The Battle at Apache Pass (1952)

John Lund is Maj. Jim Colton, who’s negotiated an uneasy peace with the Apache as the Civil War breaks out. A key to that peace: his friendship with Cochise (Jeff Chandler).

But Indian agent Neil Baylor arrives, intent on disrupting that peace, or at least forcing Cochise and his band of Apache onto a reservation so whites can move into the Arizona and New Mexico territories with no fear of Indian attacks.

Meanwhile, the peace is already being tested by Geronimo (Jay Silverheels), who is eager to take his warriors into battle.

He attacks a wagon train, killing everyone but Mary Kearney (Beverly Tyler). Cochise is forced to prove his braves weren’t responsible, then demands the captive and delivers her to the safety of the army post.

When all else fails to prod Colton into taking action against his Apache friend, Baylor plots with Geronimo to frame Cochise’s warriors for another attack on a white family, then urges niave Lt. George Bascom into the field to bring the guilty parties to justice.

They take Cochise’s wife and brother hostage, then fire on the chief.

Colton returns to his post to find war has broken out. He decides to consolidate his forces at Fort Sheridan, if he can get his command through Apache Pass.

John Lund as Maj. Jim Cotton, trying to hold onto a delicate peace with the Apache in The Battle at Apache Pass (1952)

Jeff Chandler as Cochise, trying futilely to keep the peace with the whites in The Battle at Apache Pass (1952)

Review:

Well-filmed battle scenes help enliven this film, yet another tale of a meddler from back East arriving with fresh notions on how to deal with the Indians and creating havoc in the process. In this case, the havoc is entirely intentional.

Interestingly, Jeff Chandler and Jay Silverheels played the same roles in 1950’s “Broken Arrow” and they weren’t exactly bosom buddies in that film either, with Cochise intent on talking peace and Geronimo determined to drive out the whites.

Susan Cabot plays Nano, Cochise’s pregnant, but not very pregnant looking wife. When the cavalry unleash their cannon and she’s wounded in a climatic battle, Cochise rushes her to the white doctor. Presto, a son is born.

And Beverly Tyler plays Mary Kearney, who’s rescued from one of Geronimo’s men by Cochise, then delivered to Maj. Colton with the chief’s advice that it’s not good for a man to live alone. In one of the movie’s sillier scenes, Nano gets jealous over Mary’s copper locks and threatens to cut them all off.

The film features a solid performance by Richard Egan as Colton’s most reliable sergeant.

Susan Cabot as Nono, Cochise’s pregnant wife, held captive by the soldiers in The Battle at Apache Pass (1952)

Bruce Cowling as Neil Baylor, an Indian agent who wants to move the Apache to a reservation in The Battle at Apache Pass (1952)

Directed by:
George Sherman

Cast:
John Lund … Maj. Jim Colton
Jeff Chandler … Cochise
Beverly Tyler … Mary Kearney
Bruce Cowling … Neil Baylor
Susan Cabot … Nono
John Hudson … Lt. George Bascom
James Best … Cpl. Hassett
Regis Toomey … Dr. Carter
Richard Egan … Sgt. Reuben Bernard
Hugh O’Brian … Lt. Robert Harley
Gregg Palmer … Joe Bent
William Reynolds … Lem Bent
Jay Silverheels … Geronimo
Tommy Cook … Little Elk
Jack Elam .. Mescal Jack

Runtime: 85 min.

Beverly Tyler as Mary Kearney, a young school teacher temporarily taken captive by the Apache in The Battle at Apache Pass (1952)

John Hudson as Lt. George Bascom, a young officer tricked into renewing hostilities with the Indians in The Battle at Apache Pass (1952)

Memorable lines:

Sgt. Bernard to Mescal Jack: “Get this: Let me catch you hauling anymore mescal to the Indians and I’ll kick your tail right through your belly.”

Neil Baylor: “You rely on this friendship with Cochise to keep the peace?”
Maj. Jim Colton: “I find friendship preferable to mountain batteries (artillery), Mr. Baylor.”

Mary Kearney to Nono: “Why do you hate me so?”
Nono: “My husband fought Nico for you. His eyes no longer see me. They see only the fires in your hair. I now cut it off, then my husband will see only me again.”
Mary: “I don’t care what you do.”

Richard Egan as Sgt. Reuben Bernard, stunned by the turn of events in The Battle at Apache Pass (1952)

Jay Silverheels as Geronimo, determined to push the whites off of Apache land in The Battle at Apache Pass (1952)

Jack Elam as Mescal Jack, a man more than willing to stir up some Indian trouble in The Battle at Apache Pass (1952)

Susan Cabot as Nano with Jeff Chandler as Cochise, her husband, in The Battle at Apache Pass (1952)