Ambush at Tomahawk Gap ** (1953, John Hodiak, John Derek, David Brian, Ray Teal) – Classic Movie Review 12,967

The action-packed 1953 Western film Ambush at Tomahawk Gap stars John Hodiak, John Derek, David Brian, and Ray Teal as four ex-cons who search for a cache of stolen loot buried in Indian territory.

Director Fred F Sears’s action-packed 1953 Columbia Pictures Western film Ambush at Tomahawk Gap stars John Hodiak, John Derek, David Brian, and Ray Teal as four ex-cons who search for a cache of stolen loot buried in Indian territory.

Outlaws McCord, Kid, Egan and Doc, just released from Yuma Territorial Prison, return to ghost town Tomahawk Gap to try to find money they stole, which was buried by a partner. But then the Indians attack…

Ambush at Tomahawk Gap is unusually tough and edgy for its day, but otherwise a routine Fifties cowboy picture, with a run-of-the-mill plot. It is good that it is fairly grown-up and cynical, following a story with more villains than heroes.

John Hodiak and John Derek are likeable but give ordinary performances as forthright McCord as headstrong young Kid. Brian and Teal are solid as Egan and Doc. It is a plus that all four actors fit in well to a Western setting.

The modest acting, unsurprising plotting and unremarkable direction by Sears all add up to make it a merely moderate movie.

The action and Henry Freulich’s lovely Technicolor photography help quite a bit.

Also in the cast are Maria Elena Marqués, John Qualen, Percy Helton, John Doucette, Otto Hulett, Harry Cording, Trevor Bardette, and John War Eagle.

Ambush at Tomahawk Gap is directed by Fred F Sears, runs 73 minutes, is made by Columbia Pictures, is written by David Lang, is shot in Technicolor by Henry Freulich, is produced by Wallace MacDonald, and is scored by Ross Di Maggio.

Release date: May 5, 1953.

The cast are John Hodiak as McCord, David Brian as Egan, John Derek as Kid, Ray Teal as Doc, María Elena Marqués as Navaho girl, John Qualen as Jonas P Travis, Otto Hulett as Stranton, Trevor Bardette as sheriff of Twin Forks, Percy Helton as Marlowe, Harry Cording as Ostler, John Doucette as Burt, and John War Eagle as Indian Chief.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,967

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