The Indian Fighter

Released Dec 21, 1955

1 hr. 28 min.

Western

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Reviews

37%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

Johnny Hawks (Kirk Douglas), a Civil War veteran renowned for his prowess in battling Native American tribes, is hired to escort a group of white settlers. But when lowlife Wes Todd (Walter Matthau) discovers that nearby Sioux are hiding a trove of gold, he becomes obsessed with locating it -- which quickly stirs up trouble with local Sioux warriors. However, Hawks, preoccupied with a pretty Sioux woman, Onahti (Elsa Martinelli), doesn't realize that there's conflict until it's too late.

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Jelisije J

Movie has promise, but sad to say its very outdated... and I hate using that term.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/26/23

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laurent b

Very entertaining western, but not only. Beyond talking about the usual gold search/rush (=capitalism) destroying (relations between) humans, the movie also points how dumb it is to divide people in two opposed and closed camps, and how fatal this can be. A very short sentence said by the chief of the indians shows the early concern about environment in the cinema. And beyond all what I have just said, it simply is a very beautiful western with great landscapes and a great cinematography.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A minstrel show that should never been made. Racist white people were told that blackface was racist so they decided to wear "redface". It is a remnent of a genocidal past that lives on into the present. Minstrel shows are still being watching and making a profit entertaining racist white people at the expense of indigenous peoples culture. Minstrel shows are a form of cultural genocide and proves that AmeriKKKa today is just as racist as it was before native americans could legally worship their religion. Smutt minstrel films like The Indian Fighter is proof that the United States is an apartheid state committing genocide against indigenous people.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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Ken R

Being Kirk Douglas', Bryna Production Company's first commercial feature, it was a sign for what was to come. As good an all-rounder as Mr Douglas was, he was given to an occasional level of ‘showing-off' and this movie was his first chance to demonstrate to what extent he liked to do just that. With so much talent, at many tasks, it's little wonder he was ever so willing to display examples of these gifts. His character as the Indian Fighter is not exactly a good role model in any sense of the word - he forces his advances upon a young native Indian girl till she relents, then puts the lives of his charges in desperate peril to continue dalliances' with her – certainly a flawed character. While the writing credits are impressive this production amounts to little more than a rather typical ‘B' Western of its day. If it could be seen to lift its gain to higher ideals it might be in treating the native Indians with more respect than so many others demonstrated. But, who do we get to play the Indian maiden? None other than Italian actress Elsa Martinelli – an Indian squaw with an Italian accent!! Might this have had something to do with the fact the already married Douglas, was involved in a torrid affair with his co-star...Hmm. Other odd turns had some of the white characters also playing Indians, causing some confusion! Best thing about the entire effort has to be the marvellous CinemaScope, Technicolor cinematography, courtesy of Wilfrid .H. Cline - accompanied by an agreeable score by Franz Waxman. Mr Douglas endangers himself by performing his own considerable horse riding and physical stunts – this often sent him running to the medical unit. This must have not only worried the insurers but forced up his policies considerably. Oh well when you're paying the bills, who cares? Kirk gave us numerous remarkable classics but was always better when working for other producer/directors who were able to reel him in when tempted to go over the top. For action addicts only. The MGM/UA DVD is a superb transfer.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/31/20

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Audience Member

Very minor De Toth film, mostly because it's clearly a star-vehicle. Still, De Toth manages to impart some intensity on the images from time to time.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

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Audience Member

An average movie...time pass material

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Andre de Toth

Director

Kirk Douglas

Johnny Hawks

Elsa Martinelli

Onahti

Walter Matthau

Wes Todd

Diana Douglas

Susan Rogers

Walter Abel

Captain Trask

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

As with most pre-1960s westerns, The Indian Fighter is charming but problematic. It does mark an evolution in how the genre handled America’s first peoples from the middle of the century, but there remains a long distance to go.

Rated: 6/10

Mar 2, 2023

Full Review

Alberto Abuín

Espinof

It has extremely violent moments very well filmed, such as the duel on horseback with a machete, reminiscent of the best adventure movies of the time, signed by Richard Thorpe or Henry Hathaway. [Full Review in Spanish]

May 8, 2020

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jun 17, 2005

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The screenplay lacks intensity.

Rated: C

Jun 8, 2004

Full Review

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Synopsis

Johnny Hawks (Kirk Douglas), a Civil War veteran renowned for his prowess in battling Native American tribes, is hired to escort a group of white settlers. But when lowlife Wes Todd (Walter Matthau) discovers that nearby Sioux are hiding a trove of gold, he becomes obsessed with locating it -- which quickly stirs up trouble with local Sioux warriors. However, Hawks, preoccupied with a pretty Sioux woman, Onahti (Elsa Martinelli), doesn't realize that there's conflict until it's too late.

Director: Andre de Toth
Screenwriter: Frank Davis, Ben Hecht
Production Co: Bryna Productions
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 21, 1955, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 9, 2016

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