Apache War Smoke
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Harold Kress
Gilbert Roland
Glenda Farrell
Robert Horton
Barbara Ruick
Gene Lockhart
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In 1870s New Mexico, Tom Herrera, the head of the Tonto Valley Wells Fargo stagecoach station, prepares to defend against an attack by an Apache war party seeking revenge for the cold-blooded slaughter of several Indians by an outsider. As distant smoke signals warn of the impending attack, a stagecoach arrives at the station with passengers Nancy Dekker, the daughter of a U.S. Cavalry major, Wells Fargo home office representative Cyril R. Snowden, Tom's old flame, Lorraine Sayburn, and Fanny Webson, a thrill-seeking gambling queen posing as a New England matron. The passengers, along with the stagecoach driver, become stranded at the station with Tom and his bandit father Peso. Peso, the "most sought after feller in the Southwest," is after gold contained in the casket of the stagecoach, and Tom, knowing this, takes his father's guns as a precaution. Tom is not pleased to see Lorraine, whom he no longer loves, but she manages to coax a kiss from him. Witnessing the kiss, Nancy, who has fallen instantly in love with Tom, becomes jealous. As the Apaches, under the command of Geronimo, begin their attack, suspicion is immediately cast on Peso as the source of the Apache rage. Tom and Fanny are the only ones at the station who come to Peso's defense when others suggest the bandit be turned over to the Indians to bring a speedy end to the conflict. Though Snowden threatens to report Tom's stubbornness, the station head eventually wins out, and Peso stays. With the help of Fanny, who idolizes the notorious bandit and gives her guns to him, Peso holds up Tom and the others and demands that they hand over the casket. Tom, however, outdraws his father and shoots the gun out of his hand. Despite the robbery attempt, Tom continues to believe that his father is not responsible for the war party. A fierce battle ensues between the Apaches and those trapped inside the station, resulting in the death of Major Dekker. During a lull in the fighting, an Apache emissary tries to negotiate for the surrender of the murderer, but Tom again refuses to turn his father out, and the fighting resumes. During the battle, Peso knocks out Pike Curtis, a local man who Peso knows is the killer, and turns him over to the Indians. With all doubt about his father's trustworthiness removed, Tom bids Peso farewell as he joins Fanny on her journey to San Francisco. As the stagecoach fades into the horizon, Nancy, who has remained behind to marry Tom, informs him that the gold is not as secure as he thinks, because Luis, the young boy assigned to guard the treasure, is actually another one of Peso's sons.
Director
Harold Kress
Cast
Gilbert Roland
Glenda Farrell
Robert Horton
Barbara Ruick
Gene Lockhart
Henry Morgan
Patricia Tiernan
Hank Worden
Myron Healey
Emmett Lynn
Argentina Brunetti
Bobby Blake
Douglas Dumbrille
Chubby Johnson
Charlita
Carlos Vera
Connie Vera
Iron Eyes Cody
Crew
Jack Aldworth
John Alton
Alberto Colombo
Jerry Davis
Dave Friedman
Cedric Gibbons
A. Arnold Gillespie
Hayes Goetz
Sydney Guilaroff
William Hole
Ralph Hurst
Al Jennings
Newell P. Kimlin
Arthur Lonergan
Gene Richie
Douglas Shearer
William Tuttle
Edwin B. Willis
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Do you like me?- Peso
You're a hero to every kid in the territory. But I never saw much sense in putting a thief on a pedestal.- Tom Herrera
I had always hoped that you would follow in my footsteps. But, no, you had to take after your mother...law and order!- Peso
I'm sorry about your father.- Tom Herrera
He died the way he was born...the way he lived.- Nancy Dekker
No tears?- Tom Herrera
Later.- Nancy Dekker
He taught you well, Nancy.- Tom Herrera
He taught me without teaching. That's the best way.- Nancy Dekker
All right, Peso, you can stay.- Tom Herrera
Thanks, Tom.- Peso
But I'll take your guns.- Tom Herrera
Oh, there's no reason for that, boy. My guns? Why I'd be chilly without 'em. I might even catch cold.- Peso
So if you ever get to San Francisco, look us up.- Fanny Webson
I might.- Tom Herrera
We'll have at least a dozen ways for a man to lose his money and enjoy the fact that he lost it.- Fanny Webson
There are two things I hate. One is a careless man; the other is a careless woman.- Peso
What's-a matter? You sick?- Peso
No, jealous. How do you fight a woman like that?- Nancy Dekker
The same as you would fight any other fight. Pick your position, keep the wind at your back and shoot to kill.- Peso
Trivia
Notes
The film's working title was Apache Trail. Some stock footage from the 1942 M-G-M film Apache Trail, which was also based on the Ernest Haycox short story, was used in this picture. Richard Thorpe directed the earlier version, which starred Lloyd Nolan and Donna Reed. According to Hollywood Reporter news items, many of the Apache War Smoke's exteriors were shot on location in Soledad Canyon, near Monterey, CA. The film marked the motion picture debut of actress Patricia Tiernan.
