White Feather dvd movie.|
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List Price: $14.98 Our Price: $12.99 You Save: $1.99 Features • Color • Dubbed • DVD-Video • Full Screen • Subtitled • Widescreen • NTSC In Theaters : 16 February, 1955 DVD Release : 22 May, 2007 |
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White Feather description The title refers to the symbol used by Indians to signal their intention to wage war, but White Feather is actually more about peace. Set in the late 1870s, director Robert Webb's film centers on efforts by the U.S. Cavalry, led by Col. Lindsay (John Lund), to negotiate a treaty with various tribes wherein the Indians will relocate and leave their Wyoming territory so white settlers can prospect for gold. The Blackfeet, Crow, Sioux, and Arapaho all seem willing; only the Cheyenne, led by pragmatic Chief Broken Hand (an affecting Eduard Franz) and his fiery son Little Dog (Jeffrey Hunter), are holding out. Enter Josh Tanner (Robert Wagner), a surveyor who's there to map out the town that will spring up once the gold is mined. Tanner makes friends with Little Dog and his sidekick, American Horse (Hugh O'Brian, who was about to assume the role of Wyatt Earp in the TV series about that legendary marshal), and falls in love with Little Dog's sister, Appearing Day (Debra Paget). Complications ensue, as this Western Side Story romance threatens to derail the impending treaty, leading to a final confrontation brought on by the delivery of the white feather. Notwithstanding the inherent absurdity of the treaty (as in most such agreements, the Indians were screwed), the filmmakers handle the issues even-handedly, taking a peaceful point of view that shows considerable sympathy toward the Cheyenne and allows both sides to proceed with dignity and honor. There are plenty of flaws: Wagner, just 25 at the time of this 1955 film, is handsome but bland in the lead role; the romance is handled rather clumsily (after their first kiss, Appearing Day tells Tanner, "I would like it again, please... but longer?"); and even though the Indians are depicted respectfully (of course, they didn't go so far as to cast actual Native American actors), the stereotype of the proud, noble savage so primitive that he can be entranced by a pocket comb persists. Still, White Feather looks good (it was filmed in Technicolor and CinemaScope) and more than holds one's attention throughout its 102-minute running time. Extras include an "interactive pressbook gallery," various still photos, and more. --Sam Graham |
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| ♥♥♥♥♥ | Featherweight Western |
| Fox's "White Feather" (1955) is a pallid reworking of their seminal 1950 James Stewart western "Broken Arrow". Pallid indeed, thanks in no small measure to the leaden performance of Robert Wagner in the starring role and the wearisome screenplay by the ubiquitous and usually more astute Delmar Daves, who by the way, also directed "Broken Arrow".
"Broken Arrow" expertly dealt with the plight of the Apache Indian and one white man's efforts to make peace with them. The difference with "White Feather" is instead of it being the Apache it is the Cheyenne. Even Wagner's narration at the picture's opening informs us, just like Jimmy Stewart did in the earlier film, that 'this is a true story and when the Indian speaks he will speak in our language etc. etc.' Also Fox starlet Debra Paget who played an Apache Squaw in "Broken Arrow" turns up here as a Cheyenne Squaw. She virtually plays the same part and, would you believe, is dressed in the same outfit. She must have had a vision of a future studio call sheet were she learned she was going to be a Cheyenne Squaw, so she saved the costume. Huh! The only difference in her role here is her name is not Sonseerahray and she doesn't die at the end. Thank heaven for that! Limply directed by Robert Webb there is not one actor in this sorry affair capable of lifting it up above the banality bar. Webb has no idea of pacing or direction and not once is the movie intruded upon with anything that resembles style. The Fox bland brigade - Robert Wagner, Jeffery Hunter, Debra Paget, Virginia Leigh et al parade through this trite vehicle bemused and with a look of wonderment on their faces. Probably wondering when the day's shoot will finish so they can go home. We, on the other hand, are home and also have a look of wonderment on our faces as we wonder what the hell we're doing watching this rubbish? However, after all that I'll have to give this vacuous effort a one star rating for the beautiful Cinemascope / Colour Cinematography by Lucian Ballard and the excellent score by the great Hugo Friedhofer who incidentlly also composed the music for "Broken Arrow" and here makes exceptional use of his love theme from the previous picture as his main theme. But ultimately, I'm afraid, "White Feather" is bottom drawer material that never hits the mark and gets my vote as one of the most pedestrain western ever made. I really don't understand Fox Home Entertainment putting out poor movies like "White Feather", "True Story Of Jesse James" "The Proud Ones","Fort Courageous" etc. while left languishing in their vault are fine westerns like "Rio Conchos", "Rawhide" and "Two Flags West". Go figure!! |
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