40 Guns to Apache Pass
Encyclopedia
40 Guns to Apache Pass is a 1967 Western
film directed by William Witney
and starring Audie Murphy
. It was Murphy's last starring film and the final film of Robert E. Kent
Productions.
1868: The Apache
s, led by Cochise
(Michael Keep), are on the warpath. Army Captain Bruce Coburn (Audie Murphy
) is tasked with escorting homesteaders to Apache Wells where they can concentrate their defence against the Apache. But there is dissention in the ranks as some of the men under Coburn’s command feel they are being driven too hard. Coburn has to discipline corporal Bodine (Kenneth Tobey
) for stealing rationed water. In an attack at Apache Wells, one of the homesteaders, Harry Malone (Kenneth MacDonald
), is killed. His two sons, Mike (Michael Blodgett
) and Doug (Michael Burns), then join the Army.
In order to defend themselves at Apache Wells, they need guns. Coburn is sent to bring in a consignment of repeating rifles that is on its way, or least prevent them getting into the hands of the Apache. En route, Coburn and his men are attacked. The inexperienced Malone brothers are left to guard the horses, but Mike disobeys orders and goes off to fight the Indians. He is last seen alive screaming for his brother's help, but Doug is a coward who lets his brother die.
The survivors of the patrol manage to rendezvous with the consignment of guns. On the way back to Apache Wells, Bodine and four other soldiers decide to take the guns and desert to Mexico, leaving Coburn and the wounded First Sergant Walker (Robert Brubaker) tied up. In a moment of indecision, Doug throws his lot in with Bodine.
Coburn and Walker manage to make it back to Apache Wells. He wants to go back and retrieve the rifles, but the commander says he cannot spare any men and orders Coburn to stay. He disobeys and sets off after Bodine. Meanwhile, Bodine has decided to try to sell the rifles to Cochise. Under a flag of truce, Bodine meets Cochise and takes him to where the rifles are hidden. But Coburn, with the help of Doug, has killed the other deserters and taken the rifles. Cochise and Bodine pursue and catch up with Coburn. In a delaying tactic, Coburn fights off a number of Apache while Doug gets the rifles back to Apache Wells. With the rifles, Doug leads a column of soldiers to rescue Coburn and arrive just as he runs out of ammunition. The Apache are chased off and in a final shootout, Coburn kills Bodine.
and Lancaster, California
.
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
film directed by William Witney
William Witney
William Nuelsen Witney was an American film and television director. He is best remembered for the movie serials he co-directed with John English for Republic Pictures such as Daredevils of the Red Circle, Zorro's Fighting Legion and Drums of Fu Manchu.He directed many Westerns during his career,...
and starring Audie Murphy
Audie Murphy
Audie Leon Murphy was a highly decorated and famous soldier. Through LIFE magazine's July 16, 1945 issue , he became one the most famous soldiers of World War II and widely regarded as the most decorated American soldier of the war...
. It was Murphy's last starring film and the final film of Robert E. Kent
Robert E. Kent
Robert E. Kent is an American film writer and film producer.He began as a rapid screenwriter for Sam Katzman at Columbia. He later formed his own production company, and Admiral Productions together with Audie Murphy....
Productions.
Plot
Arizona TerritoryArizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
1868: The Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
s, led by Cochise
Cochise
Cochise was a chief of the Chokonen band of the Chiricahua Apache and the leader of an uprising that began in 1861. Cochise County, Arizona is named after him.-Biography:...
(Michael Keep), are on the warpath. Army Captain Bruce Coburn (Audie Murphy
Audie Murphy
Audie Leon Murphy was a highly decorated and famous soldier. Through LIFE magazine's July 16, 1945 issue , he became one the most famous soldiers of World War II and widely regarded as the most decorated American soldier of the war...
) is tasked with escorting homesteaders to Apache Wells where they can concentrate their defence against the Apache. But there is dissention in the ranks as some of the men under Coburn’s command feel they are being driven too hard. Coburn has to discipline corporal Bodine (Kenneth Tobey
Kenneth Tobey
Kenneth Tobey was an American stage, television, and film actor.-Early years:Born in Oakland, California, Tobey was headed for a law career when he first dabbled in acting at the University of California Little Theater...
) for stealing rationed water. In an attack at Apache Wells, one of the homesteaders, Harry Malone (Kenneth MacDonald
Kenneth MacDonald (American actor)
Kenneth MacDonald was an American film actor. Born in Portland, Indiana, MacDonald made more than 220 film and television appearances between 1931 and 1970.-Career:...
), is killed. His two sons, Mike (Michael Blodgett
Michael Blodgett
Michael Blodgett was an American actor, novelist, and screenwriter. Of his many film and television appearances he is best known for his performance as gigolo Lance Rocke in Russ Meyer's 1970 cult classic Beyond the Valley of the Dolls...
) and Doug (Michael Burns), then join the Army.
In order to defend themselves at Apache Wells, they need guns. Coburn is sent to bring in a consignment of repeating rifles that is on its way, or least prevent them getting into the hands of the Apache. En route, Coburn and his men are attacked. The inexperienced Malone brothers are left to guard the horses, but Mike disobeys orders and goes off to fight the Indians. He is last seen alive screaming for his brother's help, but Doug is a coward who lets his brother die.
