Distant Drums (1951) User Reviews (35)

It Worked for Me

[ragosaal · 7/10 · 25 September 2006]

I saw "Distant Drums" for the first time when I was 10 or 11 years old and I recall it was a great film for me. Then I saw it as an adult and though it was not the great film I remembered it was still very good as an action and adventure sort of western. Since I'm not from the USA I didn't notice some historical mistakes -mainly the use of guns and rifles not yet invented by the time of the action- I learned about after reading some reviews here; I think those are major flaws in a movie.

However, I think my little knowledge about the Seminole wars in Florida give me the possibility of judging the film just at what it is: an adventure film. That established, "Distant Drums" appears to me as a highly entertaining and well done movie as well as a very original film mainly because of where the action is located. Is has great color, beautiful photography and incredible open wide sceneries in the Everglades. The plot -although kind of standard (a bunch of soldiers chased by savage Indians through the swamps- is however very well handled by director Roul Walsh and he keeps action going all along without major bumps. The sequence at the Seminole village is most impressive and tense as it is the final underwater knife duel between Captain Wyatt and chief Okala.

Gary Cooper (Wyatt) is very good as the leader of the escaping troop and shows the presence and self confidence a leader should. The rest of the cast brings a good support too, mainly Arthur Hunnicutt (Coooper's sidekick) and Ray Teal (one of the troopers), and Mari Aldon does a credible work as Cooper's romantic interest. Seminole chief Okala looks mean enough and a proper match for Cooper. Perhaps the less impressive performance is that of Richard Webb kind of dull as a navy officer involved in the mission.

In all this a decent action/adventure film, most entertaining and worth seeing for those who enjoy the genre.

Those Seminole Wars

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 29 August 2006]

United States Pictures which released Distant Drums through Warner Brothers was I think Gary Cooper's own production company. Looking at The Films of Gary Cooper book, I noticed about three others with same credits in the Fifties of which Distant Drums was the first.

The film was shot on actual location in the Everglades, I think Gary Cooper must have gotten some taste of what Bogey and Hepburn were enduring doing The African Queen. Too bad the story didn't rate the same as The African Queen.

Cooper is an American Army captain on duty with the army of General Zachary Taylor, played by Robert Barrat, who lives on his own island and doesn't dress in any army uniform. Zach Taylor had a reputation for informality, but that was carrying it a bit too far. The only other guy who had his own private island during war was Lt. Commander Quentin McHale and his PT Boat crew.

Anyway Barrat gives Cooper a mission and a Navy lieutenant played by Richard Webb to carry it out. To attack an old Spanish fort and go by boat across Lake Okechoobee. An early type of amphibious warfare. The attack goes off as planned and some civilian prisoners are rescued from the renegades using the fort. But the Seminoles are in hot pursuit of Cooper and the whole bunch through most of the film.

I can't believe by the way that a director like Raoul Walsh had the army and the Seminoles fighting with repeating rifles and six shooter revolving pistols. Stuff wasn't invented yet.

For the early years of the republic, Florida under Spanish rule and loose rule at that, was a thorn in our side. Pirates like the ones you see here used it as a haven for raiding purposes. But it was also a refuge for runaway slaves. Our southern states wanted Florida acquired to put an end to that. The indigenous tribes to Florida, the Seminoles did offer refuge for runaway slaves. So a war there was inevitable, especially when southern presidents like Andrew Jackson were in the White House.

Maybe one day someone will do a proper film on the early history of Florida, but this ain't it.

Lure of the Swamp

[richardchatten · 6/10 · 6 December 2021]

This Technicolor hokum set in 1840 follows a similar narrative arc to 'Northwest Passage' but instead of Alaska is located in the Florida Everglades and is far more tongue in cheek; with a noisy and anachronistic score by Max Steiner, plenty of gunplay, explosions and reptiles, and a worldly leading lady in Marie Aldon.

The scenery outdoes the content of this rare Seminole War film.

