Visitors Review

golfermj (2012-05-26 13:07)

a terrific movie

"ulzana's raid"is as good as any western that has ever been madesavage,brutal,violent it is, but is also one terrific movie.a gem of afilm by a great film director - Robert Aldridge. a great script by anEnglishman, Alan sharp i believe is his name.solid acting byall.special kudos have to go to Burt Lancaster as the tough, grizzledveteran army scout-MacIntosh.Lancaster does not look like an actorplaying in a western movie.he looks the part and lives the role, as ifhe were an army scout in Arizona during the 1880s. Lancaster has thebest lines in the movie and and for a man who was, i believe 58 yearsold at the time he made this movie,he rides a horse and handlesfirearms like real westerner.there are 3 or 4 different versions ofthis movie that have been shown over the years since its release in1972 as different distributors have cut scenes they deemed to violentand shocking."ulzana's raid"deserves to be released in a specialdirectors cut edition with all of the footage Aldridgeshot,restored,and all of the different versions combined,and of coursein "widescreen" format.i heard a rumor that such a version may exist.ihope so,but if not true,please universal pictures,do justice to thisgreat western film and lets have that widescreen directors cut specialedition.one last comment.if you love western films and you have notseen "ulzana's raid".see it,they don't make them any better.

Mike Gingold (2012-05-26 11:11)

No Good Guys/Bad Guys

This movie accurately portrays the human dilemma of culture clashwithin the historical context of the colonisation of the Western UnitedStates. Ulzana and his Apache braves are confined to a miserable anddishonourable existence within a reservation after their lands havebeen seized. Rejecting the choice made by his brother-in-law to jointhe invading army, Ulzana breaks free to wreak havoc on the settlerswho have stolen the land and emasculated the warrior culture of theApache nation. As is so often the case in history, all the charactersin this movie are victims of their circumstances, there are no heroesand villains. Both McIntosh's and Ulzana's fates are simultaneouslynoble, sad and inevitable. An extremely thoughtful and grittilyrealistic portrayal of a brutal time in American history thatsuccessfully avoids sentimentality and stereotyping. Highlyrecommended.

vincentorsini (2012-05-23 21:02)

Not only a classic but the truth

Not only a classic western but one of only two that show the PlainsIndian tribes in their true colours (the other is 'A Man CalledHorse'). The feared Apache braves were not mad but definitely could bebad and dangerous to know. They also might have been a beautiful peoplebut at the same time were brutal and most cruel. To gain a man's powerthey would slowly torture the poor soul to death. Any soldier fightingthe Apache would hold the last bullet back for himself, rather thansuffer a fate far worse than death. Other 70's westerns liberalised theIndians to make anti Vietnam War statements. 'Ulzana's Raid' set therecord straight and is one savage history lesson about a 'War Party' onthe rampage. Beyond good and evil it's just the way they were. BurtLancaster is perfect and simply sublime as a wise Indian tracker, whowhen asked "Do you hate the Apache?" he replies "Just being afraid ofthem is more than enough". In my opinion 'Ulzana's Raid' has not beenmatched by anything before or since.

Roger Burke (2012-05-23 04:19)

