Ulzana's Raid

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Ulzana's Raid

R

Released Oct 18, 1972

1h 43m

Western

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90%

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10 Reviews

65%

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1,000+ Ratings

When word arrives that Apache warrior Ulzana has assembled a war party and left the reservation, the United States Army pegs veteran tracker McIntosh (Burt Lancaster) and Apache Ke-Ni-Tay (Jorge Luke) to lead a young, prejudiced lieutenant's (Bruce Davison) troops to find Ulzana. Outmaneuvered and unfamiliar with the terrain, the cavalry struggles to stop the long-mistreated and raging Apaches from destroying everything in their path in what initially seem like senseless acts of violence.

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Lancaster's presence remains firm as the impassive explorer, but overall, this is a revisionist Western that becomes dull and somewhat repetitive in its violent plot about the corollaries of colonialism. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 5/10

Jan 10, 2025

Full Review

Quentin Tarantino

The New Beverly

Ulzana's Raid is hands down Aldrich's best film of the seventies, as well as being one of the greatest westerns of the seventies.

Jun 22, 2020

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The film is particularly pointed in its measured look at how the myopia of people hailing from different cultures can only lead to fear and loathing, death and destruction.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 25, 2020

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Dick Lochte

Los Angeles Free Press

It is an exciting, suspenseful film made with thorough professionalism.

Jan 3, 2020

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

One of Aldrich's finest films, this underestimated Western presents a bleak yet intelligent portrait of the racial warfare of the white men vs. Native Americans and also serves as effective and damning allegory of the American involvement in Vietnam.

Rated: A-

Apr 12, 2008

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A superior western though somewhat ponderous and its action sequences are formulaic.

Rated: B

Oct 31, 2006

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S R

Not my cup of tea with the dark, brooding narrative that Tarantino liked, but I certainly didn't. It was harsh realism, that left me sad. NYT 1000 movies list. SLC DVD.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

05/31/25

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Paul M

Interesting cat and mouse game with the cavalry after the Apaches. Based on a true story. Look up the true history of Ulzana.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/14/24

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Steve D

Nothing special despite the cast.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/20/24

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mark g

Authentic, gritty, and mean. Solid film that seems way ahead of it's time. Entertaining and educational stuff.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/24

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Lomer A

Well done movie with Burt Lancaster at his best depicting the unfortunate reality of war against the First Nations and the consequences thereof.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/14/23

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Audience Member

I didn't like this movie at all. I thought parts of it were over acted. The writing was poorly done. The dialogue was overdone and didn't seem natural. The Native Americans were made out to be evil, the soldiers were the good guys who even when they did behave badly, it was written off as just retaliation for all the evil the Native Americans had done. It was written as if they had a right to behave badly. They were still the good guys. I was very disappointed.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

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Robert Aldrich

Director

Burt Lancaster

McIntosh

Bruce Davison

Lt. Harry Garnett DeBuin

Jorge Luke

Ke-Ni-Tay (army scout)

Richard Jaeckel

Sergeant

Joaquín Martínez

Ulzana

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Synopsis

When word arrives that Apache warrior Ulzana has assembled a war party and left the reservation, the United States Army pegs veteran tracker McIntosh (Burt Lancaster) and Apache Ke-Ni-Tay (Jorge Luke) to lead a young, prejudiced lieutenant's (Bruce Davison) troops to find Ulzana. Outmaneuvered and unfamiliar with the terrain, the cavalry struggles to stop the long-mistreated and raging Apaches from destroying everything in their path in what initially seem like senseless acts of violence.

Director: Robert Aldrich
Producer: Carter DeHaven, Harold Hecht, Burt Lancaster
Screenwriter: Alan Sharp
Distributor: GoodTimes Home Video [us], MCA/Universal Pictures [us], MCA/Universal Home Video
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 1972, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Mono