[floridawar · 29 July 2002]

There are not very many films depicting the 2nd Seminole War of 1835-1842, in Florida. This is unfortunate as this was not only America's longest, but its bloodiest Indian war as well. Other films relating to this conflict include Seminole, and Naked in the Sun. Due to the sparsity of Seminole War films I will admit a bias for this film despite its ridiculous plot, bargain basement Hollywood surplus wardrobe (The soldiers are in a mix of fanciful fringed pants and ca. 1898 Spanish-American War hats and shirts etc.), and anachronistic armaments(the soldiers are using M-1873 Trapdoor carbines, the Seminoles the full length M-1873 rifle-both sides used flintlock weapons in 1840). A large chunk of the plot surrounds Cuban gun runners supporting the Warriors. In truth, despite 7 years of naval blockade of the Florida Coast, the US Navy never proved the fears of such a trade from Cuba...I could go on and on... True, this is nothing more than a transplanted "western" in the Swamps of Florida, although I detect a great deal of Director Walsh's previous Objective Burma in this flick (compare the gator pit in the Seminole village with the similar scene in the Japanese held village in Objective Burma) The true star of this one is the scenery, as, almost alone amongst the few Seminole War films, this one takes full advantage of the wildly beautiful Florida Wilderness. Other comments note the great underwater battle scene, but I am spellbound by the cypress swamp and saw-grass settings as well. You won't learn much about the War from this movie, but it does have some basis in fact. By 1840 the army was relying on small patrols like Cooper's in the film to track down hostile Seminoles for removal to the west. Thats about as close as it comes to the history books, but it is still an exciting action film with an O.K. musical score.

A small group of adventurers facing Indians during Seminola war in the Florida Everglades

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 6 March 2012]

Army Lieutenant Tufts (Richard Webb) is assigned a dangerous mission by General Zachary Taylor (Robert Barrat). He must accompany captain Quincy Wyatt (Gary Cooper) along with a scout named Monk (Arthur Hunnicutt with his usual raccoon skin hat ) into the Everglades to rout the Seminole Indians who are threatening the early settlers in Florida. After destroying a Seminole fort , people is rescued from Redskin captivity , then the command is forced to get away . The small band of American soldiers and their rescued companions ( Mari Aldon among others )tries to stop and must face the dangerous Everglades and hostile Indians in order to reach safety and battle against risks.

This exciting Western packs thrills , noisy action , spectacular struggles and lots of gutsy adventure . Brawling , sprawling , almost primitive action, teeming across the screen . Impressive images when Wyatt and Seminole Chief Oscala square off in a breathtaking climax . Raoul Walsh demonstrates a special talent for making the densest action sequences seem uncomplicated and uncluttered and his characters , like the scenes distinguished , often have an unfettered , raw power . Gorgeous Mari Aldon as a ballerina from Savannah who bears a dark past , she does an enjoyable and prominent debut though didn't have a notorious career . Good secondary cast with familiar hearted features as Richard Webb, Robert Barrat , Arthur Hunnicutt , Ray Teal and uncredited Darren McGavin as Navy Lt. The picture was photographed by Sidney Hickox in the heart of the Florida everglades , at Silver Sprags and at Castillo of San Marcos in the Southeastern nation , monuments through the courtesy of the United States Department of Interior National Park Service. Thrilling as well as emotive musical score by the classic Alfred Newman .

The motion picture produced by Milton Sperling is well directed by Raoul Walsh . From his starts in the silent cinema he achieved successful films until the 50s and forward , early 60s , when he was less dominant , but is still stayed lots of lusty adventure , stories of comradeship and friendship , and Raoul makes the most of plentiful action scenes . Walsh was an expert director of all kind genres but with penchant in Western as ¨Colorado territory¨ , ¨They died with their boots on¨, ¨Along the great divide¨, ¨Saskatchewan¨, ¨King and four queens¨ , ¨The sheriff of fractured jaw¨, ¨A distant trumpet¨ ; Adventure as ¨Thief of Bagdad¨, ¨Captain Horatio Hornblower¨, ¨World in his hands¨, ¨Blackbeard the pirate¨ , ¨Sea devils¨ ; Warlike as ¨Objetive Burma¨ , ¨Northern pursuit¨, ¨Marines let's go¨ ; and Noir film as ¨White heat¨, ¨High Sierra¨, ¨They drive by night¨, ¨The roaring twenties¨. Rating : Fairly straightforward movie and above average . This interesting Western and action film makes it of the finest of Raoul Walsh genre entries.