Authentic period piece about the horrors of the Indian wars…

Robert Aldrich was a director I much admired, directing some of myfavorite films: Kiss Me Deadly (1955) – the quintessential Mike Hammerflick – Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte (1964), The Flight of the Phoenix(1965), The Dirty Dozen (1967) and others. Now, after missing it forover thirty years, I can now add this one: as a truly realistic andaccurate portrayal of what would have happened in one of manyskirmishes during the Indian wars of the late nineteenth century.This is a mature and sometimes grossly horrific account of what Apachesdid to settlers and soldiers, and what soldiers did to Apaches. Itpulls no punches in depicting how the marauding band of Apacheseviscerate the dead and play sport with the entrails of victims, howthey rape and torture wives of settlers, how they torture the menslowly and most cruelly. But, it also shows how soldiers are driven toperform cowardly, and equally cruel acts when retaliating, in the nameof justice.And caught in the middle of this mayhem is young Lt. DeBruin (BruceDavison) who's given the task of rounding up Ulzana (Joaquin Martinez)and his band of Apaches who left the reservation, stole some horses andbegan to lay a path of destruction and death across part of Arizona.Being fresh out from military college, he needs help; and so, the fortcommander (Douglass Watson) sends the grizzled Army scout McIntosh(Burt Lancaster) along to provide necessary advice and guidance –together with a company of toughened army veterans kept in check by aweary sergeant (the ever competent Richard Jaeckel). Rounding out the'posse' is the Apache army scout Ki-Ni-Tay (Jorge Luke) who providesthe young DeBruin (and the viewer) with insight into the mind of theApache.The story resolves to a cat-and-mouse game between Ulzana and hispursuers, each trying to outguess and outmaneuver the other across andthrough the wide and desolate expanse of the Arizona hills andsemi-desert. So, it's as much an entertainment as it is a lesson in thetactics necessary for the soldiers to gain the upper hand. There aresome wonderful landscape shots that illustrate just how difficult thetask was; and there are moments of sheer brilliance when Aldrich showsKi-Ni-Tay's on-foot pursuit of one of Ulzana's band, a standoutsequence of stealth and suspense.Throughout all of this McIntosh brings his long experience to bear uponDeBruin's decisions, convincing the lieutenant to set the only trapthat would fool Ulzana into making a mistake – McIntosh reiteratingmany times that "those who make the first mistake" will lose. All tootrue because things always go wrong with the best laid plans...Once again, Lancaster shows the master's touch in this role: hiscrinkly eyes, lined face and quiet voice attesting to a man who's seenit all and who just wants to get a job done and survive another day.Which makes Davison almost perfect as the cherubic – almost angelic –faced neophyte who wants to do well but who also wants to change hisworld and make it better for all – including the Apache. Such irony...The only jarring notes were the sometimes-quick cuts (which made mewonder if some scenes had been deleted); and the sometimes-peculiarmusic sound track that you have to listen to, to understand my point.Otherwise...Not recommended for children as this film does contain some graphicallyawful scenes. For all adult fans of the western genre, however, Ithoroughly recommend a viewing.

JohnRouseMerriottChard (2012-05-23 02:39)

Maybe you don't want to think of the white man being savage like the Apache?

Apache renegade Ulzana goes on a murder raid, hot on his trail is aposse of cavalrymen. Led by the young and inexperienced Lt. GarnettDeBuin, the cavalrymen in order to survive and defeat Ulzana, must relyon the help of tough old scout McIntosh and his trusty Indian friend,Ke-Ni-Tay.Directed masterfully by Robert Aldrich {The Dirty Dozen & The LongestYard}, Ulzana's Raid is just shy of being an uncompromisingmasterpiece. There is no pandering to political correctness here, thisis showing the bitter hostility of the Indian war, torture andmurderous inclination is the order of the day. The allegories toVietnam are hard to ignore as our band of men are struggling out in thewilderness against Ulzana's hostile raiders, the sprawling mountainouslandscape another tool to the already handily equipped Apache.What lifts Ulzana's Raid high above many of its contemporaries is itson the money dialogue. A wonderfully complex script from Alan Sharpmanages to make all the characters intriguing and deserving of furtherdelving. The Apache are savage, and Aldrich doesn't flinch from showingthis, but they are afforded respect, and crucially, understanding.Ulzana's Raid could quite easily have been a one sided blood lettingexercise in Western folklore, but it isn't. The motives and attitudesof the white man party is there for all to scrutinise, with muchattention to detail given as the many conversations bring rich andrewarding results to the discerning viewer. From the off it's evidentthat McIntosh & DeBuin have vastly different views of Ulzana's actions,but as the film moves forward; all manner of questions leap out, be itChristian values, racial hatred or merely imperialistic trust; allparties involved are hurtling towards the final reckoning.Burt Lancaster is perfect as McIntosh, grizzled and carrying a framemade for such a rigorous terrain. Playing DeBuin is Bruce Davison,boyish charm fused expertly with unwanted bravado, while stealing thefilm is Jorge Luke as Ke-Ni-Tay. A performance of great depth thatholds and binds the picture brilliantly. Sadly this film has been avictim of much interference over the years, {studio and Lancasterhimself to blame}, so much so there is thought to be about 6 cuts ofthe film out there in the home entertainment world. Thankfully we arenow able to get a cut of the film that is almost complete, but stillthere remains to this day no definitive full cut of the film. German{the version I own} and Australian releases proclaim to have it uncut,but that's not accurate because there is still some three minutesmissing from the very first cut of it: including a quite crucialsequence involving Sergeant and Trooper Miller. Still, it has to besaid that even with 3 minutes chopped out of it, Ulzana's Raid is stilla grim and brilliant piece of work. Showing the savagery from bothsides of the fence, Aldrich and his team refuse to cop out and panderto formula. 9/10

