Dem Tode entronnen (1956)

Dem Tode entronnen: Directed by George Marshall. With Jeff Chandler, Dorothy Malone, Ward Bond, Keith Andes. In 1868 Oregon, when the Army violates the treaty by building a road across the reservation, several tribal chiefs decide to unite their forces against the trespassing whites.

“The U. S. cavalry violates a treaty with Native American tribes and incites the wrath of tribal chiefs in u0026quot;Pillars of the Sky,u0026quot; a fair western that benefits from scenic Oregon locations lensed in Cinemascope and Technicolor. Director George Marshall makes good use of the wide screen and stretches the action across the horizon in some exciting, eye-filling scenes. Producer Robert Arthur assembled a solid cast of actors that include Jeff Chandler, Ward Bond, Keith Andes, Lee Marvin, Martin Milner, Sydney Chaplin, and Michael Ansara. Adapted from a 1956 novel by Will Henry, the screenplay unfortunately wanders from the core confrontation between cavalry and tribes and introduces a sappy romantic triangle that brings actress Dorothy Malone unnecessarily into the mix.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhile Chandler, Bond, Andes, and Marvin confront Native American chiefs and warriors, Malone emerges from tribal captivity with her hair, make-up, and clothing intact. Losing no time, Malone as Calla Gaxton, wife of Cavalry Captain Tom Gaxton, played by Keith Andes, is intent on re-igniting her passionate affair with First Sergeant Emmett Bell, Jeff Chandler. Maloneu0026#39;s character is a distraction to both viewers and soldiers throughout; she emotes, recites purple prose, and demands attention, while the soldiers are faced with death, injury, and worse.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eConsistent with 1950u0026#39;s Hollywood, the Native Americans are portrayed by a Lebanese, a Latino, a Tennesseean, a New Yorker, and, gasp, one genuine Kickapoo. Supposedly, the tribes were converted to Christianity, and some of the filmu0026#39;s moralizing will make eyes roll; burning a church; bad; violating a treaty; good; divorce and adultery; no problem. At times the situation and dialog are laughable, although when the film adheres to the action, u0026quot;Pillars of the Skyu0026quot; is quite entertaining. With the exception of hot-blooded Malone of the heaving bosoms and languid looks, the cast of veterans perform well under Marshallu0026#39;s assured direction and the fine cinematography of Harold Lipstein. Unfortunately, the storyu0026#39;s unevenness will tire viewers, and the film will quickly fade from memory.”