"You know what I am thinking? Maybe someday you will kill me, or I will kill you. But we will not spit on each other."
Fun Fact: The Battle At Apache Pass (1952) starred Jeff Chandler as Cochise and Jay Silverheels as Geronimo. It was produced after Broken Arrow (1950), but functions as a prequel to it. The events in this movie take place in 1871 and 1872, whilst those that movie happen in 1861 and 1862.
MPPC First Fact: The film was considered groundbreaking at the time because it was one of the first sound films green-lit under the Motion Picture Production Code to portray Indians in a humane light. After the 1950s, the film was frequently criticized because white actors portrayed Indians, although the role of Geronimo was played by Mohawk actor Jay Silverheels.
Historical Differences Fact: Cochise would have been about 65 in 1870, although he is played by Jeff Chandler who was only 30 when this movie was filmed. The broken arrow, which signals an end to fighting, is in fact a Blackfoot Indian symbol, not an Apache symbol. The Blackfoot are native to Montana and Alberta, Canada. Chochise and Geronimo were not the only characters to be based on real people.
Location Location Fact: Most of the key scenes were filmed in Sedona, Arizona, over 300 miles northwest from the Dragoon Mountains, where the Cochise Stronghold is located and in vastly different terrain. The Dragoons are part of the "Sky Island" of the Coronado National Forest in Cochise County, southeastern Arizona. The villainous Ben Slade (Will Geer) is killed by Cochise in the climactic action scene in the film. He falls into the creek, and his body slides down the creek, which is bordered on both side by red rocks. This was filmed in Oak Creek Canyon north of Sedona, Arizona, the site of most of the film's outdoor locations. The creek is Oak Creek, and the area where the scene was filmed is Slide Rock State Park, a very popular destination for visitors.
Historical Fact: The beginning of the movie refers back to the Bascom Affair, which began the war with Cochise. The army sent Lieutenant George Nicholas Bascom and fifty-four men to Apache Pass to confront Cochise. Bascom managed to capture Cochise and threatened to hold him hostage but the Apache leader managed to escape. Sporadic fighting between Cochise's warriors and Army troops would continue for years to come, during which Fort Bowie (mentioned in the film) was built and became the most important outpost for Indian battles in that region. The stagecoach line and Apache Pass were near the fort, and remains of all three are still extant. Settlers continued to brand Jeffords an "Indian lover" after the treaty, and in 1875 he was removed as the federal agent and the Chiricahua Apaches were relocated to the San Carlos Reservation. Cochise died of natural causes about a year after signing the treaty (he was actually in his 60's by then) and the Apache wars began again, until 1886 with the surrender of Geronimo, who also ended up on the San Carlos Reservation, near Globe, Arizona, hundreds of miles north of their ancestral home. General Oliver Howard was commander during the Civil War. He lost his right arm during the Battle of Fair Oaks, in 1862. He was known as the Christian General. After the war he was allied with "Radical Republicans" in the Congress, that saw to it that freedmen got the vote. In October of 1872, he negotiated a peace treaty with Cochise. He retired from the Army a Major General in 1894. He died from natural causes 1909 at the age of 78.
I love alll The Stewart westerns (& most all of the rest of his films). Oddest thing about the picture to me was Cochise, whose elocution matched that of a well educated eastern gentleman, a professional media spokesperson at that!….. inexplicably odd.
Great movie choice! I'd never seen it before so it was a treat to see it and view your reaction. After looking at the list on Delmer Daves' Wikipedia page of movies he directed, I can't recall seeing any of them before this one. Will have to check out some more of them.
I liked Broken Arrow a lot. Jimmy Stewart was great as was the supporting cast. The plot moved along at a quick pace. Although it wasn't a wide screen production, the lush Technicolor outdoor scenes were beautiful. The only nit I'll pick is the musical score was a bit distracting as were the rather loud, added sounds of chirping birds in day scenes and crickets in night scenes.
Where would "Broken Arrow" rank among your favourite Jimmy Stewart Westerns?
