Apache [DVD]

I remembered this movie from childhood and wanted to see it again. Burt Lancaster is an excellent actor, yet it would have been better if they had used a native american actor. Of course, that wasn't done at the time this movie was made. Yet is is still worth watching.

This is a pretty good Western starring Burt Lancaster as Massai and Jean Peters. This film is presented in color, Full frame and runs for about 1hr 27mins. This movie also stars: John McIntire, Charles Bronson, John Dehner, Paul Guilfoyle and is directed by Robert Aldrich. Burt plays a great Apache and is perfect for the role. Overall this is a good Western and I would recommend it.

I am a biomedical engineer and work with medical informatics. I was born and raised on the Apache Reservation in Arizona. Apache had been my 1st language; however, Catholic Nuns taught me English but also encouraged me to retain my original language. I have seen the movie. In my family, I have relatives who were scouts for the US Calvary (Chief Alchesay) and others who were renegades. This movie does have have some level of of historical realism. It shows the excessive use of Apache Scouts and the fact that not all Chiricuahua Apaches surrendered. There was actually a small group that never did, and their story parallels those of the Seminoles who hid out in the Everglades. I am related to Massai, who escaped from St. Louis. I am also related to Chief Alchesay, the head scout whose warriors captured Geronimo. He was constantly on the run from Apache scouts closely on his trail in the most remote and inaccessible canyons of the southwest. It had been the strategy of General Crook and readopted by General Miles in the closing end of his campaign.Al Sieber admitted that he failed in finding the Apache Kid and Massai, the renegades who were still at large at the end of the 19th century. Sieber was also very racist and referred to Apaches as "Red N-----s." So much for his being politically correct. I am related to Massai on my mother's side and the Apache Kid on my father's side. Massai was dying of tuberculosis and reportedly killed in the early 1900s, and his widow and children returned to Mescalero. The Apache Kid was last seen by his relatives in San Carlos around 1935. As for the scouts, Alchesay's relatives were WWII veterans. One of them died during the allied invasion of Germany while attacking Nazi gunner pits. Another was an Apache US Marine at Iwo Jima in 1945 (Semper Fidelis - USMC).In regards to negative feedback from others, there are parts of the movie that are historically or culturally incorrect. In the first place, the entire movie is made with white actors who only speak English. Secondly, the scene with Massai tying up his wife is incorrect. In addition, there was a slave trade imposed upon Apaches by Mexico. The Mexican government also offered money for Apache scalps.The rugged terrain and mountain running are most accurate. Apaches used to run 70 miles per day for days at a time. That is why the Mexican government used Tarahumarah scouts (who in more recent times have won the Leadville 100 mile run in 1993 and 1994 in Colorado). My favorite scene is when Massai comes up and sees the familiar Apache mountain of his homeland after running and walking hundreds of miles.

excellent cast; great story; good acting; hard to be negative about Lancaster - recommend this

It’s a movie to watch

A great old time movie which stars Burt Lancaster, one of my favorite actors. As always, he gives you a lot of action in this movie just like he did in every other film that he made.

Although I'm a huge fan of Burt Lancaster, with an affinity for Westerns, even I have to admit that "Apache" is not one of Burt's best films. Very loosely based on the true story of the last member of the title tribe to resist the sociological and cultural changes brought about by the advancement of the white man, the film is well-acted, ably directed, and impressively photographed. However, the script by James R. Webb too often sacrifices characterization and context for action, and thus the audience is never really given the opportunity to learn much about the background of Lancaster's character, Massai, and what has made him into the man we meet in the film's opening sequence. "Apache" runs roughly an hour and a half; had an extra fifteen to twenty minutes been added showing Massai's early years and establishing his tribe's cultural heritage, the movie would have taken on additional dimensions and layers and might have been a great motion picture rather than just a good one.Speaking of the film's length, its actual running time has been in dispute since its original theatrical release back in 1954. Even then, various resources listed it as running as short as 86 minutes, and as long as 91 minutes. The MGM "Western Legends" DVD release (copyrighted in 2001) runs 87 minutes, and there is no solid evidence to indicate that any footage is missing from this version. Similarly, although some modern sources claim that "Apache" was originally exhibited in a 1.85:1 widescreen format, that ratio would have made the film an anomaly back in 1954 when CinemaScope was still in its infancy and most features were still being produced in the standard 1.37:1 format. The "Western Legends" release notes that the DVD is presented in a standard, "modified to fit your screen" ratio, but my research has lead me to conclude that the film was modified from 1.37:1 down to 1.33:1, not from 1.85:1 down to 1.33:1.What is certain is that the "Western Legends" DVD release does not offer the best print of the film now available in terms of visual clarity. While some scenes are remarkably sharp and clear, others are too soft, with improper color balance. A more consistent, seemingly restored print has been screened on various premium cable TV channels during the past few years. Hopefully, this improved edition will be made available on DVD and/or Blu-Ray in the future, now that the "Western Legends" DVD has gone out-of-print.

