I was surprised and disappointed at the same time at this movie. Surprised because Elvis turned in a credible performance, disappointed because the fact the Don Siegel directed raised my expectations.
Here's what I liked:
Now here's what kept the movie from being better:
Here's what I liked:
- Again, Elvis is just OK here, but looks great versus his other movie roles.
- OK story. I got sucked into it pretty good. I cared about most of the characters, even though it was a bit of a manipulative tear jerker.
- Pretty good performances by John McIntire and Delores Del Rio
- I thought the character of the white brother Clint was pretty likable, and Steve Forest played him well.
Now here's what kept the movie from being better:
- Fundamentally implausible that supposedly friendly neighbors of the Burtons would turn on them so quickly and so decisively. There was too much melodrama here. I didn't think they would have been so friendly to begin with or so against them after the Kiowa uprising.
- Sure, the Indians get a chance to voice their point of view, but how come they're the only ones that butcher innocent women? If the movie really wanted to be fair to Indians, wouldn't we also see white people killing innocent Indian women and children? Too harsh for white audiences? Undermines the anti-racism message.
- I always am uncomfortable watching these "tragic mulatto" plots. It doesn't seem fair that mixed race people are put into this extreme situations of being caught between groups. I imagine in most cases these people find their way OK. These highly charged melodramas come off as disrespectful to these folks.
- Poor use of landscape
- No comic relief
- Ending was abrupt and contrived.