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Distant DrumsRating:
Release Date: 11 May, 2004 Retail Price: $14.98 OUR Price: $13.48 You SAVE: $1.50! Cast: Complete Cast (7 total) |
Distant Drums Reviews
Not HIGH NOON!
This 1951 Gary Cooper/Raoul Walsh (director) vehicle is not one of their best. In fact, the movie is so disappointing in every regard that I am surprised the film was considered for DVD production when so many other excellent 50yr. old movies have yet to see the light of day on DVD. Still, this selection may be the only film made that addresses the Seminole Indian War of the 1840s (as a point of fact, the Seminoles never did sign a peace treaty with the US, and the war ended quietly). The only two bona fide Hollywood stars are Gary Cooper, of course, and stalwart supporting actor, Arthur Hunnicutt. Several other actors will be more familiar to moviegoers as TV personalities, like Richard Webb (in the late 1950s program Captain Midnight) and Sheb Wooley, a real-life cowboy/stuntman, who was a regular in Rawhide with Clint Eastwood. I remember first seeing "Distant Drums" as a youngster and was hooked on Cooper as an "Indian Fighter", the action represented by the "Whites" trying to escape the pursuing Indians, and the climactic hand-to-hand, underwater knife fight between Cooper's character and Chief Ocala. Since then, I and movies have become a wee bit more sophisticated, and "Distant Drums" has failed to withstand the test of time. The color transfer to DVD is sharpe, and the underwater scenes are crisp; however, historical accuracy in the film is non-existant, and the romantic involvement between Cooper and the female lead, Mari Aldon (who is she?), is so contrived that it detracts from the strength of Cooper's character. What "deep sixed" the movie for me were: 1) the 1890s uniforms worn by the c.1840 US soldiers; 2) the Colt Peacemaker/6 shot revolver used by Cooper (had the film's producer done his homework, he would have known this gun was not in production until the 1870s ... even Gary Cooper should have known this fact!); and 3) the made-up, improvised, gobboli-gook Indian language used by Cooper and other characters. No, "Distant Drums" is not "High Noon," perhaps Cooper's best Western (both films were made the same year). Sadly, what we are able to recall as exciting or great as children is all too frequently disappointing as adults; "Distant Drums" is such an example for me.
Good Ol' Coop and his Swamp Fox
For Gary Cooper fans, this is an above average flick. It's not in the same class as The Westerner or Sgt York, but it has plenty of suspense and action. It also has one of the hottest leading ladies I've ever seen! Apparently some hotshot must have married her (Mari Aldon) and cut short her career because this seems to be her only lead role. As for Coop, he's in fine shape-ok, a little past his prime, but still handsome and tough. His entrance scene is a great shot showing what a Golden Age movie star ought to look like.
After attacking and destroying the Seminole Indians arms cache (Florida circa 1840) most of the movie concerns the small band of soldiers led by Cooper being chased through the Everglades by some seriously fearsome Seminoles. In a way, it's a chase movie, and the retreating group is in a situation of convincing danger. Therein lies the heroic nature of a Gary Cooper character in his adventure films: he is a formidable opponent, but he can be killed. He is not the superhuman as Clint Eastwood often is, or even John Wayne. You get the feeling that he may not make it to the end of the movie. However, he is the kind of man you would put your faith in and follow just about anywhere. Coop seems to be enjoying himself in the film and looks like he's doing many of his own stunts. The climactic and imaginative underwater knife duel is well done and caps the tension of the story. I have to admit, the movie started a bit slow for me, but I continued watching and was pleasantly rewarded. For a younger Gary Cooper, and more violent film, I would recommend The Real Glory, but this is a harder to find movie than Distant Drum. One bit of criticism is, as usual, with the quality of the print. It's not terrible, but it is faded somewhat. I give it four stars because of the action and suspense, Cooper's lively performance, and Miss Aldon is HOT!
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