Seminole Uprising (1955)

You want manners or Black Cat?

Seminole Uprising is directed by Earl Bellamy and is adapted by Robert E. Kent from Curt Brandon's novel, Bugle's Wake. It stars George Montgomery, Karin Booth, William Fawcett, Steven Ritch, Ed Hinton and John Pickard.

The cavalry, led by Lieutenant Cam Elliott (Montgomery), are tasked with bringing in Seminole Indian chief Black Cat (Ritch), who is leading his tribe with ferocious force. But there are some family ties causing problems to the mission...

The problems with the pic are front and centre, the use of stock footage, dummies and cheap model work show it to be a low grade Western that needed a more astute production team at the control desks. However, narrative has some intelligence as per the half-breed issues, there's a simmering love rival shenanigan, while there's good "B" movie quality action sequences to hold the attention - the finale is particularly exciting with the rocks and fire tactics. It's no Western fan's idea of a must see movie, but the brisk pacing, some thought in the screenplay and a likable cast at least make it a decent enough "once only" time waster. 5/10

There’s nothing too original about this, but George Montgomery does manage to bring it to the boil towards the end. He’s “Cam”, an army lieutenant who is posted to a fort where his ex-girlfriend “Susan” (Karin Booth) just happens to be not only the colonel’s daughter but also engaged to his rival “Capt. Dudley” (Ed Hinton). The purpose of his posting is to track down the marauding Seminole chief “Black Cat” (Steven Ritch). Why him? Well he is half Seminole himself and is quite respectfully called “Grey Eagle” by those he is trying to return to the reservation. Someone is providing the Indians with modern rifles though and when a local woman and her child are taken, the locals are soon up in arms determined to find them. What now ensues is a fairly predictable revenge western, but there are a few action scenes towards the end that inject a little life into the proceedings and give the visual effects folks something to do. It’s a decently produced adventure that keeps the romance to a minimum and does rather emphasise the sense of loss, disgrace even, that is felt by once proud peoples now reduced to living where they are told.