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Distant Drums
A brave army captain ventures deep into the Florida Everglades to ward off attacks on settlers from the Seminole Indians. Western starring Gary Cooper, Mari Aldon, and Richard Webb, and directed by Raoul Walsh
Although it's quintessentially a western, Raoul Walsh's Distant Drums eschews the dry, desolate Wild West in favour of a much more exotic locale - Florida's swampy Everglades. The addition of alligators, snakes and tropical climes certainly makes this a unique entry into the sometimes staid and conventional genre. The great Gary Cooper stars as Captain Quincy Wyatt, a widowed father living in remote Florida swampland with his son. It is the height of the Seminole Indian War and Wyatt is soon called into action by General Zachary Taylor (Barrat), an eccentric army leader with his own private island. Wyatt is soon recruited to undertake what appears to be a suicidal mission, namely locating a remote Seminole fort and destroying their precious munitions supply. With nothing left to lose, Wyatt sets out across the treacherous Lake Okeechobee with Navy Lieutenant Richard Tufts (Webb) and a small band of soldiers. Under constant threat of attack from the bloodthirsty Seminole, the pair soon find themselves having to contend with the less than friendly inhabitants of the swamp - primarily alligators and snakes. Once launched, their surprise attack goes off more successfully than planned, and Wyatt and Tufts manage to not only destroy their enemy's supplies but also rescue a number of civilian prisoners. One of the civilians is the beautiful Judy Beckett (Aldon), a woman who becomes the object of the determined Wyatt's affections. She also proves to be handy in battle situations, a definite bonus as the enraged Seminoles, led by Chief Oscala (Carper), are in hot pursuit. Wyatt's team soon go from hunters to being hunted, with Chief Oscala and his warriors proving to be more than a match for the fleeing fighters. The tactical superiority of the Seminole gives them the upper hand, and the dogged Wyatt is forced into a climactic showdown with the ruthless Chief. Shot on location in Florida, the film's backdrop gives Distant Drums a unique personality. The battle sequences are also intense for a film of this vintage, ensuring that there's enough of an adrenaline charge to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Verdict A thrilling adventure for fans of classic western films that spices up the traditional action with swamps, snakes, alligators, boats and water-based battles. |