Cooper leads a successful expedition through swamps and everglades

[weezeralfalfa · 6/10 · 25 March 2017]

Rather cheesy fiction about a combined navy-army operation in the 1840s 2nd Seminole War. While most missions were to kill or capture Seminoles for resettlement in Oklahoma, this expedition's primary target was an old Spanish fort which gunrunners stored their the munitions and other supplies to barter with the Seminoles(in exchange for what?). To get there, the troopers used a combination of horses, canoes and bushwhacking to get from the east coast of Florida to Lake Okeechobee, and beyond, all the while being exposed to the possibility of attack by Seminoles.

The expedition is led by Captain Wyatt(Gary Cooper), a rather reclusive army officer, who lives on a small island in a small lake. Most troopers have to be picked up at the regional headquarters, commanded by Zachary Taylor. Wyatt's favorite companion is a backwoodsman called Monk(Arthur Hunnicut), who's always seen with a coonskin cap no matter how hot and humid it is. About midway in the film, they reach the fort and manage to surprise the inhabitants, killing all. They also discover several hostages in a cell. Of course, one is a beautiful sexy, unattached, young woman, who naturally soon takes a shine to Cooper. Now, to get back home, they have to take a different route, because Seminoles are swarming on the route the took to get there. They face very difficult slogging, and eventual starvation, not to mention occasional Seminoles.

The basic plot much reminds me of that of "Northwest Passage", of a decade before. A group of rangers tramp though a long stretch of difficult wilderness for one objective, which is accomplished, then have a more difficult time on the return trip, including starvation. It's estimated that 80% of the trooper casualties were due to diseases and other non-Indian hazards. For example, malaria and yellow fever were real hazards not usually present in New England. Starvation was another hazard, which this expedition encountered on the return trip.

Mari Aldon plays Judy, the gorgeous rescued captive. It's too bad this seems to have been her only significant film role. She had been a ballerina.

Another film dealing with the 2nd Seminole War, called "Seminole" was released just 2 years later. It was also shot in color and largely in the Everglades. Although it too has an excess of historical fabrication, at least it has some historical basis, whereas the present film does not. However, the Indians look more authentic in the present film.

Mighty adventure booms

[bygard · 7/10 · 2 May 2007]

Great looking locations and color photography with daredevil action reigns over this boy's own adventure, the style Warner Brothers has always been very good at. The characters are mostly left undeveloped, except Cooper's group leader Zachary. His past is well documented by his friend, played by Arthur Hunnicut in his usual relaxed manner, and it's mostly his destiny we are to care about. It's notable how larger than life Cooper appears to be even on television screen. His characterization, which is a combination of a western hero and Tarzan, doesn't offer very much range in acting but makes it interesting enough for this kind of adventure flick. Mari Aldon gets dragged through all the dangerous and beautiful scenery without having her make-up smeared and sometimes completely steals my attention from what is going on around her. Her role doesn't have much else to offer either. But I guess, by what I just said, her role work serves its purpose the way it was intended.

Almost everything you expect from a jungle adventure set in Florida is here including alligators, snakes and wild cardboard Indians. A great plus are the beautifully shot underwater scenes, short but crystal clear, crowned by a final duel under surface. This isn't one of the best movies from the director Raoul Walsh, but as a classic adventure and action for a more empty-headed moment it works truly well.