Great movie.
"You know what I am thinking? Maybe someday you will kill me, or I will kill you. But we will not spit on each other."
Fun Fact: The Battle At Apache Pass (1952) starred Jeff Chandler as Cochise and Jay Silverheels as Geronimo. It was produced after Broken Arrow (1950), but functions as a prequel to it. The events in this movie take place in 1871 and 1872, whilst those that movie happen in 1861 and 1862.
MPPC First Fact: The film was considered groundbreaking at the time because it was one of the first sound films green-lit under the Motion Picture Production Code to portray Indians in a humane light. After the 1950s, the film was frequently criticized because white actors portrayed Indians, although the role of Geronimo was played by Mohawk actor Jay Silverheels.
Historical Differences Fact: Cochise would have been about 65 in 1870, although he is played by Jeff Chandler who was only 30 when this movie was filmed. The broken arrow, which signals an end to fighting, is in fact a Blackfoot Indian symbol, not an Apache symbol. The Blackfoot are native to Montana and Alberta, Canada. Chochise and Geronimo were not the only characters to be based on real people.
Location Location Fact: Most of the key scenes were filmed in Sedona, Arizona, over 300 miles northwest from the Dragoon Mountains, where the Cochise Stronghold is located and in vastly different terrain. The Dragoons are part of the "Sky Island" of the Coronado National Forest in Cochise County, southeastern Arizona. The villainous Ben Slade (Will Geer) is killed by Cochise in the climactic action scene in the film. He falls into the creek, and his body slides down the creek, which is bordered on both side by red rocks. This was filmed in Oak Creek Canyon north of Sedona, Arizona, the site of most of the film's outdoor locations. The creek is Oak Creek, and the area where the scene was filmed is Slide Rock State Park, a very popular destination for visitors.
Historical Fact: The beginning of the movie refers back to the Bascom Affair, which began the war with Cochise. The army sent Lieutenant George Nicholas Bascom and fifty-four men to Apache Pass to confront Cochise. Bascom managed to capture Cochise and threatened to hold him hostage but the Apache leader managed to escape. Sporadic fighting between Cochise's warriors and Army troops would continue for years to come, during which Fort Bowie (mentioned in the film) was built and became the most important outpost for Indian battles in that region. The stagecoach line and Apache Pass were near the fort, and remains of all three are still extant. Settlers continued to brand Jeffords an "Indian lover" after the treaty, and in 1875 he was removed as the federal agent and the Chiricahua Apaches were relocated to the San Carlos Reservation. Cochise died of natural causes about a year after signing the treaty (he was actually in his 60's by then) and the Apache wars began again, until 1886 with the surrender of Geronimo, who also ended up on the San Carlos Reservation, near Globe, Arizona, hundreds of miles north of their ancestral home. General Oliver Howard was commander during the Civil War. He lost his right arm during the Battle of Fair Oaks, in 1862. He was known as the Christian General. After the war he was allied with "Radical Republicans" in the Congress, that saw to it that freedmen got the vote. In October of 1872, he negotiated a peace treaty with Cochise. He retired from the Army a Major General in 1894. He died from natural causes 1909 at the age of 78.
I love alll The Stewart westerns (& most all of the rest of his films). Oddest thing about the picture to me was Cochise, whose elocution matched that of a well educated eastern gentleman, a professional media spokesperson at that!….. inexplicably odd.
Great movie choice! I'd never seen it before so it was a treat to see it and view your reaction. After looking at the list on Delmer Daves' Wikipedia page of movies he directed, I can't recall seeing any of them before this one. Will have to check out some more of them.
I liked Broken Arrow a lot. Jimmy Stewart was great as was the supporting cast. The plot moved along at a quick pace. Although it wasn't a wide screen production, the lush Technicolor outdoor scenes were beautiful. The only nit I'll pick is the musical score was a bit distracting as were the rather loud, added sounds of chirping birds in day scenes and crickets in night scenes.