Last of the Comanches (1953)

I'll tell you when to drink, when to eat, when to sleep, and when to breathe!

I'll tell you when to drink, when to eat, when to sleep, and when to breathe!

Last of the Comanches (AKA: The Sabre and the Arrow) is directed by Andre De Toth and adapted to the screen by Kenneth Gamet. It stars Broderick Crawford, Barbara Hale, Lloyd Bridges, Mickey Shaughnessy, Johnny Stewart, George Matthews and Hugh Sanders. A Technicolor production with cinematography by Charles Lawton Junior and Ray Cory and music by George Duning.

Safe as a bomb shelter Western. A remake of Zoltan Korda/Humphrey Bogart's war movie "Sahara" from 1943, Last of the Comanches finds Broderick Crawford as the leader of what remains of a massacred cavalry troop. As they make their way across the desert they pick up ragtag group of stagecoach passengers and as water runs low, they must fight for survival against fierce Comanches led by Black Cloud.

In essence it's a survivalist story with some Indian War action dotted around the outskirts of plotting. It's nice and airy, pleasingly performed, easy on the eye with its Technicolor photography, and De Toth once again shows himself to be a good marshal of action scenes. Crawford carries the movie of course, imbuing Sergeant Trainor with fearless bluster that holds the dysfunctional group together. The narrative strength comes from the lack of water, both for the whiteys and the Comanche, where the often forgotten weapons of war, that of food or drink, firmly keeps the story engrossing.

Not as good as "Sahara" but still a safe recommendation to Western and Brod Crawford fans. 7/10

If you've seen Humphrey Bogart's cracking desert adventure "Sahara" (1943) then you'll know what you are in for... A disparate band of cavalry soldiers, alongside a stagecoach party, are ambushed by a rogue band of Commanches . With the help of the young "Little Knife" (Johnny Stewart) who is also running from "Black Cloud" and his marauders, they take refuge in a remote ruin were they have just enough water to survive - but not for long; and soon there is a siege going on too - with their enemy as short of water as they are... What ensues is a tensely directed Mexican stand off, each trying to convince the other that they have the upper hand, but neither in a remotely strong position. Can they hold out til reinforcements arrive, or will "Black Cloud" prevail? André de Toth has produced one of these rare things - a remake that is as good as the original. Well almost, Broderick Crawford ("Sgt. Traitor") isn't quite Bogey, but the rest of it holds up really well - frequently having you reach for a glass of something to quench your thirst! There is plenty of action to keep it going, a teeny bit of romance from an on form Barbara Hale and it still holds up well - 70-odd years later.