SYNOPSIS: In 1883, U.S. Cavalry Lieutenant Matt Hazard arrives at Fort Delivery on the Mexican border in Arizona to begin a new assignment.NOTES: Location scenes filmed in Arizona and New Mexico.COMMENT: With this film, director Raoul Walsh was honorably discharged from his career in the cinema. Unfortunately, the film does not seem to be quite the marvelous piece of work that the book was, if the reviews of the book (see below) are anything to go by. It's certainly not a whale of a good story, it's just an ordinary U.S. cavalry versus renegade Indians picture, and off-hand I could name at least fifty more powerful treatments of this subject including "Ulzana's Raid". The trouble is that the story is so weak and conventional and that its characters are such stereotypes and they are so weakly and flaccidly played (particularly by James Gregory and Diane McBain, — also William Reynolds in a small part, and Suzanne Pleshette who is charming, but scarcely a strong heroine. Mr. Donahue on the other hand seems to mistake strength for stiffness).Lacking strong characters the film lacks strong emotions and strong audience involvement. Even the battle scenes are routinely staged. The locations look fairly interesting, but we don't see enough of them. But we do see too much of the hero's insipid romantic entanglements. A pity. The film seems to have all the ingredients for power and excitement but it rarely gets above the routine. Film editing is sluggish, sets are unimpressive and even Max Steiner's music score is definitely not work from his top drawer.Here are three quotes from reviews of the novel: "A big, vivid, exciting novel." — New York Herald Tribune. "Paul Horgan's powerful bestseller about the U.S. Cavalry in its history-making conquest of the Apaches, brings to towering life a brilliant and bloody moment of America's past... A tremendous piece of work." — Saturday Review. "A whale of a good story... the finest novel yet on the Southwest." — The New York Times.

A Distant Trumpet is directed by Raoul Walsh and written by John Twist with the adaptation from Paul Horgan's novel by Richard Fielder & Albert Beich. It stars Troy Donahue, Suzanne Pleshette, William Reynolds, Diane McBain, Claude Akins & James Gregory. Max Steiner provides the musical score and William H. Clothier is the cinematographer.1883, Fort Delivery, Arizona, and newly posted Lieutenant Matthew Hazard (Donahue) is about to be thrust into two wars. One is of the heart, the other pits him against the last pocket of Indian resistance: the Chiricahua's, led by the mighty War Eagle.A blunderbuss "A" class production from Warner Bros that feels like a "B" class Oater from the 50s, A Distant Trumpet has much to recommend to the Western fan. Driven by a rousing cavalry themed score by Steiner, and beautifully photographed by Clothier around Red Rocks (New Mexico) & Painted Desert (Arizona) in Panavision/Technicolor, it's a film that carries a message and pays respect to the topic to hand. Without doubt the makers are keen to mark it out first and foremost as an adrenaline fuelled Cavalry Vs Indians based picture, with Walsh grandly staging the action sequence with skill (100s of extras/stunt men, no CGI here), but although the script could have done with some more work as regards the characterisations, the screenplay does make rich on the promise of adult themes. While the decision to let the Indian characters speak their own language is also a major bonus.Where it falls down is three fold. Firstly is the problem of asking the average Donahue to carry the film, he may be easy on the eye to those so inclined, but his one note, expressionless, performance is often a distraction to the many splendours around him. Secondly is that the twin lovelies of McBain & Pleshette are underwritten and underused respectively, which in a film that's nearly two hours long (too long and that's the third point) is an act of stupidity. Some would argue that the love triangle sub-plot is an uneasy fit on context to the "war" at the film's core, but it does have value in regards to showing the point of view of the ladies marrying into the army way of life. Yes it should have been formed better, particularly from McBain's (yellow hair, yellow dress and vanilla ice cream skin) character's angle , but it does exist in the narrative and it's good to see.It's far from the great swansong that Raoul Walsh deserved, but its pluses far outweigh the negatives. Be it battle orchestration (cliff top attack rules!), observing the thorn between two roses dynamic or just that it affords respect to the Indians, it's a film easily recommended to the genre fan. Besides which, Steiner and Clothier make it essential viewing. 7/10

A Distant Trumpet is a Big Boring western with an excess of monotonous wide screen Calvary maneuvers. By the way I do so like a good western. In fact I appreciate some mediocre and cult "B" type westerns, but this movie was not even bad enough to be laughable; it was just boring.It's like the director was making a big movie that was suitable for preschoolers; no sex, no realistic violence, no believable fighting, limited dialogue. In fact the plot and dialogue was so limited that preschoolers could have played the parts.This was director Raoul Walsh's last film, he was 77 years old; maybe his age, health, mental and physical stamina had something to do with the lackluster result of this final production.A Distant Trumpet totally lacks drama; screen writers/director seem to have purposely limited character development and dialogue. The Indians were just there; you did not fear or feel sorry for them. The Indian fights were not believable. The deaths and injuries were staged and not believable. Calvary life was not believable. The whole cast was stiff and unbelievable. Suzanne Pleshette is the only one who had a moment or two where the audience could connect. On the whole it was stiff and there was no connection. Throughout watching this production, you never forget that you are watching a movie. The director must have been allergic to close-ups. Even the bad whiskey dealer and prostitutes were mere caricatures. This is an extremely disappointing production.

Troy Donahue and Warner Bros had a great collaboration starting with "A Summer Place" and following with "Parrish" "Susan Slade" "Rome Adventure" and "Palm Springs Weekend" where Troy was always first billed over stars such as Claudette Colbert, Karl Marlden and Angie Dickinson, etc. Jack Warner obviously decided it was time to ramp up the Troy Donahue films and assigned veteran and legendary director Raoul Walsh who directed many of Warner Bros. greatest stars such as Errol Flynn in this rousing action drama. In addition William Clothier another stalwart professional of great films was the Cinematographer. First rate Warner Bros. production values and great action scenes crafted by Raoul Walsh, and some fine acting by a cast of supporting players makes this a fine film to watch anytime. Thumping Max Steiner score is tops.Warners in the 1960's had a large group of fine contract players and Jack Warner slotted them in major Warner Bros films when he could so look here for Diane McBain and William Reynolds -both WB contract players- in this film. For Diane McBain this was her second film with Troy Donahue after "Parrish" and Suzanne Pleshette who married Troy Donahue after "Rome Adventure" is also cast.Very effective western with a splendid rousing memorable Max Steiner score.