Furious that the Apache chief Geronimo is about to make peace with the Americans, a warrior by the name of "Massai" (Burt Lancaster) decides he would rather die than surrender and continues to fight. However, he is caught and sent in chains on a train full of other Apache warriors to Florida. As luck would have it he manages to escape and makes it back to his reservation. Unfortunately, he is betrayed and captured soon after. But even then he doesn't give up hope and escapes yet again to continue his war only this time he seeks revenge on those Apaches who he feels betrayed him as well. Now rather than reveal any more of this movie and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that considering the solid cast I honestly expected something better. Admittedly, the selection of Jean Peters to play the Apache maiden, "Nalinle" was a bit of a stretch, but all things considered she performed fairly well. Even so I cannot say the same for Burt Lancaster as he seemed totally miscast for the role. Throw in a very clumsy script and the end result was something that I didn't particularly care for. Accordingly, although I don't want to sound too critical I have to rate this movie as below average.

Apache is directed by Robert Aldrich and adapted to screenplay by James R. Webb from the novel "Broncho Apache" written by Paul Wellman. It stars Burt Lancaster, Jean Peters, John McIntire, John Dehner, Charles Bronson and Paul Guilfoyle. Music is by David Raksin and cinematography by Ernest Laszlo."This is the story of Massai, the last Apache warrior. It has been told and re-told until it has become one of the great legends of the Southwest. it began in 1886 with Geronimo's surrender."Apache has problems, undoubtedly, from the casting of overtly bright eyed Americans in the principal Native American roles, to the shift into love story territory, and on to the studio enforced compromised ending, it's a mixed bag for sure. If you can get over these "issues" then there is still a lot to enjoy here. You're not a warrior any more; you're just a whipped Injun.Apache follows in the footsteps made by Broken Arrow and Devil's Doorway that saw a shift in how Native Americans were being represented on screen. The story of Massai (Lancaster) is a fascinating one, even if the movie doesn't quite be all that it can be. It shows him as a stoic and complex individual, fiercely determined in a last man standing type of way, while his confusion with the world he no longer understands - or cares to be part of - is expertly realised by Lancaster and Aldrich. One sequence has Massai walk through town observing the alien white man world at work, including Chinese folk busying themselves in a laundry, it's a smart piece of writing, proving that there is intelligence and points of worth in the story.You are like a dying wolf biting at its own wounds.Thankfully the film doesn't go too far the other way and paint Massai as a saint, we know what he is capable off, and he shows us his skills as a warrior as the story moves on. There's even a scene of major manhandling of Nalinle (Peters) that is uncomfortable viewing but actually integral to Massai's emotional state and how the story between the two unfolds. Here in is the problem, once Massai and Nalinle "fall" for each other the picture loses its edge, where even though Aldrich inserts some more action sequences, the grit, intelligence and narrative thrust has disappeared. This all leads to the ending, that as written originally should have seen a cold and dark finish along the lines of the brilliant Devil's Doorway. Instead we get something approaching cuteness and not as profound as the studio obviously thought it was.The casting of Lancaster and Peters gives the film athletic muscularity and beauty (respectively), certainly in Lancaster's case he throws himself into a role he actively courted to take him onto another acting level (he co-produced it with Harold Hecht). It takes some getting used to, but they provide wholesome characterisations even if they never convince as Native Americans. Support work from McIntire and Dehner is strong, but unfortunately Bronson (here billed as Buchinsky) is short changed by a screenplay that doesn't enhance a very promising character. Raksin's score blends the usual Indian thrums with a love theme that is not dissimilar to the love theme used by Alex North for Spartacus six years later. While Laszlo's Technicolor photography is grade "A" stuff where the landscapes (a number of locations were used, primarily in California) form a telling part of the plotting. Problems for sure here, and in truth it's the weakest Western made by the Aldrich/Lancaster pairing, but it has good strengths, it was a financial success and it's a story well worth being told. 7/10

This is a slightly above average Western.Here are its good points:Burt looks great as usual.A very early appearance by Charles BronsonA pretty accurate depiction of 1880's Apaches. For example, the use of Apache scouts to track down Apache renegades, the forced relocation of Apaches to Florida, Massai was a real renegade.A progressive film for its time in terms of its sympathetic depiction of the Apaches. Just as importantly, it accomplishes this without becoming maudlin, boring or overly condescending (as in Cheyenne Autumn ten years later).The first third of the film is really compelling, with Massai escaping from imprisonment in Florida and making his way alone all the way back to Arizona. Unfortunately, the rest of the movie doesn't deliver.Here are the bad points:The movie presents its message in a very confusing manner. Massai is supposed to evolve during the film from an idealistic warrior unwilling to surrender into a quiet leader who will teach his people to assimilate via farming. His transformation is instigated appropriately by a woman who has his baby (aren't all we men civilized by our women and families?). In the penultimate scene, though, the wife - about to give birth - suddenly urges Massai to engage in a suicidal fight to death against an overwhelming force of scouts and soldiers closing in on them. Then, in an ending that was obviously written on the back of a napkin on location, he proceeds to murder five or six of his pursuers. All the fighting then ceases as the cries of the new born baby ring out. At that point all the combatants more or less join hands and sing kum-bah- ya as Massai throws down his weapons and goes to his wife and baby, ostensibly to become a gentleman farmer.The movie is devoid of humorI always ask a critical question to myself about two thirds of the way through any movie: "Do I care about anybody in this film?" For "Apache", the answer came back "No". So, it didn't make me laugh or cry.

I grew up watching westerns so in turn love them dearly....they tie me in with a great childhood when things were simple and life was good in an unadulterated sense.Burt Lancaster has always been a prominent actor and his talent is so very showing in this movie. Charles Bronson is also in the movie and comes across very well as a young actor who is later destined to be one of the greatest actors of our time. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie on a lazy Saturday afternoon and I highly recommend it for its soothing effects of a simple yesteryear long gone except in cinema. It is a typical plot of indians being pushed out and destroyed by the Union Army with one stand out rebel.....hell bent with an anger created thru intense hate, yet capable of showing love towards the woman in his life.