Chuka | Rod Taylor, Ernest Borgnine | an "overlooked" hard little gem of a western

Chuka | Rod Taylor, Ernest Borgnine | STARVING ARAPAHOES

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Chuka

	Chuka Rod Taylor, Ernest Borgnine Paramount, 1991 average customer review:based on 11 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Rod Taylor co-produced the 1967 Chuka and stars as the titular gunslinger whose lonely path leads to a U.S. Army outpost manned by foul-ups, degenerates, and a half-mad, alcoholic commander (John Mills). Surrounded by starving Arapaho Indians clearly getting ready to massacre the fort's inhabitants, Mills' character, Colonel Valois, refuses to yield to Chuka's demand that everyone clear out and allow the Arapaho to take provisions they need to survive. With Valois drunk and unbending, a creepy second-in-command (Louis Hayward) leading a mutiny, a two-fisted sergeant (Ernest Borgnine) defending Valois against any criticism, and the presence of two Mexican women (one of whom has a romantic past with Chuka) who will not be spared during a slaughter, Chuka does what he can to broker a peaceful way out of the dilemma. Directed by Gordon Douglas (The Detective), Chuka is self-consciously arty (camera angles turn up in the weirdest of places) yet dramatically enthralling. Very much an actor's vehicle that, on the one hand, allows the likes of James Whitmore to wallow in mannerisms, Chuka also features several startlingly emotional scenes. Among them is the aftermath of a brutal fight between Taylor and Borgnine, in which their bloodied characters--too exhausted to speak--communicate mutual respect by pawing at each other's heads, like infant brothers. --Tom Keogh

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an "overlooked" hard little gem of a western

rod taylor co-produced this tough little gem of a western and plays the title hero also.
the movie starts like beau geaste in that the army arives at the fort and finds that all are dead and then we flash back to what happened. the cast is first rate and the story is one of the better latter 60's western scripts. above it all is mr. taylor's job as chuka. he fills the screen with his spirit even when not on camara. mr. taylor was one of the most underrated actors of his time and as he would prove later with john wayne in the train robbers he was well suited for western movies . this is one you don't want to miss if you love westerns like i do so give it a try.

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STARVING ARAPAHOES

In 1961 a western novel from the pen of Richard Jessup entitled "CHUKA" was published, in 1967 Richard Jessup wrote the screen play for the Paramount Picture also entitled CHUKA.

In an age when the western movie was slowly receding from Hollywood's attention, comes a very well directed and written western story. In the land of the Arapahoe sits a fort in the midst of winter, the Arapahoe are starving, having neither food nor guns and ammunition to hunt or forage for food. Over the adjacent ridge, inside the fort, are food, guns, and ammunition. The Arapahoe have been ignored by the army and are dying of starvation, having no one to turn to, attacking the fort seems to their chief, Hanoo, the only alternative left.

The fort is entirely wiped out, and burnt pretty much beyond use. The soldiers and other inhabitants? Well, all but a couple are killed. To understand this one much watch the film, I do not rattle off plots as others, wanting to leave to each viewer's discretion just what opinion they form of the film just watched.

I sometimes feel, however, as I write these reviews that the film I have seen is somehow not the film other reviewers, based upon their reviews, have seen. In this present case, if you enjoy westerns, it is beyond me how this movie would not impress. For it is far from the norm where 'oat burners' or 'shoot em ups' are concerned. This is a story with depth of both humans and human nature. It is a varied story, but at it vortex very much a love story, not only of man and woman but also of love of courage, fidelity, most of all, duty.

Watch this film from 1967 and see what you think. Should it not be one of your favorites, it may at least give not only entertainment but also a cause for some thought. Exactly how does it end or what is the meaning of the ending we are given. Fill in the blank, there seems to be no wrong answer.

Semper Fi.

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Chuka

Chuka is a wandering gunfighter that happens to get involved in a dispute between some starving indians and an oddball assortment of misfits at a calvary fort.In the middle of this Chuka meets an old flame traveling with her young female charge that have to hold up at the fort.After the battle army higher ups try to find out what happened to the troops and civilians ,there is only the post log and 2 fresh graves inside the fort walls,Very good western,has it all,some good scenery,the gunfighter,the army,and the indians,plus the underlying love story.Stars Rod Taylor,Earnest Borgnine and John Mills..........I would give it an A,but like this western and the stars,so that is just me..................

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The Wild Wild West Italian Style

This is a pretty good Western, not great, but enjoyable. I titled it "Italian Style", but have no idea where the film was made. The title was in honor of a lady who has not been given the recognition she so richly deserves. Luciana Paluzzi admits that had she not traveled back and forth to her home in Italy she might have had a bigger career by sticking to one country. Whatever the reason for her not being fully recognized, we are happy that she made films and TV appearances here as she is truly outstanding. I have to add that she is one of the best of the Bond women.

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Rod Taylor At His Best

I saw this movie a long time ago when I was a kid and really enjoyed it back then (mid 70's). I must say it is everything I remembered. I thought it was a really good western. All the characters are memorable and it is a very compelling and fun movie to watch. Love Taylors character and costume as well as Whitmores as the old grizzled and tough scout. And the friction between the virile Taylor and the impotent Mills is great. And then add to it the hulking Ernest Borgnine who is Mills Sergeant and also the one man who respects and knows Mills and you have one of the best two fisted fight scenes in movie history. Watching Taylor and Borgnine go at it was just a gem.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3

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