tmwest (2012-05-22 16:36)

Outguessing the enemy was the key to survival

During years I avoided seeing `Ulzana's Raid' because the title gave me theidea that it was a spaghetti western of which I had seen my share. I saw ita couple of days ago and was impressed. This is a film that goes into themind of the Indian , and also of the Lieutenant whose father is a ministerand has strong Christian feelings. The two of them live in two differentworlds and for the officer to understand Ulzana is a very hard task, itdoes not relate to anything his father taught him. Nevertheless figuring outUlzana isessential for his mission and he is coached into that by Burt Lancaster andKe-Ni-Tay, an Indian scout. Ulzana kills every homesteader he finds, he mustknow that ultimately he is going to be caught, it is just a question oftime. Lancaster is a master in strategy, but so is Ulzana, who at timesseems like a maestro orienting his men. The brains here count more than theweapons. This is Aldrich's best film, he redeemed himself from `The LastSunset.'

thomas196x2000 (2012-05-21 16:09)

Oddball Western

I remember seeing this movie as a kid and finding it truly repellent. Idon't really care about the politics of the film, or as one yakkingposter went on and on about how "unfair" the Indians were treated, blahblah blah.Lancaster is wasted here...his part could have been played by anyonefrom Warren Oates to Simon Oakland. Doesn't matter. There is not onesympathetic or even interesting character, excepted perhaps BruceDavison's. The Ulzana of the title isn't interesting, compelling orheroic no matter which "side" you might empathize with. You wish allthe characters would just go to Hell.The reality is that this is one boring film, punctuated by scenes thatare disgusting and foul. It's beyond me how some might find thisentertaining. Beware.Some movies you have never heard of for good reason. Here is an exampleof a good reason.

esteban hernandez (2012-05-21 05:42)

Ulzana, good or bad?

Probably many of us had the question, good or bad? when finish watchingthe film. Aldrich was always fond on Indian problems, but in fact henever went to the roots of the problem. Ulzana seems to be a killerwithout mercy, the dialog between the officer and a recruited Indianleft me also with the sensation that Ulzana and his followers werekillers. However, some ambiguity was also left when Lancaster said tohis officer that he was married to an Indian woman and that Apachesshould be understood. The film was right indicating the intelligence ofthe movement of the Indians in their fight against the white army. Asan entertainment the film is OK, but historically it is poor ingeneral.

loydmooney (2012-05-20 19:20)

wow

It is precisely this kind of western that shows what happens when thespaghetti westerns hit the fan. The realism of something like thisutterly shames them into silence and their dumb close ups of bloodshoteyes and badly dubbed mouths. This is the real deal.If somebody said it is the most powerful western ever made, they wouldget no argument from me. Even the dust in this film is grittier thanany I ever saw. Robert Aldrich would laugh his big gut off, however, atall the suggestions of this being a Vietnam allegory: read some of hiswry commentaries about other highfalluten misreadings of his stuff,especially his Mickey Spillane opus. Nope this is just one greatwestern without any leakage from the twentieth century thank you, infact, just the opposite, it does about as good a job of reallytransporting you to the nineteenth and the west as there is. Man, what a good director Robert Aldrich was. One of the last of thereally good ones.