Not your usual oater

[artzau · 7/10 · 14 December 2000]

The only thing about this film is the Indians, in this case the Florida Seminoles, are the bad guys. Oscala meets Coop underwater in a duel to the finish, in good early 50s Hollywood style. Other than that, it's not your usual oater. The story is OK with an aging Coop showing he's not yet over-the-hill and a young Richard Webb, later TV's Captain Midnight. Not a lot of memorable moments here but nevertheless fun to watch. Cooper was always worth the price of admission.

Formalaic story but told well

[autobenelux · 9/10 · 19 January 2004]

Good sets and use of the everglades.Cooper is once again the ipitome of what a hero should be ,underplaying ,but shows what a superb cinema actor he was by seemingly doing very little but conveying through facial and body language all that is necessary. Good filmic acting is so different from the stage and this man had it!

Mundane plotting off set by zippy action and smart location work.

[hitchcockthelegend · 5/10 · 3 September 2010]

Distant Drums is directed by Raoul Walsh and stars Gary Cooper, Richard Webb, Mari Aldon & Arthur Hunnicutt. Known as a "Florida Western," the film is set during the Seminole Wars in the 1840s. It's written by Niven Busch and Martin Rackin, photographed predominantly on location in the Florida Everglades (in Technicolor) by Sidney Hickox and Max Steiner scores the music. Plot sees Cooper playing an Army captain who after destroying a fort held by the Seminole Indians retreats with his party into the Everglades where many of natures dangers lurk as the Seminole pursue them.

Not one for fans of Cooper, Walsh or Busch to get excited about. The story is as conventional as it gets, complete with a romantic angle, and the dialogue is boorish and lacking imagination. Were it not for the excellently constructed action sequences (check out the under water scenes) and the lush location photography, then this one would be consigned to the "please steer away from" pile. Busch is the main culprit since his writing is confused as to what it wants to achieve. The Seminole Indians are painted as savages, thus giving a one sided feel to a War not often seen in movies, yet other Native Americans are handled more sympathetically via the portrayal from Cooper. All in all we learn nothing about the War and the people involved as the film winds up as a jungle like adventure built around a number of set pieces.

Cooper is rugged and watchable as an Alligator Dundee type and Hunnicutt as always leaves a favourable impression as the scout. Mari Aldon is pretty but pretty one dimensional, while Richard Webb just seems out of place in the perilous locale and therefore unconvincing. But as previously mentioned, nobody here is helped by the tepid script. It's believed that this movie features the earliest known use of the Wilhelm Scream sound effect, a technique used to vocalise a character being torn to shreds by an alligator. A standard film it is then, one that really should have been a fine entry into a sadly untapped in to topic. It's like getting a beautifully wrapped birthday present that when opened reveals nothing but strips of mouldy old newspaper. 5/10

Indian fighting in Florida with a handsome Gary Cooper

[nancyyvonne · 8/10 · 12 June 2016]

I love Gary Cooper, especially during the 1950's. He actually aged better and better. This western is somewhat different than what he usually chose to play. He is a distinct personality that his men and others under his care recognize as "leader". I bought it totally. He is distant, sexy and loving to a small son. He is brave and a heroic personality. Just the kind of movie I love with Gary Cooper. The Florida vistas are wild and beautiful. The whole thing just entertained me and I came back for more. I don't remember this one from T.V. reruns so it was brand new to me. I highly recommend to people who love westerns (especially with Gary Cooper).

Okay western set in the Florida Everglades

[Tweekums · 5/10 · 9 May 2012]

When one thinks of westerns one typically thinks of things like wide open plains, scrubland and the cavalry in a wooden fort... here we have swamps, jungle and the Indians in a stone fort... this is a Florida Western! The story opens with US Navy Lieutenant Richard Tufts arriving in Florida with a small boat which he has taken overland to Lake Okeechobee. He travels separately and meets up with Capt. Quincy Wyatt, who will lead the mission against an old Spanish fort on the opposite side of the lake which is being used by the Seminole Indians. One would have expected this mission to be the main part of the story but it is all over fairly quickly; the real story is about how they, and some rescued prisoners, escape through the alligator infested Everglade swamps with the Seminole chasing after them. Not all of them will make it; some will die at the hands of the Seminole, others to the alligators!

