Smoke Signal (Universal) [DVD]

Once again, Pegasus have come up with the goods with Smoke Signal. They've used an OAR anamorphic print with strong colours and it looks very good throughout. Some extras would be welcome in future, but the range of westerns they've released this autumn has been excellent. I only hope they continue to release quality discs in other genres, such as horror and film noir.

This movie was first released in 1955(2011), in Widescreen, Technicolour and runs 85 minutes. The sound and picture quality are very good. The extras are scene selection and special features. The film starts when Garode(DOUGLAS SPENCER) was bringing in hides on his horses, riding through Colorado Valley, when he sees the US Cavalry coming towards him. Captain Harper(WILLIAM TALMAN) says he was going to the isolated river outpost and Garode asks permission to join him and his men. Soon they arrive at the body of Corporal Davis from the outpost, lying dead with an arrow in his back, from the Yute Indians. A little further, they scout the Fort from the hills to look for danger. Capt Harper sends one of his men back to Fort Defiance for help. Then they send the dead corporal strapped into a horse towards this isolated Cavalry Fort, to see the response from the Indians and sure-enough the Indians chase after that horse. Capt Harper and his men rush towards the Fort, but the Indians soon realise they have been tricked and come back charging them. Capt Harper's men enter the Fort and with help of soldiers there, repel the Indian attack. Lt Wayne Ford(REX REESON) reports to Capt Harper. Major Evan's daughter, Laura Evans(PIPER LAURIE) was nursing the wounded. Lt Ford tells Capt Harper that they were holding Brett Halliday(DANA ANDREWS) for a court marshall after 'War Cloud' chief attacked them. Capt Halliday claims that the cavalry provoked the attack on the Indians and he tried to protect the women and children. Capt Harper blames Halliday for the death of his brother. Harper sends the Indian scout Delche(PAT HOGAN) to find out what the Indians were upto, who returns eventually with a captive prisoner(PETER COE) as an Indian lookout, who refuses to talk. Inorder to save themselves from whole Apache nation attack, the cavalry decide to take 3 boats onto the Colorado river. As they are taking the boats towards the Colorado River, the Indians attack inorder to prevent them going towards Fort Marble.
This story of GEORGE W GEORGE is beautifully photographed in Technicolour by CLIFFORD STINE and briskly directed by JERRY HOPPER. The action scenes are very good and skinman Douglas Spence gives a good performance.
DANA ANDREWS(CARVER DANA ANDREWS) was born on 1.1.1909 on a farmstead outside Collins Covington County, Mississippi. The family moved to Huntsville, Texas. He studied business administration in Houston, Texas, briefly working as an accountant. In 1931, he moved to Los Angeles to become a singer. Later, he studied at Pasadena Playhouse. He signed contract with Samuel Goldwyn for 9 years, with his first film in 1940-'The Westerner'. More films followed. In 1950's, he exclusively worked in 'B' movies. By 1970, he worked in soap operas. Andrews was married to JANET MURRAY in 1932, but she died in 1935, after their son 'DAVID' was born(David died in 1964 -brain haemorrhage). On 17.11.1939, Andrews re-married actress MARY TODD. They had 3 children, Katherine(1942),Stephen(1944) and Susan(1948). Andrews suffered from Alzheimer's disease and died on 17.12.1992, aged 83, of Congestive heart failure and pneumonia, in Los Alamitos, California.
Some of Dana Andrews films are:-
(1) The Westerner, 1940
(2) The Ox-Bow Incident, 1943
(3) Canyon Passage, 1946
(4) Duel in the Jungle, 1954
(5) Comanche, 1956
(6) The Crowded Sky, 1960
(7) Battle of the Bulge, 1965
(8) The Devil's Brigade, 1968
(9) Airport 1975, 1974
(10)The Pilot, 1979
Watch and ENJOY.

My copy arrived rather belatedly today and the good news is - It's another really good print - sound and picture - couryesy of course of Universal. Whatever - It's a long unseen good example of Universals many A/B westerns of the 50's. Dana Andrews isn't most peoples ideal westerner, but he's OK and it's a good plot and good western cast (Wilke/Schallert/Reason/Talman etc.) It's no big classic, but it's unpretentious entertainment at a very good price (from Amazon anyway). Recomended to western fans. Enjoy.