Taza, Son of Cochise [Blu-ray] Raza De Violencia BD 1954

showing its age , story silly ,not a lot of action, anRock is as solid as one

A+ speedy delivery. Item just as described. Very pleased. Thank you.

a good western ,good store line

very good film ,good service good price, many thanks,william.

This film was a 3D movie. We can see that in some shots, the way the image is composed with objects in the foreground (like tree trunks, branches) more than usual. The cinematography is a jewel, by the great Russell Metty as often with Sirk. The story is not that memorable but it is a great entertainment and very beautiful.

The dvd came quickly,the quality is excellent. A good old fashioned western I had seen fifty odd years ago andalways wanted to revisit,but it never seemed to be on the television,or maybe I'm just out a lot. Roger

Taza, Son of Cochise is directed by Douglas Sirk and written by Gerald Drayson Adams and George Zuckerman. It stars Rock Hudson, Barbara Rush, Gregg Palmer, Rex Reason and Morris Ankrum. A Technicolor production with the Music scored by Frank Skinner and cinematography by Russell Metty.In 1872 the long bitter war fought between the United States Cavalry troops and Apache bands led by Cochise came to an end. The peace treaty signed by Cochise and General Howard brought peace to the Arizona Territory. But three years later the mighty leader of the Chiricahua Apaches grew ill and come to the end of his days........the torch was passed to his first born son, Taza, who wants to follows his father's ideals and peace brokering ways. His second born son, Naiche, however, has different ideas, as does the mighty Geronimo.....Douglas Sirk's only venture into the Western realm was originally shot in 3D around the gorgeous Arches National Monument Park. Following the pro-Indian theme that was becoming a feature of 1950s Westerns, it's a film that suffers primarily because of the casting of none Native Americans in the important character roles. Which is a shame because it's a gorgeous production that features action scenes full of vim and vigour. Story isn't out of the ordinary and the dialogue is often clunky as the Indian chatter is of the Hollywoodisation kind. Yet picture is never dull, the interest is always held as Taza attempts to hold on to peace for his people, whilst simultaneously he's trying to court the hand of Oona (Rush) against the wishes of her father, the war mongering Grey Eagle (Ankrum).Hudson, badly cast as he is, can't be faulted for commitment in the title role. He clearly feels at ease working for Sirk (it was a coupling that would work together on a total of 9 movies), and at least he has the physicality for such a character. Unlike Ian MacDonald as Geronimo, who looks too old, too staid and sticks out like a sore thumb. Russell Metty's photography is top draw, both in capturing gorgeous frames of the locale and in choice of colour lenses. Skinner provides a breezy, if standard Indian tinted Western musical score, and Sirk's direction is simple and effective with only minimal 3D moments part of the action. It's hardly an essential picture in the pantheon of pro-Indian Westerns, but it's better than it has a right to be, and with Pegasus' DVD release providing a lovely print, this is worth seeking out if only for Russell Metty's fine work. 6.5/10

The director of this film Douglas Sirk was much better known for colourful fifties melodramas like "Magnificent Obsession", which also starred Rock Hudson incidentally. I must admit I am not a fan, but Quentin Tarantino clearly was. In his famous film "Pulp Fiction" one of the characters at a fifties themed restaurant orders a 'Douglas Sirk steak' cooked 'bloody as hell'. Sirk did not make any other westerns as far as I can recall, so this one sticks out as somethiong of an oddity in his CV. It forms part of the Jeff Chandler Cochise franchise! Chandler memorably played the Apache chief in Delmer Daves excellent western "Broken Arrow"(50), which was notable for being the first sympathetic treatment of the native American after the Second World War. He then reprised the role in "The Battle at Apache Pass" the following year. In "Taza Son of Cochise" he gives a brief cameo as the dying Cochise passing on the baton to his son Taza.In the film Taza is a 'chip off the old block' and works towards peace between the white eyes and the Apache. His efforts are thwarted by Geronimo, played by Ian MacDonald this time instead of real native American Jay Silverheels who had played him in the previous two films. Geronimo and his cronies are hell bent on destruction and mayhem, and it is down to Taza and the reservation Police to keep the peace. This does not come without the obligatory 'shoot em ups'. The film does not pull any real surprises and is typical fifties generic fodder. The leading indian roles are all taken by white Europeans, which was normal for that period. Hudson who was a wooden actor at the best of times, gets out acted by everyone including the dead dog who appears briefly at the Apache village. The indians and cavalry are all of the stereo typical sort. General Crook who was an intelligent adversary of Geronimo during the Apache wars is portrayed erroneously as a bungling buffoon. He happily blunders into two ambushes and gives orders guaranteed to inflame an already delicate situation. The film was shot in 3-D which explains some of the gimmicky shots. There are also some dodgy looking scenes with polystyrene rocks bouncing all over the place! Sirk does not cover himself in glory with this film! It is a film that may keep the die hard western fan temporarily happy, but does nothing that lifts it out of mediocrity. Thankfully the Cochise films had run their course after this one! Picture quality is not an issue in this film. No extras aside from the original theatrical trailer.