BROKEN ARROW
DIRECTED BY DELMER DAVIES
PRODUCED BY JULIAN BLAUSTEIN
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX
Photo with the courtesy of lasbugas
Information From IMDb
Plot Summary
By 1870, there has been 10 years of cruel war between settlers and Cochise's Apaches. Ex-soldier Tom Jeffords saves the life of an Apache boy and starts to wonder if Indians are human, after all; soon, he determines to use this chance to make himself an ambassador. Against all odds, his solitary mission into Cochise's stronghold opens a dialogue. Opportunely, the president sends General Howard with orders to conclude peace. But even with Jeffords' luck, the deep grievance and hatred on both sides make tragic failure all too likely
Written by Rod Crawford
Full Cast
James Stewart ... Tom Jeffords
Jeff Chandler ... Cochise
Debra Paget ... Sonseeahray ('Morningstar')
Basil Ruysdael ... Gen. Oliver 'The Christian General' Howard
Will Geer ... Ben Slade, Rancher
Joyce Mackenzie ... Terry, Scatfly Proprietress (as Joyce MacKenzie)
Arthur Hunnicutt ... Milt Duffield, Mail Superintendent
Robert Adler ... Lonergan, Stage Driver (uncredited)
Trevor Bardette ... Stage Passenger (uncredited)
Chris Willow Bird ... Nochalo, Wedding Officiant (uncredited)
Raymond Bramley ... Col. Bernall (uncredited)
Argentina Brunetti ... Nalikadeya, Cochise's Wife (uncredited)
Harry Carter ... Miner (uncredited)
Iron Eyes Cody ... Teese, Court Jester (uncredited)
J.W. Cody ... Pionsenay, Chosen Warrior (uncredited)
Heinie Conklin ... Townsman (uncredited)
Dolores Christine Cypert ... American Indian / Redbird (uncredited)
Aubrey Lee Dale ... Indian (uncredited)
John Doucette ... Mule Driver (uncredited)
Robert Foster Dover ... Machogee, Boy Healed by Jeffords (uncredited)
Nacho Galindo ... Barber (uncredited)
Robert Griffin ... John Lowrie (uncredited)
Bob Kortman ... Minor Role (uncredited)
Mickey Kuhn ... Bob Slade (uncredited)
Jack Lee ... Boucher (uncredited)
John Marston ... Maury, Stage Passenger (uncredited)
Frank McGrath ... Barfly (uncredited)
Edwin Rand ... Sergeant (uncredited)
Jay Silverheels ... Geronimo (uncredited)
Charles Soldani ... Skinyea, Chosen Warrior (uncredited)
Richard Van Opel ... Bernall's Adjutant (uncredited)
John War Eagle ... Nahilzay, Rejected Suitor (uncredited)
Billy Wilkerson ... Juan, Teacher-Guide (uncredited)
Bud Wolfe ... Man Saying '...or a Blasted Liar' (uncredited)
Writing Credits
Elliott Arnold (novel "Blood Brother")
Albert Maltz (screenplay) (front Michael Blankfort)
Michael Blankfort (front for Albert Maltz)
Produced
Julian Blaustein
Original Music
Hugo Friedhofer
Cinematography
Ernest Palmer
Trivia
At 41, James Stewart was 25 years older than Debra Paget, who was barely 16 at the time of filming.
Filmed in 1949 but released after Stewart's next western, Winchester '73 (1950).
Screenwriter Albert Maltz did not receive a credit when the film was released because he was blacklisted. Instead, the script was credited to Michael Blankfort.
The film was considered groundbreaking at the time because it portrayed the Native American Indians in a humane light, something that had scarcely happened since silent days. However, years later the film was heavily criticized because the Indians were still played by white actors.
"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on January 22, 1951 with Debra Paget reprising her film role.
"Screen Director's Playhouse" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on September 7, 1951 with James Stewart and Jeff Chandler reprising their film roles.
The movie's world premiere was held in the Nusho Theater in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
The broken arrow, which signals an end to fighting, is in fact a Blackfoot Indian symbol, not an Apache symbol. The Blackfoot are native to Montana and Alberta, Canada.
Goofs
* Continuity: When General Oliver is beginning to pick himself off the ground after the Apache attack on the military wagon train, the first shot shows the ground to be mostly desert sand, with very little vegetation. But when the scene jumps to a long shot of the General getting up the ground around him is almost entirely covered with green vegetation, showing scarcely any sand at all.
Filming Locations
Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA
Cathedral Rock, Sedona, Arizona, USA
Coconino Mountains, Arizona, USA
Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA
Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, Arizona, USA
Old Tucson - 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona, USA
(and vicinity)