Keith Larsen plays Katawan, the Apache Kid. He helped capture Geronimo, and now he’s an Army Scout, eager to help his people survive by assimilating to the white man’s way of life.
Katawan also dreams of settling down with lovely young Liwana (Eugenia Paul).
But though she loves him as well, he has competition in his quest in fellow Apache brave Chikisin, who frowns on the blue cavalry blouse Katawan wears.
More complications arise when Katawan’s brother is murdered. Katawan avenges the death, regardless of the white man’s law.
That earns him a seven-year prison sentence. He’s being escorted to prison by his scouting partner (Jim Davis as Ben) when the other three Apache prisoners decide to make a break for it.
Katawan joins them, but let’s Ben escape with his life.
He soon finds himself at odds with Apache leader Marteen (Rodolfo Acosta). But the army doesn’t care.
It puts a bounty on the heads of all four Apache, and Ben is as determined as anyone to see Katawan brought to justice.
Keith Larsen as Katawan, the Apache Kid, with Liwana (Eugenia Paul), the girl he hopes to marry in Apache Warrior (1957)
Jim Davis as Ben Ziegler, Katawan’s partner as cavalry scouts in Apache Warrior (1957)
Review:
So-so B Western that probes the difficulty of an Apache trying to find his way in the white man’s world and make sense of the white man’s law without totally losing his identity.
Some snappy dialogue helps; the ending doesn’t. One minute, Jim Davis’ character is determined to take in the Apache Kid.
A moment later, he’s trying to help the Apache Kid and Liwana escape from three bounty hunters.
Dehl Berti as Chikisin, Katawan’s brother, with Nantan (John Miljan) in Apache Warrior (1957)
George Keymas as Chato, the rival to Katawan for Liwana’s hand in marriage in Apache Warrior (1957)
Directed by:
Elmo Williams
Cast:
Keith Larsen … Apache Kid / Katawan
Jim Davis … Ben Ziegler
Rodolfo Acosta … Marteen
John Miljan … Nantan
Damian O’Flynn … Major
George Keymas … Chato
Eugenia Paul … Liwana
Lane Bradford … Sgt. Gaunt
Dehl Berti … Chikisin
Runtime: 74 min.
Damian O’Flynn as Maj. Reid, the post commander in Apache Warrior (1957)
Rodolfo Acosta as Marteen, a renegade Apache, with Katawan (Keith Larsen) in Apache Warrior (1957)
Memorable lines:
Ben: “And don’t forget, Major, the only man who can catch an Apache is another Apache.”
Major: “And don’t you forget, Ziegler, an Indian is always an Indian.”
Apache Kid: “If we are to have peace, we must learn to work with them. Your father must understand this.”
Liwana: “But he says a man cannot ride two horses.”
Apache Kid: “Better that than to ride a dead horse. The old way is gone.”
Nantan: “I have thought many days and still cannot understand the white man’s way. When Katawan kill by your law, you gave him honor. When he killed by our law, you take his freedom.”
Lane Bradford as Sgt. Grant reporting to Maj. Reid (Damian O’Flynn) in Apache Warrior (1957)
John Miljan as Nantan with Katawan (Keith Larsen), the man who wants to marry his daughter in Apache Warrior (1957)
Jim Davis as Ben Ziegler, explaining the state of affairs to Katawan in Apache Warrior (1957)
Eugenia Paul (right) as Liwana, musing about life as Katawan’s wife in a white man’s world in Apache Warrior (1957)
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