Theo Robertson (2012-05-20 05:20)

Not A Western - A Great Film

I hate westerns so why do I adore ULZANA`S RAID ? Simple - it`s not awestern Question : What`s the connection between M.A.S.H , TOO LATE THE HERO andCHATO`S LAND ? The answer is they`re all Vietnam allegories . The Hollywoodconservative establishment didn`t allow film makers to voice their commentson the war unless they agreed with it ( Witness the trainwreck that is THEGREEN BERETS ) so the only way auteurs could get round this was if theydressed their stories up as something else . Add ULZANA`S RAID to thelistScottish screenwriter Alan Sharp has written a great script . It has asimple premise which is usually the sign of a good film . US troops go afteran Apache war party . There that`s it the entire premise and a tightlyplotted one at that , something that is not often seen in Hollywood scriptsnowadays . And being a `Nam allegory there`s a lot of character interactionbetween a naive inexperienced officer and his men who are grizzled veterans. Sharp has also made a barbed comment on audience identification , everyonecan relate to the white American soldiers while no one can relate to theApaches murdering and raping homesteaders , but the homesteaders aresurrogate Vietnamese , so at the same time ULZANA`S RAID representscontempary America through both the white calvarymen and the Apache ,something no one seems to have picked up on , but certainly deliberate onthe part of Sharp Flaws ? Well I do think the film deserved a bigger budget than the reported1.2 million dollars , sometimes the production feels like a TVM while themusic swings between a genre western score and a romantic comedy , believeme no one will confuse ULZANA`S RAID with a rom-com . But these minor flawsdon`t stop ULZANA`S RAID from being a great film due to the script , thecast and director Robert Aldrich

planktonrules (2012-05-20 12:18)

A slightly more modern and more savage western...

"Ulzana's Raid" is a bit more modern in style than many westerns, asit's bloodier and is a bit more grim than most films in the genre.However, it's not all modern, as there is no trace of the changingattitudes towards the American Indian, as in this film the Apaches arepretty much scum. This tribe takes pleasure in torture, murder andrape--things you won't see in a more modern western...if they made themany more. I am not sure how true this depiction of this particulartribe is true as well as one soldier blowing out his brains aftermurdering a white woman to prevent them from capturing them. All I knowis that this made for a rather depressing film.Burt Lancaster plays a grizzled old scout. He is experienced in dealingwith the Apache. Bruce Davison plays a VERY young and inexperiencedCavalry lieutenant who is in charge of a small expedition that is outto chased down and kill the Apache, Ulzana, and his raiding party. Muchof the film consists of desert shots--with soldiers following Ulzana'strail. This is punctuated by period brutal scenes--brutal for 1972,though not all that brutal today.I noticed that some of the reviewers really liked this film. I found itall to be a bit ponderous and you KNEW how the film would end--onlyexactly how it got there was in question. An okay western but not amongLancaster's better films.By the way, although the film is rated R, it probably today would berated PG-13 or perhaps even PG.

Robert J. Maxwell (2012-05-19 16:24)