The survivors of the patrol manage to rendezvous with the consignment of guns. On the way back to Apache Wells, Bodine and four other soldiers decide to take the guns and desert to Mexico, leaving Coburn and the wounded First Sergant Walker (Robert Brubaker) tied up. In a moment of indecision, Doug throws his lot in with Bodine.
Coburn and Walker manage to make it back to Apache Wells. He wants to go back and retrieve the rifles, but the commander says he cannot spare any men and orders Coburn to stay. He disobeys and sets off after Bodine. Meanwhile, Bodine has decided to try to sell the rifles to Cochise. Under a flag of truce, Bodine meets Cochise and takes him to where the rifles are hidden. But Coburn, with the help of Doug, has killed the other deserters and taken the rifles. Cochise and Bodine pursue and catch up with Coburn. In a delaying tactic, Coburn fights off a number of Apache while Doug gets the rifles back to Apache Wells. With the rifles, Doug leads a column of soldiers to rescue Coburn and arrive just as he runs out of ammunition. The Apache are chased off and in a final shootout, Coburn kills Bodine.
Production
The film was written by Audie Murphy's friend Willard W. Willingham and his wife. Willingham had appeared in many of Murphy's films (playing Trooper Fuller in this one) as a stand in, stuntman and occasional actor as well as writing several of his films. It was filmed in 1966 in Red Rock Canyon State Park (California)Red Rock Canyon State Park (California)
Red Rock Canyon State Park features scenic desert cliffs, buttes and spectacular rock formations. The park is located where the southernmost tip of the Sierra Nevada converges with the El Paso Mountains....
and Lancaster, California
Lancaster, California
Lancaster is a charter city in northern Los Angeles County, in the high desert, near the Kern County line. Lancaster currently ranks as the 30th largest city in California, and the 148th largest city in the United States. Lancaster is the principal city within the Antelope Valley...
.
Cast
- Audie MurphyAudie MurphyAudie Leon Murphy was a highly decorated and famous soldier. Through LIFE magazine's July 16, 1945 issue , he became one the most famous soldiers of World War II and widely regarded as the most decorated American soldier of the war...
- Capt. Bruce Coburn - Coburn is the main protagonist of the film. Coburn is a tough and, at times, brutal commander who pushes his men too hard at times unintentionally. He has a romance with Mike and Doug's older sister. He kills Bodine when he tries to escape in the films final fight. - Michael Burns - Doug Malone - Doug is the most cowardly of him and his brother, Mike. He deserts to keep himself away from his sister, whom he did not want to face after letting Mike die. He aids Coburn when he comes after the rifles and gets them back to Apache Wells. He later leads a company to Coburn's rescue.
- Kenneth TobeyKenneth TobeyKenneth Tobey was an American stage, television, and film actor.-Early years:Born in Oakland, California, Tobey was headed for a law career when he first dabbled in acting at the University of California Little Theater...
- Cpl. Bodine - Bodine is the main antagonist of the film. He hates being in the Yankee army and leads a mutiny against Coburn convincing all other remaining soldiers except Walker to desert. He tries to sell the guns to Cochise but fails. In the end he was killed by Coburn in a final confrontation. - Laraine Stephens - Ellen Malone - A member of Doug's family at Apache Wells.
- Robert BrubakerRobert BrubakerRobert Brubaker was an American character actor best known for his roles in television and movie westerns, including as Gunsmoke and 40 Guns to Apache Pass. Brubaker was the only actor to have two recurring roles on the television series, Gunsmoke, portraying both a bartender named Floyd and a...
- Sgt. Walker - A loyal friend to Coburn who was shot when the other soldiers deserted. He and Coburn survive and make it back to Apache Wells. - Michael BlodgettMichael BlodgettMichael Blodgett was an American actor, novelist, and screenwriter. Of his many film and television appearances he is best known for his performance as gigolo Lance Rocke in Russ Meyer's 1970 cult classic Beyond the Valley of the Dolls...
- Mike Malone - Doug's older brother who disobeys orders and is killed by the Apache when his little brother won't help him. - Michael Keep - Cochise - Cochise is a major antagonist of the film. He is the leader of the Apache causing all the trouble. He tries to buy the rifles from Bodine, but Coburn gets to them first. He later is held off by Coburn while Doug gets the guns back to Apache Wells. He is overpowered by the reinforcement soldiers and retreats.
- Kay Stewart - Kay Malone - Anothers of Doug's last living relatives at Apache Wells.
- Kenneth MacDonaldKenneth MacDonald (American actor)Kenneth MacDonald was an American film actor. Born in Portland, Indiana, MacDonald made more than 220 film and television appearances between 1931 and 1970.-Career:...
- Harry Malone - Doug and Mike father who is killed in the beginning of the film. - Byron MorrowByron MorrowByron Morrow was an American television and film actor, born in Chicago.His TV work ran from Peter Gunn in 1957 to Father Dowling Mysteries in 1991...
- Col. Homer E. Reed - The commanding officer at Apache Wells who sends Coburn for the rifles and confines him to camp when he fails. He later sends Doug to his aid when he brings the rifles to Apache Wells. - Ted Gehring - Trooper Barratt - One of the troops who deserts and is later killed by Doug and Coburn.
- Willard W. Willingham - Trooper Fuller - One of the troops who deserts and is later killed by Doug and Coburn.
- James Beck - Trooper Higgins - One the troops who deserts and is later killed by Doug and Coburn.