New Mexico (1951)

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

I doubt whether the opening scene could have possibly taken place in history. The Civil War ended on April 9th, 1865, and President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated five days later on the 14th. That wouldn't have given him any time at all to head out to New Mexico and back, and it's not likely he would have done so with the war on. I guess we're not supposed to think about things like that.Following Lincoln's assassination, the peace treaty offered War Chief Acoma by the President is abrogated, and Territorial Judge Verne Wilcox (Lloyd Corrigan) is only too happy to enforce a seizure of Indian land under the direction of Colonel McComb. If you notice the sign indicating the Foreclosure Sale on Indian property, it was ordered for September 11th, so the Indians in a way had their own 9/11.I don't believe I've seen Lew Ayres in a Western before; he was generally competent here in his role as Captain Hunt, attempting to balance his military duty with a personal conviction toward treating the Indian fairly. He had a few resolute confrontations with Acoma (Ted de Corsia), then followed his orders to bring Acoma to justice following an uprising by the tribes. Curiously, there was no mention of the specific Indian tribes involved in the conflict, though my judgment says it was probably Apache.There were some interesting cast choices for this picture, with Marilyn Maxwell in a non-romantic lead, (unusual for this type of picture), heading West to promote her singing career with her manager (Verna Felton). She does a lively tune around the campfire later in the story. Andy Devine's on hand as Sergeant Garrity, and Jeff Corey appears virtually unrecognizable as cavalry scout Coyote. The most unusual appearance in the picture is that of Richard Burr, he's the skunk that killed Acoma's older son as the boys were attempting to run away from the cavalry party. Oh yes, can't forget Hans Conreid (also unrecognizable) as Lincoln in the opening sequence.Andy Devine's role isn't played for the comic relief he usually provides, though he did have a funny line while on the trail for Acoma - "I wonder if it's too late to join the Navy". As clever as that might have been, he later delivered that terrible clunker calling little Charley an Indian giver. Was that really necessary?

Old school western has peace with an Indian tribe collapsing after the death of President Lincoln. An evil colonel and inspector run roughshod over the native population. A captain, who was decorated by Lincoln for keeping the peace tries to keep things calm however war flares which put everyone in danger.Okay western is very much run of the mill. Its nothing you haven't seen before, especially if you're a fan of the genre. certainly its done well but at the same time the sense of having been here before makes everything seem less than it is. I liked it but at the same time I don't think I'll ever see it again, or really even remember it.

Cavalry-Indian skirmishes highlight this film that somehow has been forgotten and seems to have passed from western movie memory. President Abraham Lincoln's death sets in motion the corrupt practices of a territory commissioner whose abusive policies destroy peace initiatives and the Indians go on the warpath. Lew Ayres, an army captain, leads a cavalry troop to track down his erstwhile friend, a chief who becomes an implacable enemy. The soldiers are plagued by thirst and dissension but find water and a large cache of rifles and ammunition. The fighting between the soldiers and the Indians is intense and quite violent for its time. The cast is good and the color captures the dry, dusty mesas and deserts of New Mexico.

The movie centers on a strong clear plot structure strongly defined in the beginning. The story progresses to a seige, where pure character takes over the plot as the main element that defines the fine quality of this movie. For some reason I did not know at the time, I loved this movie as a child. Later in theater I learned the quality aspects that New Mexico writers and actors used. I wish it was available in DVD or VHS.