Thoughtful Cavalry vs. Indians

Nobody can accuse the writer (Alan Sharp) or the director (RobertAldrich) of an excess of political correctness in this movie. TheChiracahua Apache Ulzana and his dozen or so followers are prettybrutal characters. They torture captives, rape women, mutilate the deadbodies of their enemies and are generally pitiless.As a matter of historical fact, the Indians of the high plains and theSouthwest didn't fight according to the rules of fair play thatgoverned Western armies. I don't know about rape. The ethnographies aretoo genteel to get into it. But the Apache in particular were given todeboning some prisoners beginning with the fingertips. And not just thewarriors. The Mojave men turned their wounded captives over to thewomen, who REALLY knew how to deal with them. But let me get off thatsubject because it's beginning to remind me of my marriage.Ulzana is dissatisfied with the treatment his tribe is receiving on thereservation so he leads his band off on a series of raids, pursued by agreen lieutenant (Davison), a detail of cavalry troopers, BurtLancaster as the weary scout, and Jorge Luke as the reformed Apacheguide. So far, so routine.But this is fairly well done. The renegade Indians may be savage butthe troopers show that they can mutilate bodies too. And theinexperienced but well-meaning lieutenant reveals some subtleexpressions of prejudice against a different race or, more accurately,a different culture. The script doesn't justify or explain thedifference between the cavalry and the Indians. Rather, it describesthem, and with reasonable accuracy. For instance, the Apache are shownas especially adept at fighting on foot, which was the case.Lancaster doesn't seem to put much into the role, a little surprisinggiven his social and political leanings. Bruce Davison as thelieutenant is quite good. It's too bad he looks fourteen years oldbecause he delivers his lines well and has the properly innocentfeatures. But his voice cracks, a little like Jimmy Stewart's, as if hewere pubescent, and his frame is diminutive.As usual, it's nice to see Richard Jaeckel in uniform again. Here --grown a bit more husky with age -- he is top sergeant of Davison'sdetail. I do wish the poor guy could be promoted, maybe get acommission. He began as a mere Marine private in "Guadalcanal Diary"and had only made sergeant in the US Army by "The Dirty Dozen", aquarter of a century later. Now, five years after that, he's stuck ingrade, but I understand he was finally retired as Warrant Officer andnow lives in Coronado, California, where he spend his time cursing seagulls and writing angry letters to the San Diego Union-Tribune aboutthe deep need of Americans for more war in order to speed uppromotions.This film isn't a masterpiece but the photography is nice, the actionabundant, and the objectivity pronounced. If it isn't politicallycorrect, at least it's not obvious propaganda like the Westerns of the30s or "Stagecoach" or "Little Big Man." Polemics get tiresome anddated. This one opts for stimulating thought instead of binaryemotions. As Lancaster's character puts it, "We'd be better offthinking' instead of hatin'." But the point is usually made with moresubtlety.

roegrocks (2012-05-19 01:24)

A nearly perfect western you shouldn't miss

A small group of Apaches has just stolen some horses and left thereservation. Their number and immediate intentions are unclear to thecommander of the nearest US Calvary outpost, but his youngestLieutenant wishes to give them the benefit of the doubt according tohis Christian philosophy. The Calvary's scout is a grizzled, weather-beaten man played toperfection by Burt Lancaster. He knows exactly what the Apachesintentions are, and seems flabbergasted by the commander of the basefor whom he serves. Nevertheless, he follows his orders all the whilenever missing a chance to foretell what will be the result of theCommander's delays.The premise of this movie does follow the most cynical views that onepeople may hold for another, and there's no point in arguing theiraccuracy here. Different from many other films about Indian uprisings,at least this one attempts to explain the motives of the Apaches. Toappreciate any film the premise must be "swallowed", but there are manywho will not be able to keep it down long enough to enjoy the excellentwriting, wonderful performances, and "not a frame viewed withoutpurpose" editing and directing. I recommend this film completely andconsider it an 8 out of 10, which I give to very few films.Upon the first viewing this has become one of my favorite, if not myvery favorite, western of all time. Not for the squeamish due toextreme violence to both people and animals.

kayaker36 (2012-05-18 09:36)

Nobility and Cruelty

If you listen carefully you can hear a few lines in the Apache languagenear the beginning of this picture. Before departing the reservationthe veteran scout MacIntosh (Lancaster) seeks information about hisadversary by questioning several elders of the Apache tribe through thenative auxiliary Ke-Ni-Tay.Like their cousins the Navajo, the Athabascan-speaking Apacheunquestionably migrated from the far North to the American Southwest,though just when this happened is still debated. Taller and fiercerthan the Pueblos and Yumans they found there, and possessing the arcticbow, the Apache soon dominated the whole region though they were pushedout of the easternmost part by the equally warlike Comanche. This picture presents the Apache in all their cunning and savagery, asmany other posters have noted. This is a character-driven narrativewith a straightforward plot. "Why are your people so cruel?" asksLieut. DeBuin of Ke-Ni-Tay. "You do not understand," Ke-Ni-Taycomments, to which the green and idealistic officer replies "I **want**to understand".In a less carefully written script, the juvenile role of Lieut. DeBuincould have come off simply as a spoiled brat or a clueless male ingénuewhose mistakes have to be redeemed with the blood of his men. But hehas noble qualities. These are revealed subtly and gradually as thestory progresses until the final salute, when we see this young officeras a true leader of men.Terrific performances by veteran Richard Jaeckel (catch him in theoriginal **3:10 to Yuma**), by Jorge Luke, by Lancaster and by youngBruce Davison in a sensitive portrayal of Lieut. DeBuin.

ksundstrom (2012-05-17 20:52)

Questioning...?

