"Drums Across the River" is another of the excellent 80 minute Audie Murphy westerns turned out by Universal in the 1950s. This one has a fine supporting cast filled with recognizable faces.
The story in brief has all of the gold mines around Crown City Colorado being played out and the only way to save the town is to cross the river into Ute Indian lands and mine the gold found there. Gary Brannon (Murphy) is conned into helping unscrupulous townsman Frank Walker (Lyle Bettger) convince the town elders to support a trek across the river into Indian lands. Gary's father Sam (Walter Brennan) tries to prevent him.
After the group crosses the river Walker along with his two brothers (James Anderson, George Wallace) and the Costa brothers (Bob Steele, Lane Bradford) incite an attack on the Indians sent to stop them. Townsman Nathan Marlowe (Emil Meyer) is captured by the Utes. An Indian brave is also captured by Gary and an exchange is arranged. Sam having been wounded allows Gary to go in his place to the Indian village.
Meanwhile Frank Walker sends for all in black gunman Morgan (Hugh O'Brian) to assist him. Later, Walker stages an "Indian attack" on the stage where a gold shipment is stolen. Gary gets blamed for the resulting deaths and ends up being tried for murder. In bargaining for his life, Gary agrees to lead the bad guys to the gold but..............
Others appearing in the cast include Lisa Gaye as the good girl, Mara Corday as the bad girl, Morris Ankrum as the dying Chief, Chief Yowlachie as the Ute Medicine Man, Howard McNear as townsman Stillwell, Regis Toomey as the town Sheriff and Robert Bray and Edmund Cobb in other roles.
Audie Murphy was a better actor than most give him credit for. His portrayal of the prejudiced Gary is quite good. Brennan has a few good moments in the early part of the film but is tied up for most of the second half. Lyle Bettger was one of the best of the smooth talking villains of the 50s. He would appear with Murphy again in "Destry" the following year. Bob Steele and Lane Bradford, veterans of the "B" westerns of the 40s have hardly any lines although Steele gets to work Brennan over and has a campfire fight with Murphy.
One of the better Murphy westerns.
The story in brief has all of the gold mines around Crown City Colorado being played out and the only way to save the town is to cross the river into Ute Indian lands and mine the gold found there. Gary Brannon (Murphy) is conned into helping unscrupulous townsman Frank Walker (Lyle Bettger) convince the town elders to support a trek across the river into Indian lands. Gary's father Sam (Walter Brennan) tries to prevent him.
After the group crosses the river Walker along with his two brothers (James Anderson, George Wallace) and the Costa brothers (Bob Steele, Lane Bradford) incite an attack on the Indians sent to stop them. Townsman Nathan Marlowe (Emil Meyer) is captured by the Utes. An Indian brave is also captured by Gary and an exchange is arranged. Sam having been wounded allows Gary to go in his place to the Indian village.
Meanwhile Frank Walker sends for all in black gunman Morgan (Hugh O'Brian) to assist him. Later, Walker stages an "Indian attack" on the stage where a gold shipment is stolen. Gary gets blamed for the resulting deaths and ends up being tried for murder. In bargaining for his life, Gary agrees to lead the bad guys to the gold but..............
Others appearing in the cast include Lisa Gaye as the good girl, Mara Corday as the bad girl, Morris Ankrum as the dying Chief, Chief Yowlachie as the Ute Medicine Man, Howard McNear as townsman Stillwell, Regis Toomey as the town Sheriff and Robert Bray and Edmund Cobb in other roles.
Audie Murphy was a better actor than most give him credit for. His portrayal of the prejudiced Gary is quite good. Brennan has a few good moments in the early part of the film but is tied up for most of the second half. Lyle Bettger was one of the best of the smooth talking villains of the 50s. He would appear with Murphy again in "Destry" the following year. Bob Steele and Lane Bradford, veterans of the "B" westerns of the 40s have hardly any lines although Steele gets to work Brennan over and has a campfire fight with Murphy.
One of the better Murphy westerns.