Davy Crockett, Indian Scout (1950)

Simply Perfect

Really Surprised!

Purely Joyful Movie!

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

SYNOPSIS: The title is a bit of a "have", as this Davy Crockett is not the famous king of the wild frontier, but a fictitious military scout who happens to be named after that "uncle". COMMENT: This picture utilizes so much footage from Kit Carson (1941) that Mescall is credited as co-photographer (he retired in 1945). However, it's not only well matched by Diskant but smoothly integrated by the editors. And it's such superbly spectacular footage that we don't at all mind seeing it again in these new surroundings. In fact Mescall's footage actually looks more impressive here than it did in Kit Carson where it was undermined by both poor acting and indifferent direction - plus the offset of a long and tedious anti-climax. Arthur Rosson directed the Mescall scenes. The rest of Davy Crockett is handled by Lew Landers in a what can only be described by his humble standards as a fairly lively fashion. The principals play competently enough, and the pacing appears reasonably fast. True, the dialogue sounds cliched, whilst the characters present themselves as little more than the usual stereotypes; but, all told - and thanks chiefly to the attractive Diskant/Mescall cinematography - this Davy Crockett comes across as likable enough entertainment for undemanding action fans.

And Disney's outings are vastly superior, they might not be masterpieces but they are better made, looking like more effort was put into them, and more memorable. 'Davy Crockett, Indian Scout' is watchable for curiosity's sake but is the sort of one sees once and easily forgets about after.There are a few good things about 'Davy Crockett, Indian Scout'. The photography is quite nice, the black and white looks good and crisp and it is the only thing about the production values that looks like effort was put into it. George Montgomery has a ruggedly handsome charm and commands the screen admirably enough. The climactic Indian attack is very well done, with some rousing tension, as well as the build-up, the most exciting 'Davy Crockett, Indian Scout' ever comes close to getting.However, the rest of the production values don't really impress. The costume and production design lack any kind of authenticity and instead look like cheap recycling. The edited stock footage from 'Kit Carson' is far from inspired and actually feels lazy. The music score rarely rises above okay and lacks the rousing or memorability factors.Everything about 'Davy Crockett, Indian Scout' feels tired. The script is of the "just there at best" kind, with the worst parts clunking badly and any important information is treated in throwaway style. The story shines in the climactic moments but mostly limps along routinely (with the odd far-fetched moment), with most of the action being run-of-the-mill, the conflict being at best anaemic and the direction lacking any kind of distinction.Montgomery aside, the acting is not much to write home about. A lot of people are going to feel cheated too, due to the title misleading those to think it's about the hero himself when it isn't but a relative with not as striking a personality.In summary, watchable for curiosity's sake but pales hugely in comparison to the later Disney Davy Crockett films. 3/10 Bethany Cox

AH YES, HOW well we remember this movie! We always associate it with the Thanksgiving Holidsay; for It is a true Turkey if there ever was one! NOW, IT'S NOT that it is not the Walt Disney version which it isn't. Or it has no Fess Parker, which it doesn't, no Georgie Russell, no Tennesee backwoods, no Chief Red Stick, Mike Fink, Riverboats, no "grinnin'down bears", no U.S. Comngress and not even a mention of the Alamo. These items are irritating, but only in a minor sense.WHAT REALLY BOTHERS us is that it seems to be a sort of Western Movie anachronism. The period portrayed looks more like the post Civil War era than the 1820's and '30's; which would be about the right time-line. After all, Davy Crocket's life spanned 1786-1836.WHEN WE SCREENED this movie, it was on the rebound. Originally released in 1950, it was hurried back into a re-release in 1955. It was a case of "making hay while the sun shines", for the Disney DAVY CROCKETT boom was in full flower. Why wouldn't the producers get out there again? The title would get the audience and the kids wouldn't know the difference; at least until It was too late. THE LEAD WAS tall, athletic and handsome, George Montgomery. He was a former Heavyweight Prize Fighter, World War II Army Air Corps veteran and highly respected movie star. In addition to many other higher class Westerns, he had also portrayed Raymond Chandler's Phillip Marlowe in THE BRASHER DOUBLOON (20th Century-Fox, 1947).AMONG OTHER SHORTCOMINGS, it was in glorious Black & Wjhite, its costuming had the "Dime Store Cowboy" look, the exteriors looked a lot like the famous Ray Corrigan Ranch*,nobody sounded East Tenneesee and there was no attempt authentically recreate the real period.WE SEEM TO recall some other rather glaring errors in this chronological thing. It seems that the "cowboys" used more modern weapons. Rather than black powder loading flintlocks, we recall six guns and carbines.EVEN IN NAMING the characters there was no logic used. Noah Berry, Jr. was called "Tex"; which was a very unlikely moniker then. This was before the Alamo, right? WE WENT TO see this movie as part of my birthday present. I could take a friend, so we asked neighbor kid, David Brommer, to accompany us. It was my choice to decide between which of the two local theatres to attend. This DAVY CROCKETT, Indian FIGHTER was at the Ogden, 63rd Street & Ashland. The Highway at 63rd & Western had ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET THE KEYSTONE KOPS. Although my pal, David, lobbied for ABBOTT & COSTELLO.AGFTER ALL THESE years, I admit it. I was wrong. I'm sorry Sorry, David. Next time you choose, okay?

In case you're wondering about how in 1848 Davy Crockett could be leading wagon trains west after being killed at the Alamo, this is not THE Davy Crockett, but a descendant of same. Even Hollywood with its penchant for taking the names of real frontier characters and weaving wholly fictional plots around them couldn't really mess with this one.This Crockett film features George Montgomery as a Davy Crockett and he's a scout for the army and civilian wagon trains going west and he's got two sidekicks, Noah Beery, Jr. and Philip Reed. They're doing both working for the army and guiding a wagon train west among the passengers are a half Indian woman played by Ellen Drew and a mute driver.But he's like Bernardo in the Zorro series, it's a pose so he can hear all kinds of useful information to take back to Drew's father who is Robert Barrat the chief of the Kiowas who are looking to make another Indian confederation in the tradition of Pontiac and Tecumseh.Drew's working for her dad too until she gets a little romancing from Reed who is also an Indian. But he's in the Ed Ames tradition, he may wear the Indian costume, but he's been educated in the white man schools and has some manners about him.My guess is that Drew liked an Indian with a vocabulary that was more than 'how' and an occasional grunt. Back in the day that is the picture Hollywood gave us of the Indian. Anyway it was unusual for the sidekick to be getting the woman or even showing an interest in one in Hollywood westerns.The silliness of the plot is ameliorated by enough action to satisfy any B western fan. And Philip Reed did strike a blow for sidekicks every where in getting the girl in a western. Albeit he was not a traditional sidekick.