"The Vanishing American" is a Zane Grey story about the plight of the Navajo Indians in the early 20th century.
Tough as nails Marion Warner (Audrey Totter) inherits a piece of land in an unnamed part of the south west. The land includes a strategic water hole that is vital to all of the surrounding area. At first she plans to run the Indians off the land and directs unscrupulous Indian Agent Blucher (Gene Lockhart) to see to it. Blucher is merely a puppet for local town boss Morgan (Forrest Tucker) who has plans of his own.
Marion meets Blandy (Scott Brady) an educated Navajo who soon shows her the plight that faces his people. Marion meanwhile befriends the Navajo girl Yashi (Gloria Castillo) whom Morgan has "taken unto himself" and plans to help her escape. Blandy meanwhile has a run in with Morgan and his henchmen Glendon (Jim Davis) and Jay Lord (Lee Van Cleef) and winds up burning Morgan's store to the ground. (The scene of the burning store is lifted directly from "Johnny Guitar" (1954)). This all leads to the inevitable confrontation between the bad guys and the Indians.
"The Vanishing American" was directed by Republic's workaholic director Joe Kane. As was the norm in his pictures there's plenty of action and a fast moving story line. The aforementioned fire sequence with its fight scene and the battle sequences are well staged. I did feel however, that there were far too many night scenes.
Scott Brady surprised me with his controlled performance as Blandy. Gunslinging Audrey Totter was excellent in the female lead showing both toughness and vulnerability. Tucker as always, makes a formidable villain. Unfortunately Davis and Van Cleef are given little to do other than obey Tucker's orders.
In addition to those previously mentioned, the cast included Charlie Stevens as a renegade Apache, James Millican as a U.S. Marshal, Glenn Strange (sans mustache) as the Navajo chief and Hank Worden and Francis J. McDonald in other minor roles.
Previously filmed as a silent in 1925 with Richard Dix and Lois Wilson in the leads.
Tough as nails Marion Warner (Audrey Totter) inherits a piece of land in an unnamed part of the south west. The land includes a strategic water hole that is vital to all of the surrounding area. At first she plans to run the Indians off the land and directs unscrupulous Indian Agent Blucher (Gene Lockhart) to see to it. Blucher is merely a puppet for local town boss Morgan (Forrest Tucker) who has plans of his own.
Marion meets Blandy (Scott Brady) an educated Navajo who soon shows her the plight that faces his people. Marion meanwhile befriends the Navajo girl Yashi (Gloria Castillo) whom Morgan has "taken unto himself" and plans to help her escape. Blandy meanwhile has a run in with Morgan and his henchmen Glendon (Jim Davis) and Jay Lord (Lee Van Cleef) and winds up burning Morgan's store to the ground. (The scene of the burning store is lifted directly from "Johnny Guitar" (1954)). This all leads to the inevitable confrontation between the bad guys and the Indians.
"The Vanishing American" was directed by Republic's workaholic director Joe Kane. As was the norm in his pictures there's plenty of action and a fast moving story line. The aforementioned fire sequence with its fight scene and the battle sequences are well staged. I did feel however, that there were far too many night scenes.
Scott Brady surprised me with his controlled performance as Blandy. Gunslinging Audrey Totter was excellent in the female lead showing both toughness and vulnerability. Tucker as always, makes a formidable villain. Unfortunately Davis and Van Cleef are given little to do other than obey Tucker's orders.
In addition to those previously mentioned, the cast included Charlie Stevens as a renegade Apache, James Millican as a U.S. Marshal, Glenn Strange (sans mustache) as the Navajo chief and Hank Worden and Francis J. McDonald in other minor roles.
Previously filmed as a silent in 1925 with Richard Dix and Lois Wilson in the leads.