Taza, der Sohn des Cochise (1954)

Taza, der Sohn des Cochise: Directed by Douglas Sirk. With Rock Hudson, Barbara Rush, Gregg Palmer, Rex Reason. When peacemaking Apache chief Cochise dies, the Chiricahua Apaches are torn between following Cochise’s peace loving son Taza and following the warlike renegade Apache warrior Geronimo.

“Donu0026#39;t get me wrong.Iu0026#39;ve always been a big fan of Deltlef Sierck (Douglas Sirk in America)and most of his melodramas are among my all time favorites : u0026quot;A time to live and a time to die u0026quot;,u0026quot;All that Heaven allowsu0026quot; u0026quot;Magnificent obsessionu0026quot; u0026quot; Tarnished angelsu0026quot; u0026quot;Written on the windu0026quot; plus those with Zarah Leander in Germany not to forget his final effort ,the remake of u0026quot;imitation of lifeu0026quot;.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTHis remake was drastically different from Stahlu0026#39;s version:the black servant Delilah became Annie and the only thing she could expect in life was a beautiful funeral.In Stahlu0026#39;s version (and in Fannie Hurstu0026#39;s novel) she was a businesswomanu0026#39;s associate ,in Sirku0026#39;s screenplay she stayed the good servant -not very far away from GWTWu0026#39;s Mamma-who knew her place.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eStill with me?I do think that,in spite of Sirku0026#39;s storyteller qualities and good scenes (the discovery of the bruises on Barbara Rushu0026#39;s back),u0026quot;Tazau0026quot; is also a reactionary work .Taza (who in real life died of pneumonia two years after his dad)predates Annie in u0026quot;Imitationu0026quot; :he is the good Indian,who knows his place ,who (this is amazing) dresses like them ,who rebels against his peopleu0026#39;s customs and even fights them;on the other hand ,Geronimo (and his allies) plays the role of the villain : u0026quot;we were hunters, warriors,we wonu0026#39;t be breeders u0026quot;.After all ,the white men are taking their land and sending them to reservations:his rebellion makes sense.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eRock Hudson,who was Sirku0026#39;s favorite actor (his best parts were certainly u0026quot;All that Heaven allowsu0026quot; and u0026quot;Magnificent Obsessionu0026quot; -another remake of a Stahlu0026#39;s work-) ,is not well cast as an Indian.And what about Barbara Rush as a squaw?Debra Paget was acceptable (u0026quot;Broken Arrowu0026quot;),she is not.”