User Reviews

BROKEN ARROW – Mail Riders - 1956

When 20 Century Fox scored with the 1950 big screen film, BROKEN ARROW, they decided in 1956 to dust off the script for a television remake. This likewise was a winner, so they decided to turn the property into a full-fledged series with the same name. The series starred John Lupton as the former US Army scout who becomes a friend of Apache chief, Cochise. Cochise is played by Michael Ansara. The series ran for a total of 72 episodes during its 1956 to 1958 run.

The story from the film was used as the basis of the first 3 half hour episodes. After that, the series used new story material to continue this saga of the American west.

This one starts out just like the 1950 feature film it is based on. It is the early 1870 in the Arizona Territory, there has been a bloody and vicious war going on for a number of years. The settlers and the Apache tribe under the command of Cochise, have being having a no holds barred fight with various atrocities being traded back and forth.

The same series of events happens here with Lupton finding a wounded Apache boy and saving his life. This gives him an insight into the Apache mindset. Lupton hires a "tame" town Apache to teach him the ways of the Apache. He then sets out to start negotiations between himself and Cochise (Ansara). Lupton wants to set up a peace treaty to allow the Pony Express riders to cross Apache territory.

This seems to work out for the short term, but there are men in both camps who want the treaty to fail. There is the Indian hating rancher, played by Ted De Corsia, as well as the renegade Apache played by Michael Pate.

20 Century Fox saved a bundle on production costs for the first episodes of the series. They only had to shoot about 5 minutes of new footage to insert into footage from the 1950 film, and the earlier television remake. Having said that, it all goes together rather well and the final product is quite good.

Tom Jeffords, ex-army captain, arrives and admits he doesn't know much about Apaches; on his way to a new assignment, he finds a wounded Apache and treats his wounds. Colonel Bernall wants Jeffords to scout for him but Jeffords refuses: his assignment is to find a way to get the mail through. Most people hate Apaches, but Jeffords is tired of seeing and being a part of killing. He wants to meet Cochise and talk to him man to man. Jeffords is afraid but goes to the strong hold to explain what mail is and hopes Cochise will allow the mail riders through. Cochise respects Jeffords: he came alone and admitted his role in the army when many Apaches were killed. Jeffords also respects Cochise as a man of honor. Cochise tells Jeffords he will allow the riders. Jeffords hopes to be a friend; Cochise says it takes time to make a good bow, longer to make a friend.

No one believes Jeffords that Cochise agreed to let the mail go through. A friend of Jeffords, Mit Duffield, agrees to try. But Duffield is late in returning so Jeffords go looking for him. Duffield lost his horse and that's why he's late. But another Apache attacks Jeffords and Duffield against Cochise's orders. The young Apache that Jeffords had helped sees what is happening and heads out to find Cochise. Cochise arrives and tells Jeffords to continue on with his friend. Attacks like this will never happen again, such is the word of Cochise.

And so began a series that had a lot of influence on me and my friends. Cochise was depicted as a strong leader, and all his braves obeyed him. I was still a kid and I loved to play cowboys and Indians with my friends; everyone wanted to be a cowboy. But this series had us look differently at Indians. Soon after wants changes; everyone wanted to be Cochise and lead the brave Indians against the thieving white man. Such was the power of TV back then. Broken Arrow was important series; it taught us to question our assumptions and beliefs. It made us better thinkers. At least it made me more thoughtful. I have to thank the Heroes & Icons channel for running the series on Sunday mornings. I hadn't seen this series for decades, and it still is among one of the best for me. Maybe some kids out there will find this series and not reject it outright because it runs in black and white. Broken Arrow still deserves an audience. It should be available on DVD.