81.106.24.167: /* Cast */

2025-06-30T15:41:25Z

Cast

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{{Short description|1951 film}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Tomahawk
| image = Tomahawk - Film Poster.jpg

| caption = Theatrical Poster
| director = [[George Sherman]]
| producer = [[Leonard Goldstein]]
| writer =
| screenplay = [[Silvia Richards]]<br>[[Maurice Geraghty]]
| based_on = story by [[Daniel Jarrett]]
| starring = [[Van Heflin]]<br>[[Yvonne De Carlo]]
| music = [[Hans J. Salter]]
| cinematography = [[Charles P. Boyle]]
| editing = Danny B. Landres
| color_process = [[Technicolor]]
| studio = Universal Pictures
| distributor = [[Universal Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|1951|02|05|United States}}
| runtime = 82 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = $750,000<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.org/stream/variety169-1948-02#page/n133/mode/1up|work=Variety|title=Variety (February 1948)|date=February 18, 1948|page=14}}</ref>
| gross = $2 million (US rentals)<ref>'The Top Box Office Hits of 1951', ''Variety'', January 2, 1952</ref>
}}
'''''Tomahawk''''' is a 1951 American [[Western (genre)|Western]] film directed by [[George Sherman]] and starring [[Van Heflin]] and [[Yvonne De Carlo]]. The film is loosely based on events that took place in [[Wyoming]] in 1866 to 1868 around [[Fort Phil Kearny]] on the [[Bozeman Trail]] such as the [[Fetterman Fight]] and [[Wagon Box Fight]]. In the UK, the film was released as ''The Battle of Powder River''.<ref>{{cite news|title=BATTLE OF POWDER RIVER|work=Monthly Film Bulletin|location=London|volume=18|issue=204|date=January 1, 1951|page=217}}</ref>

It is one of the first films to empathise with the views of the Native Americans.

==Plot==

The story has two main threads: the white fur traders, and their relatively friendly relationship with the [[Sioux]]; and the US Cavalry who have a very distanced relationship with the Sioux. The traders and scouts are led by Jim Bridger who has the Indian name of "Tomahawk".

A small travelling show run by Julie Madden gets an escort cross-country to a fort from Lt Dancy. En route Dancy kills a young unarmed Sioux boy without provocation, for being near his horses. He tells his corporal to explain the night-time shot as him killing a fox. In retaliation on the following day, half a dozen mounted Sioux ambush the travelling show hitting Julie's elderly companion Dan with an arrow in the chest. They take the injured man to the fort but the doctor refuses to operate. Julie persuades Jim Bridger to operate and Bridger saves his life. Jim asks Julie to look after Monahseetah his female [[Cheyenne]] travelling companion, the daughter of Chief [[Black Kettle]].

The Sioux approach the fort in small groups and pick off one sentry at a time then ride off. Julie has taken a horse out without permission and they chase her. Jim calls them off, but one still chases her. Jim pulls him from his horse and they fight. It is Red Cloud's favourite son and he is killed. When they get back to the fort they can hear the Sioux war drums.

Bridger discovers that Dancy killed his Cheyenne wife, Monahseetah's sister, after Dancy leads a suicidal attack on a group of Sioux where he is the sole survivor.

The Sioux attack the fort in waves but the newly arrived breech-loading rifles defeat them.

==Cast==
* [[Van Heflin]] as [[Jim Bridger]]
* [[Yvonne De Carlo]] as Julie Madden
* [[Alex Nicol]] as 1st. Lt. Rob Dancy
* [[Preston Foster]] as [[Henry B. Carrington|Col. Carrington]]
* [[Rock Hudson]] as Cpl. Burt Hanna
* [[Arthur Space]] as Capt. [[William J. Fetterman]]
* [[Russ Conway (actor)|Russ Conway]] as Maj. Horton (as Russell Conway)
* [[Stuart Randall (actor)|Stuart Randall]] as Sgt. Newell
* [[Jack Oakie]] as Sol Beckworth (based on [[James Beckwourth]])
* [[Tom Tully]] as Dan Castello <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldenhistory.org/when-the-circus-walked-to-golden/|title=When the circus walked to Golden|date=May 9, 2020}}</ref>
* [[John War Eagle]] as [[Red Cloud]]
* [[Susan Cabot]] as Monahseetah
* [[Ann Doran]] as Mrs. Carrington
* [[John Sitting Bull]] as Chief American Horse

