The Battle At Apache Pass is dependent on its verisimilitude for the notion that most Americans are ignorant of the fine points of the true story of the various American Indian wars. Broken Arrow took place in the early 1870s and it's where Tom Jeffords and Cochise formed a peace pact that included all the Apaches except those followers of Geronimo.In this prequel the Civil War has come and a lot of soldiers are ordered back to fight in the east. Some ambitious people on both sides like Geronimo for the Apaches and Bruce Cowling a political hack Indian agent with ambitions to be territorial governor try to break an informal peace established by the friendship of Major John Lund and Cochise as played by Jeff Chandler who returns as Cochise. Jay Silverheels as Geronimo is the only returnee from Broken Arrow. The Battle At Apache Pass is not in the same league of greatness as Broken Arrow, but it still is a pretty good western. If the film has a moral it is blessed are the peacemakers because they have their work cut out for them. It doesn't take much to start a war, but a lot of work and sacrifice is needed to end one. There are enough examples in real life right down to today to affirm that notion.Through it all Lund and Chandler retain a mutual respect for each other and both are afforded the opportunity to save the women that each other loves, Beverly Tyler for Lund and Susan Cabot for Chandler.Besides those I've already mentioned, standing out in the supporting cast is Jack Elam at his squinty eyed evil best as a scout working for Cowling and Richard Egan as a tough, but compassionate sergeant. His scenes with Susan Cabot where he shows her a world of respect as due the first lady of a nation have a lot of depth to them.Not as good as Broken Arrow, but still a fine western The Battle At Apache Pass holds up very well for today's audience.

Hollywood in the 1950's was in the throws of changing the mystic conception that White men were always beating the Native Americans in war. In this film called " The Battle at Apache Pass " is one of the new attempts at glorying the U.S. Calvary's version of that now infamous battle. To be sure, the movie portrays the Indian as an undisciplined savage out to kill every white man and the U.S. cavalry as military pawns of opportunistic land grabbing marauders. However, within the ranks of the Apache are two of the more notorious names who's names are inscribed in Western Lore. This movie purports to have Geronimo (Jay Silverheels) and Cochise (Jeff Chandler) engaged in battle with Maj. Jim Coltton (John Lund and George Bascom (John Hudson) using the first use of western field cannons. The dialog between the Whites and Indians is standard Hollywood, but does depict some of the actual atrocities committed on both sides. This is a good attempt of the evolution of western films and with the addition of James Best, Regis Toomey, Hugh O'Brian and Richard Egan in it's cast, manages a plausible rendition of a historical event. ****

Follow up story to Broken Arrow (1950) in which Jeff Chandler reprises his role as Cochise. Cavalry Oficer John Lund has established a peaceful community relationship with Cochise which is undermined and ultimately lost when a crooked Indian-Affairs representative (Bruce Cowling) and Geronimo (Jay Silverheels) manage to incite a war for their own ends. Perhaps a little too melodramatic for its own good, with the all important action playing second fiddle to the dialogue, the film never-the-less has some exciting and tense moments and the battle scenes are first rate and very realistic. Jack Elam lends sterling support as a baddie. My only adverse comment is about the photography. The images are oddly composed to highlight the grandeur of the location setting with most of the action taking place at the bottom of the frame or even in one corner of it with lots of rocky scenery and oceans of empty blue sky given priority! Impressive no doubt, though a trifle odd and very distracting when done to excess, but at least it's all in lovely Universal Technicolor, which for me, is the icing on the cake!

George Sherman was an old hand at B westerns due to his long stint at Republic, where he specialized in them. His experience shows in this tight little Universal B western. John Lund and Jeff Chandler are stalwart as, respectively, a cavalry officer trying to avert an Indian war and Apache leader Cochise. The cast is filled with veteran character actors, which is always an asset, and the action scenes are extremely well handled. Altogether a tight, enjoyable little western. Recommended.