''Ambush'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Sam Wood and starring Robert Taylor,

John Hodiak John Hodiak ( ; April 16, 1914 – October 19, 1955) was an American actor who worked in radio, stage and film. Early life Hodiak was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Anna (Pogorzelec) and Walter Hodiak. He was of Ukrainian and ...

and Arlene Dahl. The plot is based on the serial story ''Ambush'' by

Luke Short Luke Lamar Short (January22, 1854September8, 1893) was an American Old West gunfighter, cowboy, U.S. Army scout, dispatch rider, gambler, boxing promoter, and saloon owner. He survived numerous gunfights, the most famous of which were agains ...

in ''

The Saturday Evening Post ''The Saturday Evening Post'' is an American magazine, currently published six times a year. It was issued weekly under this title from 1897 until 1963, then every two weeks until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely c ...

'' (25 December 1948 – 12 February 1949). It is also the first MGM film in the 1950s'. The movie was filmed on location at the Corriganville Ranch in Simi Valley, California, home of hundreds of western movies and television shows through the decades as well as such outdoor action films as '' The Adventures of Robin Hood'' (1938) and '' Jungle Jim'' (1948). Additional location work for the film took place in and around

Gallup, New Mexico Zuni: ''Kalabwaki'' , settlement_type = City , nickname = "Indian Capital of the World" , motto = , image_skyline = Gallup, New Mexico.jpg , imagesize = 250px , image_caption ...

.http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/974/Ambush/articles.html

Plot summary

In 1878, Ward Kinsman ( Robert Taylor), a prospector and Indian scout, has been persuaded by the US Cavalry to find Mary Carlyle, the daughter of a general, who has been taken by Apaches. Setting out on the trail with a few cavalrymen and Ann Duverall ( Arlene Dahl), Mary’s sister, they come across an Apache encampment. Ward learns from an Apache woman that Mary has been taken by an Apache called Diablito. Returning to the cavalry fort with Tana, a captive Apache, preparations are made for a full-scale expedition to find Diablito. Captain Lorrison (

) proposes to Ann. Ann tells Ward that she has accepted his marriage proposal, but Ward persuades her that she is in love with him. The expedition sets off. Tana tries a double-cross and Ward kills him in self-defence. Eventually the trackers come across Diablito’s camp and stampede the horses. A gun battle ensues. A cavalry re-enforcement column arrives and routs the band of Indians. Ward rescues Mary. Lorrison sets off in pursuit of the escaping Apache, but he is ambushed and killed. Mary and Ann are re-united back at the fort.

Cast

* Robert Taylor as Ward Kinsman * Arlene Dahl as Ann Duverall *

as Capt. Ben Lorrison * Don Taylor as Lt. Linus Delaney * Jean Hagen as Martha Conovan * Bruce Cowling as Tom Conovan * Leon Ames as Maj. Breverly *

John McIntire John Herrick McIntire (June 27, 1907 – January 30, 1991) was an American character actor who appeared in 65 theatrical films and many television series. McIntire is well known for having replaced Ward Bond, upon Bond's sudden death in Novem ...

as Frank Holly * Pat Moriarity as Sgt. Mack * Charles Stevens as Diablito *

Chief Thundercloud Victor Daniels (April 12, 1899 – December 1, 1955), known professionally as Chief Thundercloud, was an American character actor in Westerns. He is noted for being the first actor to play the role of Tonto, the Lone Ranger's Native-American c ...

as Tana * Ray Teal as Capt. Wolverson * Robin Short as Lt. Storrow * Richard Bailey as Lt. Tremaine

Reception

According to MGM records the film earned $2,108,000 in the US and Canada and $1,107,000 overseas, resulting in a $401,000 profit.

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ambush (1950 Film) 1950 films 1950 Western (genre) films American Western (genre) films American black-and-white films Films directed by Sam Wood Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Films set in 1878 Western (genre) cavalry films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films