''Captain John Smith and Pocahontas '' is a 1953 American

historical film A historical drama (also period drama, costume drama, and period piece) is a work set in a past time period, usually used in the context of film and television. Historical drama includes historical fiction and romances, adventure films, and swa ...

directed by Lew Landers. The distributor was

United Artists United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the studi ...

. It stars Anthony Dexter,

Jody Lawrance Jody Lawrance (born Nona Josephine Goddard; October 19, 1930 – July 10, 1986) was an American actress who starred in many Hollywood films during the 1950s through the early 1960s. Biography She was born October 19, 1930 as Nona Josephi ...

and Alan Hale. While most scenes were filmed in

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

Blue Ridge Mountains The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. The mountain range is located in the Eastern United States, and extends 550 miles southwest from southern Pennsylvania through Maryland, West Virgin ...

region, exteriors were shot around

Bronson Canyon Bronson Canyon, or Bronson Caves, is a section of Griffith Park in Los Angeles that has become known as a filming location for many films and television series, especially Westerns and science fiction, from the early days of motion pictures to th ...

. It depicts the foundation of the Jamestown Colony in Virginia by

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

settlers and the relationship between John Smith and

Pocahontas Pocahontas (, ; born Amonute, known as Matoaka, 1596 – March 1617) was a Native American woman, belonging to the Powhatan people, notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. She was the daughter of ...

. She married

John Rolfe John Rolfe (1585 – March 1622) was one of the early English settlers of North America. He is credited with the first successful cultivation of tobacco as an export crop in the Colony of Virginia in 1611. Biography John Rolfe is believed ...

in real life. It is also known by the

alternative title An alternative title is a media sales device most prominently used in film distribution. Books and films are commonly released under a different title when they are screened or sold in a different country. This can vary from small change to the ...

''Burning Arrows''. Regarded as a B movie, the film has gained a cult following.

Plot

Captain John Smith John Smith (baptized 6 January 1580 – 21 June 1631) was an English soldier, explorer, colonial governor, Admiral of New England, and author. He played an important role in the establishment of the colony at Jamestown, Virginia, the first pe ...

tells the story of Jamestown colony to the court of

King James I James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until hi ...

. In 1607, the colonists have found more hardships than

gold Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile met ...

in Jamestown and Captain Wingfield is making plans to abandon the settlement. Smith, locked aboard the Godspeed escapes and swims to the river bank. He warns the camp of an

Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

attack. The colonists repel the first attack. The Indians fire burning arrows into the camp then Smith orders

to swim across the river swim and warn the ships. The settlers take cover during the second Indian attack which is repelled

cannon A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...

fire from the ships. Smith is elected as leader of the colony and the settlers build a wooden stockade for protection. Rations are running out and it is discovered that the ships have gone. Smith goes on an expedition to make peace with

Chief Powhatan Powhatan ( c. 1547 – c. 1618), whose proper name was Wahunsenacawh (alternately spelled Wahunsenacah, Wahunsunacock or Wahunsonacock), was the leader of the Powhatan, an alliance of Algonquian-speaking Native Americans living in Tsenacommaca ...

where he meets

briefly but is later captured by warriors. Before his execution, Pocahontas saves him. She is married to Smith to keep a peace between the settlers. The following day, a settler finds gold and tells Wingfield. He plans to fail the colony so that the gold will not be given to The

Virginia Company The Virginia Company was an English trading company chartered by King James I on 10 April 1606 with the object of colonizing the eastern coast of America. The coast was named Virginia, after Elizabeth I, and it stretched from present-day Mai ...

. Smith returns with Indians who bring supplies and teach them how to grow crops. The next day, Macklin spots Wingfield hiding gold and giving guns to Opechanco's warriors but Turnbull kills him and Nataquas is blamed. Nataquas is lashed and given the blame for his death until Smith arrives. Wingfield tells Opechanco to attack and wipe out the colonists but to spare himself. The colonists repel the attack amid the fight Turnbull is killed by an arrow. Opechanco kills Nataquas, who planned to tell

, and Pocahontas runs to Jamestown and tells Smith. To avenge Nataquas, Smith decided to fight Opechanco and kills him. Wingfield kills Davis for the gold and sets the

gunpowder Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). Th ...

storehouse on fire. Smith fights him and escapes out of the hut as it explodes. The ships arrive and the doctor sends Smith to rest aboard the ship. Smith leaves Jamestown to sail back to

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, leaving Rolfe in charge. After telling his story, Smith leaves the court of King James I, having told his story. The films ends with the statue of Pocahontas in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

Cast

* Anthony Dexter –

– Pocahontas (Matoaka) *

Alan Hale Jr. Alan Hale Jr. (born Alan Hale MacKahan; (March 8, 1921 - January 2, 1990) was an American actor and restaurateur. He was the son of actor Alan Hale Sr. His television career spanned four decades, but he was best known for his secondary lead role ...

