Ulzana's Raid is a 1972 revisionist Western starring Burt Lancaster,
Richard Jaeckel, Bruce Davison and Joaquin Martinez.
The film, which was filmed on location in Arizona,
was directed by Robert Aldrich, based on a script by Alan Sharp.
Emanuel Levy summarizes the film, "Ulzana's Raid,
one of the best Westerns of the 1970s,
is also one of the most underestimated pictures
of vet director Robert Aldrich, better known for his sci-fi
and horror flicks, such as Kiss Me Deadly and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane."
Set in 1880s Arizona, it portrays a brutal raid by Chiricahua Apaches against European settlers.
The bleak and nihilistic tone showing U.S. troops chasing an elusive
but murderous enemy has been seen as allegorical to the United States
participation in the Vietnam War.
User Review
A nearly perfect western you shouldn't miss
29 August 2001 | by roegrocks (China)
Display MoreA small group of Apaches has just stolen some horses and left the reservation. Their number and immediate intentions are unclear to the commander of the nearest US Calvary outpost, but his youngest Lieutenant wishes to give them the benefit of the doubt according to his Christian philosophy.
The Calvary's scout is a grizzled, weather-beaten man played to perfection by Burt Lancaster. He knows exactly what the Apaches intentions are, and seems flabbergasted by the commander of the base for whom he serves. Nevertheless, he follows his orders all the while never missing a chance to foretell what will be the result of the Commander's delays.
The premise of this movie does follow the most cynical views that one people may hold for another, and there's no point in arguing their accuracy here. Different from many other films about Indian uprisings, at least this one attempts to explain the motives of the Apaches. To appreciate any film the premise must be "swallowed", but there are many who will not be able to keep it down long enough to enjoy the excellent writing, wonderful performances, and "not a frame viewed without purpose" editing and directing. I recommend this film completely and consider 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 my very favorite, western of all time. Not for the squeamish due to extreme violence to both people and animals.