I have to sheepishly admit
that I thoroughly enjoyed this movie from start to finish. I tried
very hard not to like it, knowing full well it was going to be hopelessly
flawed in its presentation of Indians in general and the Apaches in particular
(not to mention the unforgivably inaccurate depiction of Apache customs
and garb . . . get a load of the picture to the left!).
His name is pronounced "Cochay" in the movie, oddly enough, though the
IMDB web site (www.IMBD.com) shows his character name in this movie to be
"Cochise". It is obviously supposed to be Cochise that he is depicting
because of the setting, the time period, and the fact that Geronimo also
shows up as a minor character in one scene (sporting a hairstyle that would
be more at home on the head of a Nez Perce.)
It is a very early Lucille Ball "vehicle",
filmed long before she became famous. It is best described as a
Western drama treated with good humor and above average comedy.
But it falls solidly into our DREGS category with respect to its portrayal
of Cochise and of the Apache people. I'm afraid it is a good example
of the wretched stereotyping that was going on at that time. I still can't get the
image of Cochise wearing full Plains Indian headgear of eagle feathers
out of my mind !
BUY
IT
. .
. . .
.
