Apache Drums (1951)

Stephen McNally plays Sam Leeds, a worldly gambler, quick on the draw, not so quick to put in a good day’s work, but quick to criticize those who do.

He’s run out of the town of Sebastian Boot by Mayor Joe Madden (Willard Parker) after gunning down a man in self-defense in a bar-room fight.

As he’s riding away, he learns the Apaches are on the warpath, and the town he just left offers an inviting target.

He returns to warn the town. But that warning isn’t very well received until there’s further proof that the town is indeed in jeopardy.

Once that happens, he has to work with his nemesis, Mayor Madden, and cavalry officer Lt. Griffin to defend the town from marauding Indians.

Coleen Gray plays Sally, the woman who loves Leeds, though she knows she’d be better off with Madden. She provides another source of friction between the men.

Stephen McNally as Sam Leeds, watching for Indians after coming upon the scene of a massacre in Apache Drums (1951)

Willard Parker as Mayor Joe Madden, ordering Leeds be jailed for serving a beer to an Indian in Apache Drums (1951)

Review:

Interesting low-budget Western, with a well-done climax that finds the townsfolk — Sally, Madden and Leeds included — holed up in a mission church while the Apache burn the town around them.

McNally is solid as the lead, and the film benefits from a better than average supporting cast, including Arthur Shields as the Reverend who comes to appreciate his bravery.

James Griffith is another member of that supporting cast, playing a cavalry lieutenant injured in the Apache attack who provides advice to the residents of Sebastian Boot.

Coleen Gray as Sally, torn between her affection for Sam Leeds and his lawlessness in Apache Drums (1951)

Arthur Shields as the Rev. Griffin, trying to clean up the town with the mayor’s help in Apache Drums (1951)

Directed by:
Hugo Fregonese

Cast:
Stephen McNally … Sam Leeds
Coleen Gray … Sally
Willard Parker … Joe Madden
James Griffith … Lt. Griffin
Arthur Shields … The Reverend
Chito Guzman … Chacho
Armando Silvestre … Pedro-Peter
Georgia Backus … Mrs. Keon
James Best … Bert Keon
Clarence Muse … Jehu
Ruthelma Stevens … Betty Careless

Runtime: 75 min.

James Griffith as Lt. Glidden, mulling Leeds’ fate while the Rev. Griffin (Arthur Shields) looks on in Apache Drums (1951)

James Best as Bert Keon, offering to ride for help while he dad (Ray Bennett) listens to that offer in Apache Drums (1951)

Memorable lines:

The Rev. to Betty, head of the dance troupe that’s being run out of town: “Woman, thy name is Babylon and Abomination.”
Betty: “Don’t call me names. Just make me an offer on the building. And, remember, I won’t take a loss.”

Sam Leeds: “I like your notion, Reverend, that Apaches are just evils the Lord created to try honest men. I’m saved. I’m not an honest man.”

Sally, to Mayor Joe Madden: “It’s kind of a pity that I only like bad men, and want to make them good.”

The Reverend: “What is an oath to an Indian?”
Lt. Griffin: “A great deal more than to most white men.”

Coleen Gray as Sally, trying to explain her feelings to Sam Leeds while he’s handcuffed to a saloon bar in Apache Drums (1951)

Armando Silvestre as Pedro-Peter, an Indian fighting on the side of the whites in Apache Drums (1951)

Clarence Muse as Jehu, warning Leeds not to remove his top hat because he’s been scalped alive in Apache Drums (1951)

Stephen McNally as Sam Leeds, prepared to defend Sally (Coleen Gray)) against the Apache attack in Apache Drums (1951)