source: The Sabre and the Arrow

Moviecut—The Sabre and the Arrow

This story was originally written by Kenneth Gamet and interestingly directed by Andre De Toth. Indeed, this film which nearly duplicates the previous film called 'Sahara' which starred Humphery Bogart, now uses actor Broderick Crawford as Sgt. Matt Trainor for it's lead character, but entitled " Last of the Comanches." The story relates the tale of a small group of survivors who join together against a huge band of renegade Indians in a desert setting fighting for their lives. Out numbered, out-gunned and short of water decide to challenge a band of Commanche in a remote and abandoned watering hole. Discovering there is no water, they nevertheless convince the enemy, that there is plenty of water to be had if the Indians will surrender their guns in exchange for badly needed water, Although, the acting in the Bogart version is much more superior, this remake nevertheless has it's moments. The additional casts includes Lloyd Bridges, Mickey Shaughnessy and Martin Milner makes for a good remake. There is sufficient action to warrant lasting interest and also enough excitement and serious dialog to hold audiences to it's conclusion. All in all, a good remake of an established Classic. Yes I would recommend it for viewing as a mirror classic of a previous era. ****

Basically this film is a remake of the 1943 Humphrey Bogart film 'Sahara' with essentially the same plot moved from the deserts of North Africa to the American Southwest. Nevertheless, this is a solid western with good acting by a cast of competent character actors and vivid photography. Broderick Crawford was, to my mind, a very underrated actor and we see Barbara Hale here prior to her 'Perry Mason' days and Lloyd Bridges prior to his'Sea Hunt' underwater TV series. All in all, an enjoyable film for western devotees. I remember originally seeing this film at the weekly Friday night 'Ranch Night' at my local theater in the late 50s. If you like this film, be sure to see the 'Last Posse' with Broderick Crawford which is just as good, if not superior to this western.

Fair western, but the plot was identical to the 1943 Humphrey Bogart movie Sahara. That made it predictable to me. Lloyd Bridges must have liked the plot because he was in both movies and got killed in both movies. Broderick Crawford, a fine actor was his old self, barking orders through all of the movie. Calvary came to the rescue at the last moment, just what we like to see. Also you can see a very young Martin Milner later on Adam-12.

Normally i am not a western fan but this movie was exceptional. broderick, lloyd bridges, barbara hale etc. so many great actors i like. all i can say is its what movies are all about.

Crawford is the grizzled cavalry sergeant here, trying to lead an assorted band of survivors of an Indian attack to safety. Story is predictable and drags. Considering the cast, this one is a disappointment on all counts.

This is an old fashioned cowboys and Indians story with the cavalry literally saving the heroic band of Indian fighters at the last minute. It has some very good old fashioned character actors with the likes of Broderick Crawford, Martin Milner, Mickey Shaughnessy and a much younger Della Street in the guise of Barbara Hale. In this age of extreme anxiety, with bands of terrorists threatening we know not where or what, it was very nice to escape back in time to this kind of well produced, well acted 50's western. Though it is, perhaps, a movie for those of a certain generation.

A solid directorial effort by Andre De Toth (check out the scene in silhouette with Broderick Crawford & Lloyd Bridges), good story and acting plus decent dialogue make this a must see for any western or "drama classics" fan.

A good remake of Sahara with Broderick Crawford leading the cast of competent if not name performers. Crawford was still in the glow of his two star quality performances in All The King's Men and Born Yesterday. Broderick Crawford is a cavalry sergeant leading a patrol in the Arizona desert and they're attacked. As in Sahara, the patrol settles in for a siege at a waterhole, where the numerically superior Indians surround them, but are being dehydrated for lack of water. It's a test of wills and if you saw Sahara, you know how it will come out. Young Johnny Stewart as the Comanche boy Little Knife is in the second of the two feature films he did for Columbia. He had a good screen presence and God only knows why he didn't become a major star. Good B western with a quality cast.