Permit an additional comment to all the others. So there will be nodescription like the worthy others - just some other views about theclash of forces that formed America. So forceful in American thinkingis Fords forceful and disdainful remark about the value of history:'All history is bunk', that Hollywood with its European talent haschallenged that thought. But in many, many comments of films on IMDbone has to observe reluctantly that history seems to have noimportance. First comment - so it will be history! Americans arrivingfrom the East, those who contributed most to American development, camefrom Europe. Europe had been ravaged by famines, wars, social classstrife, that America - the promised land in the letters sent home toEurope - appeared as the only future for a better life. Many whoarrived were formed by viscousness. There is thus plenty of this in thefilm expressed by the Americans soldiers of European origins, even morehardened and cynical after the American war of Independence. This is tobe accepted - however difficult for Americans to-day. Second comment -the destruction of the Indians. In the broad sweep of indo-Europeanhistory, this was just a minor incident in the European history. Wholeraces in Europe were exterminated from Portugal to the Urals (a widthnot much different from west to east in America) in the most brutalfashion, for example, the moguls of Gengis Khan and even the Frenchduring the Saint Barthelemy massacre 1572 or the persecution in Italyof Savonarola 1498 and the subsequent period of the Roman CatholicInquisition. This history and much more was in the backbone of theEuropeans who built up America. So the Indians and their demise wasjust part of a terrible human pageantry. Third comment - the filmraises such issues of human cruelty, survival, race, development, inthe new world of America. That is its merit par excellence, thanks tothe writer, director, actors and the photography. A film that provokesquestioning and thought.

TrevorAclea (2012-05-17 02:42)

Whichever way you cut it, a great film

It's well worth tracking down Robert Aldrich's Ulzana's Raid – orrather, Burt Lancaster's Ulzana's Raid, since there are two versions incirculation: the one currently released on DVD is actually thedirector's US cut while the one on video is Burt Lancaster's Europeancut, which has the same running time but some additional footage at theexpense of some deleted scenes.It follows a cavalry patrolled by Bruce Davison's idealistic butinexperienced West Pointer and guided by Lancaster's scout in theirpursuit of a small band of Apaches who have left the reservation torekindle their 'power' by torturing and killing as many settlers asthey can find. It's a stark, brilliant film that is a notable influenceon Walter Hill's Geronimo (which even borrows from it directly on acouple of occasions), but has a level of cruelty that the later filmlacks. Unlike its contemporaries which took up the Native Americancause, this never idealises or demonises either side: even Lancaster'sscout proves catastrophically less competent in matters of strategythan in tracking or attempting to explain the enemy's way of thinking.For the most part it's a conflict between two different cultures thatcan never understand or tolerate each other, carried out almost withoutmalice despite its brutality. As Lancaster points out, "It's just theway they are. It's like hating the desert because there ain't any waterin it." With a superb screenplay by Alan Sharp, a fine Frank De Volscore and muscular, unsentimental direction by Aldrich that takes noprisoners, it's one of the key Westerns of the Seventies, even if partsof it proved too shocking for audiences for it to gain much of areputation at the time. It's strong meat, but it's more than worth theprice of admission.

ULZANA (2012-05-17 03:20)

Why I chose my user name.......