Very satisfied with product.

Super movie

Great quality product very good price buy again from seller

Superbe western, qui prend le point de vue de l'indien Massaï, camarade de Géronimo, qui refuse de se rendre et d'être parqué. Burt Lancaster interprète Massaï, de manière électrique: il bouge, il saute, il court, il frappe, avec une débauche d'énergie impressionnante.Le film va à l’essentiel: pas de plan de coupe avec des paysages. Tout va très vite. Sa reddition forcée, son transport vers la réserve et son évasion, sa rencontre avec l'indien qui vit comme les blancs (belle séquence), son retour, sa nouvelle capture, sa nouvelle évasion et son entrée en rébellion: il part seul, mais une squaw le suit (Jean Peters dans une performance très physique: est elle battue, attachée, trainée par terre par Massaï) et fonde un foyer puis devient agriculteur, puis l'armée le retrouve.Pour se terminer, pas dans le drame comme nous l'imaginions, mais par le transfert vers l'enfant de Massaï qui vient de naitre. Très belle séquence finale, qui parait peu vraisemblable, mais qui contente le spectateur. Le tout en 90 minutes, sans mousse inutile, tout s'enchainant très vite pour la jubilation du spectateur.Sachant que la même année Robert Aldrich réalisait un autre chef-d'oeuvre, Vera Cruz (1954). Quelle année!

A Rare French Blu-ray Release For The Classic Burt Lancaster Western Apache. if My Movie knowledge serves me correct This was The only movie we get To see screen legend Burt Lancaster play an Apache Indian. Needless To say if you have not seen it This is a Great movie from Hollywood's Golden age. alas The movie Totally plays up in French subtitles are available again only in French. sadly not even any English subtitles. I could be wrong but I am sure when I ordered This That it stated The Movie as English options I would not have ordered it otherwise really. I could go on with This review Excellent Blu-ray Quality which it is sadly however if you plan To purchase it My comments on The audio soundtrack To This release hopefully will be of some Guidance To you. as for The service The Delivery on This item was pretty Quick for an import release order.

Viewed as entertainment this is a pretty good western. History it's not. It is based on a novel, the story forwhich was suggested by the legendary exploits of a latter-day Apache warrior. The first third of the movie consists of the writer's imagining what Massai might have encountered on his 3 month trek from St.Louis to his New Mexico homeland; the second third is mostly fast, gritty western action and allows Burt to display his acrobatic agility as he leaps from rock to rock; the final third declines into a soapy 50s Hollywood romance which seems totally out of keeping with the mood of the earlier parts. On the whole it's a solid western with plenty of action, magnificent scenery and unusually well-developed characters to whom the actors do justice. Burt looks suitably grim, eschewing his familiar crocodile grin.There was a well-intentioned trend in the 50s to make westerns sympathetic to Native Americans with the latter as the dominant character. The only way to make such films financially viable seemed to have a box-office star as the lead, thus Rock Hudson, Jeff Chandler, Victor Mature and others are found playing NAs. Personally, I find that once I get absorbed in the story and characters I stop being aware that the actors don't look or act like NAs — they become just people in a play. Those who cannot make allowances for movies made more than 50 years ago in a different time and, in many ways, a different place are going to miss out on some great films.