– Fleming *

Robert Clarke Robert Irby Clarke (June 1, 1920 – June 11, 2005) was an American actor best known for his cult classic science fiction films of the 1950s. Early life Clarke was born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He decided at an early age that h ...

–

* Stuart Randall – Opechanco *

James Seay James Seay (September 9, 1914 – October 10, 1992) was an American character actor who often played minor supporting roles as government officials. Early years Seay demonstrated an interest in acting at an early age, as he and his mothe ...

–

Edward Maria Wingfield Edward Maria Wingfield, sometimes hyphenated as ''Edward-Maria Wingfield'' (1550 in Stonely Priory, near Kimbolton – 1631) was a soldier, Member of Parliament, (1593) and English colonist in America. He was the son of Thomas Maria Wingfield, ...

Philip Van Zandt Philip Van Zandt (October 4, 1904 – February 15, 1958), sometimes billed as Phil Van Zandt, was a Dutch-American actor of stage, film, and television. He made nearly 250 film and television appearances between 1939 and 1958. Life and career ...

– Davis *

Shepard Menken Shepard Menken (November 2, 1921 – January 2, 1999) was an American film, television, voice, radio character actor. Early life Menken began his career at the age of 11, when he started appearing on children's radio programs. After high school ...

– Nantaquas *

Douglass Dumbrille Douglass Rupert Dumbrille (October 13, 1889 – April 2, 1974) was a Canadian actor who appeared regularly in films from the early 1930s. Life and career Douglass Dumbrille ( ) was born in Hamilton, Ontario. As a young man, he was employed ...

–

(Wahunsonacock) *

Anthony Eustrel Anthony Eustrel (12 October 1902 – 2 July 1979) was an English actor. Eustrel made guest appearances on television programs such as ''Perry Mason'', ''Maverick'', ''Peter Gunn'', ''77 Sunset Strip'', ''My Favorite Martian'', '' Hogan's Heroes' ...

– King James * Henry Rowland – Turnbull * Eric Colmar – Kemp * William Cottrell – Macklin (uncredited) * Francesca De Scaffa –

Powhatan The Powhatan people (; also spelled Powatan) may refer to any of the indigenous Algonquian people that are traditionally from eastern Virginia. All of the Powhatan groups descend from the Powhatan Confederacy. In some instances, The Powhatan ...

Maiden (uncredited) *

Joan Dixon Joan Dixon (June 6, 1930 in Norfolk, Virginia – February 20, 1992 in Los Angeles) was an American film and television actress in the 1950s. She is known for her role in the film noir ''Roadblock'' (1951). Career Dixon appeared in ten fil ...

– Powhatan Maiden (uncredited) * Jack Kenny – Settler who Discovers Gold (uncredited) * John Maxwell – Ship's Doctor (uncredited) * Billy Wilkerson – Sub-Chief (uncredited)

Release

The film was issued on a double bill with ''

The Steel Lady ''The Steel Lady'' (also known as ''Treasure of Kalifa'') is a 1953 American action film directed by Ewald André Dupont starring Rod Cameron and Tab Hunter. In the film, four Americans are stranded in the deserts of North Africa. They discover a ...

''.

Reception

Due to the lower limit budget, the film proved to be unsuccessful both by critics and at the box office. Hal Erickson of

AllMovie AllMovie (previously All Movie Guide) is an online database with information about films, television programs, and screen actors. , AllMovie.com and the AllMovie consumer brand are owned by RhythmOne. History AllMovie was founded by popular-cult ...

gave the film his lowest star rating.

References

External links

* * {{Edward Small 1953 films American historical drama films 1950s English-language films Films directed by Lew Landers Films set in Virginia Films set in England Films set in London Films set in the Powhatan Confederacy Films shot in Los Angeles Films shot in Virginia Jamestown, Virginia Films set in the 1600s Films set in the 1610s 1950s historical drama films Films about Native Americans Films produced by Edward Small Cultural depictions of Pocahontas Cultural depictions of James VI and I United Artists films Films scored by Albert Glasser 1953 drama films Films produced by Aubrey Wisberg Films with screenplays by Aubrey Wisberg 1950s American films