40 Guns to Apache Pass ** (1967, Audie Murphy, Michael Burns, Kenneth Tobey, Laraine Stephens, Michael Blodgett, Michael Keep)– Classic Movie Review 13,142

It’s Arizona in 1868, the Apaches led by Cochise are on the warpath and US Army Captain Bruce Coburn (Audie Murphy) has to protect settlers, in the 1967 B movie Western film 40 Guns to Apache Pass. 

‘The West ablaze… courage aflame!’

Director William Witney’s 1967 B movie Western film 40 Guns to Apache Pass stars Audie Murphy, Michael Burns, Kenneth Tobey, Laraine Stephens, Michael Blodgett, and Michael Keep. It’s Arizona in 1868 and the Apaches led by Cochise are on the warpath and US Army Captain Bruce Coburn (Audie Murphy) has to protect settlers going to Apache Wells.

Audie Murphy has still got the stuff, even if he seems slightly past his prime, in this clichéd oater about a cavalry captain (Murphy as US Army Captain Bruce Coburn) dealing with wicked Apaches whom Cochise Michael (Keep) leads onto the warpath, treacherous corporal Tobey who is getting his men to sell guns to the Apache, and homesteaders in trouble.

In his penultimate Western, Murphy is still a welcome presence, but veteran actor Tobey gives the film’s best performance (as Corporal Bodine). Even if the writing is somewhat feeble, old-time director Witney shows that he can still churn out a fairly nifty B-Western.

The cast are Audie Murphy, Michael Burns, Kenneth Tobey, Laraine Stephens, Michael Blodgett, Michael Keep, Robert Brubaker, Kay Stewart, Kenneth MacDonald, Byron Morrow, Willard W Willingham, Ted Gehring, James Beck, Bill Cassady, and Jack Lilley.

It was shot in May 1966 at North Ranch, Lindero Canyon Road at Kanan Road, Agoura Hills, California: Lovejoy Buttes, Lancaster, California; and Red Rock Canyon State Park, Highway 14, Cantil, California.

40 Guns to Apache Pass is directed by William Witney, runs 95 minutes, is made by Admiral Pictures and Robert E Kent Productions, is released by Columbia Pictures, is written by Willard W Willingham and Mary Willingham, is shot in Eastmancolor/ Pathé Color by Jacques R Marquette, is produced by Grant Whytock, is scored by Richard LaSalle, and is designed by Paul Sylos.

And the unsung heroes: Fred Krone is the stunt coordinator, Jim Sheppard is the stunt double for Audie Murphy, and Jesse Wayne is the stunt double for Michael Burns.

Release dates: May 1, 1967 (US) and June 28, 1967 (UK).

A Time for Dying (1969) is Murphy’s last Western and final film.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,142

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