least to me, was Tecumseh's concept of building an Indian village in the manner of white settlers in an effort to assimilate and be accepted more readily. I don't think I've ever experienced that idea in a movie before and it sounded like it might have worked if given a chance. But then you had the raid that destroyed Tippecanoe and it was downhill for the Shawnees from there.
Except for catching Jay Silverheels in a leading role and the vibrant Techincolor cinematography mentioned by other viewers, there's not much else to recommend here. Jon Hall is pretty much wooden as ever and the film's romantic interest (Christine Larsen), on the fence between Silverheels and Hall, didn't convince me that she belonged with either one. I especially couldn't get over the scene when the Indians attacked the MacGregor home, and Steve Ruddell (Hall) had Laura leave and go for help! What??!! What was he thinking? She should have given him the boot right then and there.