==Production==
The film was based on a story by Daniel Jarrett. Film rights were bought by Universal in 1947; they assigned Leonard Goldstein to produce and George Sherman to direct.<ref>{{Cite news|title='Kiss of Death' Villain Gets Pact, Role at 20th|author=Scheuer, Philip K.|date=August 20, 1947|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=LEW AYRES SIGNED FOR WARNER FILM: Will Play Lead Opposite Jane Wyman in 'Johnny Belinda' – U-I Role to Dan Duryea|author=THOMAS F. BRADY|work=New York Times|date=August 21, 1947|page=33}}</ref> In August 1948 Universal announced the film would be one of their Technicolor productions for the following year, along with ''[[Calamity Jane and Sam Bass]]'', ''[[Sierra (film)|Sierra]]'', ''Streets of Cairo'', ''[[Bloomer Girl]]'' and ''[[Bagdad (film)|Bagdad]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Universal-International Plans 23 Films Under New Program|date=August 13, 1948|work=Los Angeles Times|page=4}}</ref>

In May 1949 [[Stephen McNally]] was announced for the lead and [[Edna Anhalt]] was going to write the script.<ref>{{Cite news|title=PARAMOUNT SIGNS GODDARD TO PACT: Her New Contract Calls for One Picture Annually During the Next Five Years|author=THOMAS F. BRADY|work=New York Times|date=May 31, 1949|page=19}}</ref> McNally dropped out and was replaced by [[Van Heflin]] in March 1950 and Anhalt is not credited on the final film.<ref>{{Cite news|title=VAN HEFLIN SIGNS FOR LEAD IN FILM: Will Play Jim Bridger Role in 'Tomahawk' at U.-I.--Wanda Hendrix Named to Part|author=THOMAS F. BRADY|work=New York Times|date=March 7, 1950|page=23}}</ref> In April [[Yvonne De Carlo]] was cast opposite Heflin.<ref>{{Cite news|title=METRO WILL FILM BOOK ON PILGRIMS: Studio Acquires Gebler Novel, 'Plymouth Adventure,' and Plans for 1951 Start|author=THOMAS F. BRADY|work=New York Times|date=April 21, 1950|page=19}}</ref> De Carlo liked that her part was more of a straight dramatic role.<ref>{{cite news|title=Yvonne's Goal Is a Career in Musical Films|work=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=April 30, 1950|page=i3}}
</ref>

Shooting began in May 1950. The film was shot partly on location in South Dakota.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Saville Seeks Russell as Spillane Star; Coca Deal Near Finalizing|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=May 27, 1954|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A11}}</ref>

==Reception==
The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' called it a "well made, exciting movie."<ref>{{Cite news|title='Tomahawk' Early West Action Tale|author=Scott, John L.|date=February 22, 1951|work=Los Angeles Times|page=B8}}</ref>

In June 1952 Van Heflin and George Sherman were reported as working on a followup to the movie.<ref>{{cite news|title=MOVIELAND BRIEFS|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 22, 1952|page=A6}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Film}}
* {{IMDb title|0044135|Tomahawk}}
* {{TCMDb title|93530}}
* {{Letterboxd film|tomahawk}}

{{George Sherman}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tomahawk (Film)}}
[[Category:1951 films]]
[[Category:1951 Western (genre) films]]
[[Category:American Western (genre) films]]
[[Category:Films directed by George Sherman]]
[[Category:Films scored by Hans J. Salter]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1860s]]
[[Category:Universal Pictures films]]
[[Category:Western (genre) films based on actual events]]
[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
[[Category:1950s American films]]
[[Category:English-language Western (genre) films]]
[[Category:Sioux in popular culture]]

Tomahawk (film) - Revision history

81.106.24.167: /* Cast */