Sgt. Matt Blake (Scott Brady) is trying to lead a decimated patrol back to the Fort Waverly through Apache country, with a gunrunner named Corbin and 36 repeating rifles in tow.
The patrol runs into a small band of Texans, all ex-Confederates, who have lost a herd of cattle to the same Apaches that have been harassing the cavalry patrol because they want those rifles.
When the Indians steal their horses, too, the two small bands must work together to try to keep the guns out of the Apaches’ hands and complete a seven-day trek back to the fort by foot.
The small group includes Frank Gerstle as Capt. Sam Prescott, leader of the Confederates; Margia Dean as Teresa Santos, an attractive young Mexican woman whose family has been massacred by the Indians; and Irving Bacon as the cowardly Judge Stanfield, who lets his fear of the Indians interfere with his good judgment.
Between Stanfield’s plotting and the hatred of anything in blue felt by young Keith Williams (Clint Eastwood), Blake is faced with challenges from within as well as he tries to guide the small band back to safety.
Scott Brady as Sgt. Matt Blake, trying to keep repeating rifles from falling into Apache hands in Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958)
Frank Gerstile as Capt. Sam Prescott, leader of the cowboys who lost their herd to Indians in Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958)
Review:
This marked the first major role in a film for Clint Eastwood, who would start his breakthrough role as Rowdy Yates in “Rawhide” a year later. He plays a hot-headed ex-Rebel named Williams who joined the war late and never tasted victory, or at least that’s the reasoning his captain gives for the bitterness Williams feels toward Yankees.
Eastwood later reportedly dismissed the film as “the lousiest Western ever made.” Well, it’s miles from being a masterpiece, but it’s certainly not that bad.
The character of Teresa Santos (Margia Dean) doesn’t help. She’s dumped into the camp as a distraction while the Apache steal the patrol’s horses. Her home has been burned, her entire family massacred. Yet the next morning, she’s playfully teasing every man around in a low-cut dress and uttering some pretty ridiculous dialogue.
One scene that might stick with you: The thirsty patrol comes across a water hole. The only problem: A white man has been tortured there, hung face down with his head in the water until he drowned. Blake encourages the members of his suddenly squeamish patrol to drink anyway, then takes the first swig of water himself.
Margia Dean as Teresa Santos, dumped in Sgt. Blake’s camp as a decoy in Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958)
Clint Eastwood as Keith Williams, a hot-headed young man who hates all things Yankee in Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958)
Directed by:
Jodie Copeland
Cast:
Scott Brady … Sgt. Matt Blake
Margia Dean … Teresa Santos
Clint Eastwood … Keith Williams
Irving Bacon .. Judge Stanfield
Frank Gerstle … Capt. Sam Prescott
Dirk London … Johnny Willows
Baynes Barron … Corbin (Gunrunner)
William Vaughn … Henry (the Scout)
Ken Mayer … Cpl. Schwitzer
John Damier … Private Zach
Keith Richards … Private Lasky
John Merrick … Private Nathan
Runtime: 73 min.
Irving Bacon as the weak-willed Judge Stanfield in Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958)
Baynes Barron as Corbin, the gunrunner being taken to face justice by Blake and his men in Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958)
Memorable lines:
Sgt. Matt Blake, appointing a new scout: “Better hold onto your gun. You might run into some jackrabbits.”
Johnny Willows: “The kind with feathers?”
Prescott to Williams: “One of these days you’ll learn to accept a man for the kind of man he is, even if he’s a Yankee.”
Teresa: “I am sorry I bite your hand.”
Sgt. Blake: “You bite pretty hard.”
Tereas: “I was angry. Now I am not. Now I think I like you … What is your first name, Sgt. Blake?”
Sgt. Blake: “Matt.”
Teresa: “I know it is Matt. I mean you’re full name.”
Sgt. Blake: “Matthew. People who really know me call me Matt.”
Teresa: “Matt, do you like Teresa?”
Sgt. Blake: “Right now, I’m in no position to like anybody.”
Teresa: “When you are, you will tell me?”
(Followed by kiss)
Soldier, as the rifles burn: “We’ve lugged those rifles 100 miles for nothing.”
Keith (Clint Eastwood): “No, not for nothing. Sometimes you’ve got to lose to finally win.”
Dirk London as Johnny Willows and one of Sgt. Blake’s men discuss their plight in Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958)
William Vaughn as Henry, scout Sgt. Blake’s cavalry patrol in Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958)
Clint Eastwood as Keith Williams with Margia Dean as Teresa Santos in Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958)
Margia Dean as Teresa Santos with Scott Brady as Sgt. Matt Blake in Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958)
){kind=link}