When friends ask me to name my favourite 5 films this is the one that theyhave never heard of.To my mind it is the most accomplished western thathasever been made(although soldier blue comes a good second,It tells the story of an apache(ulzana)and his gang and their bid forfreedom from the constraints of a reservation with little food and verylittle hope.Burt Lancaster plays an army scout sent to track the renegadesalongside a platoon of indian hating soldiers and their inept and illequipped leader.Although the film follows a predictable course it is the tension and underglorified violence that sets this apart from others of the genre.I foundthat I had sympathy for most of the main characters at different points inthe film but ultimately I felt like Lancaster the futility of itall.Please see this film at least then you will know all my top 5.

woxof (2012-05-16 19:09)

Watched By Accident Purchased On Purpose

I have only one thing to add to the many fine reviews of this movie.Sometime after seeing it, by pure luck, on a Saturday morning, I readJames A. Michner's "Centennial" (Can you believe Michner was the Uncleof the guy I was watching it with!) In the bibliography at the end ofCentennial, Ulzana's Raid was recommended as one of the best movies forcapturing a true picture of the Old West. I resent the forced inclusionof extra lines just so I can get to 10 lines of comment. I meanshouldn't brevity be its own reward? This is especially aggravating ona MOVIE site! After all Isn't one of the great lines of movie criticism"HIX NIX PIX IN STIX!"? I think the comment about this movie beingrecommended by James A. Michner is, in it's self, sufficientinformation for a review.

thinker1691 (2012-05-16 11:31)

" Just remember, . . the first one to make a mistake, gets to burying people "

Native Americans living on Reservations have been condemned to slowdeath. Once when they were masters of the open range, they knew noboundaries and their lives were rich with spirit power. Traditionrequired all Indian men to have power, without it, they wither and die.From the time one is born, it's a daily struggle to acquire power.After death, such warriors return as powerful spirits of the naturalworld. This is the basis for this film entitled " Ulzana's Raid." It isthe 1880's in the Western Arizona frontier and an unscrupulousgovernment agent has been short-changing the tribal people of theirmeager meat supplies, so much so a small group of Apaches, led by astrong leader named Ulzana, (Joaquin Martinez) who with a dozen bravesbreak out from the reservation and go on a war party to live free inthe deserts. Because theirs will be a wild and destructive raid, thefort commander assigns his chief scout McIntosh (Burt Lancaster), ayoung Lt. Garnett Debuin (Bruce Davison) and an Indian guide andtracker named Ke-Ni-Tay (Jorge Luke) to 'persue with all due vigor' theescaping hostiles. Accompanying the patrol is an experienced armySergeant, played by Richard Jaeckel. The fine cast also includesLancaster's friend Nick Cravat and Richard Farnsworth as army troopers.As the renegade Apache are tracked, their destructive trail iscollectively made up of death, rape and torture. The action, drama andsuperior confrontations are manifest and definitely the stuff of film.With little effort, this is not only a vehicle for Young BruceDavidson, but a superior milestone for Burt Lancaster as he adds thiswestern Classic to his distinguished repertoire. ****

scttwortman (2012-05-15 14:24)

Taking a Man's Power

The only reason I have not given this movie a "10" is that I might findsomething wrong with it on subsequent viewings. If anybody knows ofthis film being available widescreen, unedited, and not bootlegged, letme know where. My high definition TV does not forgive picture flaws.Otherwise I will be patient for a remaster. As someone who is anamateur historian of the Indian wars, I can tell you this is the mostaccurate dramatization of the campaign against the Apaches ever filmed.Accurate history is presented in the fact that the Apaches were thedominant tribe of the southwest {the Comanches in Texas might have beentheir rival}. Ask the Puebloes, who actually welcomed the white man, asa buffer against the Apache. The Apache dominated the southwest longbefore the Spanish ever showed up. Their spiritual philosophy of"taking a man's power" was shared by other warlike Indian tribes allthe way to the east coast {see "Last of the Mohicans", Mann's version}.The film manages to also be great western drama as well as a historylesson.There is no moral judgment, only the way it was. The cast issuperb.Lancaster, Davidson, The Hispanic Indian actors. RichardJaeckel, and Karl Swenson {two workhorse character actors, who turnedin performances of a lifetime}. All these guys plus director Aldrichand the writers knew they were working on something special. Even thePC edited version is worth seeing. A great Cavalry/Indian western,maybe the best!