Review of Apache (1954) by Stuart M — 30 Aug 2018

A '50s Western in redface (is that what you call it?) was bound to be uncomfortable to modern tastes. But I went in expecting something of a Broken Arrow: patronizing in many of its assumptions but essentially well-intentioned. This isn't that. In fact, I don't think I'd even consider it an honest attempt to represent the Native point-of-view despite having an Apache as the lead.

A real standout for me was the encounter with the Cherokee farmer, whose potted history of his tribe is absolute whiteman bullshit. Apparently the reason for their being driven west was that Cherokee couldn't learn to live at peace with the white men. Only after they had been driven from their homes and humbled did they consent to sit down and be instructed on how to farm and live peaceably. No Cherokee before or since would recognize this story. The Cherokee WERE farmers before they were driven out by white men hungry for more land. There is no way to make the Trail of Tears and all their other misfortunes the Cherokee's fault you racist imperialist douchebags is what I wanted to yell at the screen. And this generally ignorant depiction is exactly what we get for the rest of the film. Indians Like Children. Need Good Beating To Learn How Behave. And yes, they talk just like that. Even to each other when they're presumably speaking Apache. Ugh.

Which is a shame because there's the making of a good film in here. The Apache warrior consumed with revenge but forced to find a way to live has the potential to be interesting if the film could only forget for a minute that it's being written by white guys and genuinely take the lead's side. And it's not completely without nuance. Not all white guys are good, particularly an American soldier who seems just as set on fighting as the Apache is. But the ground-level refusal to conceive that any form of prejudice could exist in American-Native relations means that the film is basically a call for Native Americans to be more grateful to their conquerors for teaching them how to grow corn (a plant native to the Americas!) and granting them peace.