These things need to be said. The socio-cultural sins of this film were de rigeur for the mid- 1950s, but we're reviewing this in the 21st century, and they should not be ignored, because young people watch this stuff.
White people playing Modoc natives. Latinos playing Modoc natives. Everyone but native actors playing Modoc natives. Then there's the "friendly Indians" vs the bad Indians. Of course, the friendly Indians are defined by the degree to which they comply with white demands.
They Indians in this movie look like Apaches. The actual Modoc natives this film is based on, dressed very differently. The point here is not that Westerns must be historically accurate; after all, no one likes a "rivet-counter." Rather, the point here is that it's grotesque and culturally dismissive to promote the image that "all Indians are alike." That "any injun will do."
Then there's the geographical appropriation.
The Sedona, Arizona scenery is beautiful and dramatic. After all, Sedona is known for that very thing. But the red sands and rocks of Arizona resemble nothing of the Northern Californian-Oregon-Idaho settings where the Modocs existed, and where Captain Jack operated. Not even the Oregon high desert of Southeast Oregon where it was set.
This film is typical of the big budget technicolor Westerns of the golden era of the Western - the 1950s. It was likely popular at the time, and understandably so. But today, it should be pushed to the back of the shelf, no matter how pretty it is to lock at.
White people playing Modoc natives. Latinos playing Modoc natives. Everyone but native actors playing Modoc natives. Then there's the "friendly Indians" vs the bad Indians. Of course, the friendly Indians are defined by the degree to which they comply with white demands.
They Indians in this movie look like Apaches. The actual Modoc natives this film is based on, dressed very differently. The point here is not that Westerns must be historically accurate; after all, no one likes a "rivet-counter." Rather, the point here is that it's grotesque and culturally dismissive to promote the image that "all Indians are alike." That "any injun will do."
Then there's the geographical appropriation.
The Sedona, Arizona scenery is beautiful and dramatic. After all, Sedona is known for that very thing. But the red sands and rocks of Arizona resemble nothing of the Northern Californian-Oregon-Idaho settings where the Modocs existed, and where Captain Jack operated. Not even the Oregon high desert of Southeast Oregon where it was set.
This film is typical of the big budget technicolor Westerns of the golden era of the Western - the 1950s. It was likely popular at the time, and understandably so. But today, it should be pushed to the back of the shelf, no matter how pretty it is to lock at.