The Florida setting certainly gave this film a different feel to just about every other western I've seen; usually the worst natural danger in a western is a rattlesnake but the alligators here were more frightening and there saw a surprising amount of blood shown when one of the men was killed by one. There was a decent amount of action including a knife fight that takes place underwater! The acting is okay but lead Gary Cooper is nowhere near as good as he was in 'High Noon'; I guess this is down to the material he had to work with. Love interest Mari Alden looks pretty but her character isn't particularly interesting; we learn that she isn't quite the Southern lady she makes out to be but that revelation hardly affects her character. I'm not sure whether this will appeal to fans of conventional westerns; I think it is more likely to appeal to fans of adventure stories.

For Cooper Fans

[januszlvii · 10/10 · 10 September 2021]

Distant Drums is a movie for Gary Cooper.( Captain Quincy Wyatt) fans; if you like his work like The Real Glory, you will enjoy this ( although the earlier film had a better cast ( including David Niven). It is about Cooper and a bunch of survivors including eventual love interest Judy Beckett ( Mari. Aldon) trying to survive the Florida Swamp and hostile Seminole Indians. A couple of points: One this is not an often screened film, but it is by no means his rarest western. Why? You can find it online unlike The Spoilers ( 1930) Cooper version ( a film I have yet to see), or the lost Arizona Bound. In fact, all of Cooper's pre-code Westerns except Winning Of Barbara Worth and The Virginian are rare ( but they are finally becoming available ( I recently saw Wolf Song (1929) online):. Next it is not an anti Native American film. Cooper's son is Native American and there were good as well as bad Indians in this movie. Plus the Native woman he married was actually killed by soldiers not Indians. It is interesting that Cooper works for the military despite that. Why? "He does not believe in holding a grudge." A lesson learned by Judy which allowed her ( spoilers ahead) to remain in Florida with him instead of killing someone in Georgia as she planned to do). Character Growth always good in a movie. Cooper ever the hero saves Judy literally and figuratively in this movie. As a hard core Cooper fan it a great film, and worth 10/10 stars. I will say you are not I guarantee you will not like it because he is in about 90% of the scenes after the first 10 minutes.again 10/10.stars.

Thrilling music

[william.g.chapman · 9 August 2002]

I first saw this film while living in Port Huron, Mich. in the early '60s. What I remember most about it is Max Steiner's music. As overworked as Steiner was in those days he always turned out consistently beautiful, and in this film, thrilling scores.

The history lover in me was not thrilled...

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 21 June 2017]

This film is about a small group of soldiers who make an incursion well into Seminole territory in Florida. Things don't go well and they are forced to essentially trudge through swamps in order to get back to their front line.

When I watch movies, I look for details many others do not. Much of this is because I love history and taught it. So, when I see folks who are supposed to be fighting the Seminole Indians during the Second Seminole War (the one Zachary Taylor participated in), I hated seeing folks using revolvers and Springfield rifles that used cartridges, as these weapons came along during the Civil War era...about 25 years later. And, the uniforms on the men were a motley collection of types---and the most prevalent was a Rough Riders type from about 1898! This was all very sloppy...and the folks making the film simply didn't care. When I add to that the story is only kinda interesting, then I am left with a movie that clearly falls into the 'time-passer' category...one that is modestly watchable and entertaining but absolutely nothing more...even WITH Gary Cooper in the lead! Watch it if you must...and at least the nice Florida locations are nice to see.

SAW THIS IN THE 1950S AND IT IS STILL A GREAT ADVENTURE

[larryanderson · 9/10 · 12 June 2022]

My mother took me to see this in the late 1950s and the adventure of the movie still holds true. The detail of the army fighting in the Florida everglades against a determined foe is still thrilling as I watched it on Y/T recently. When they attacked to fort and won, is still a great military maneuver. The manner in which the army works in perfect sequence is so impressive. In my vacation travels through Central America I visited many such Spanish Forts. This is a very realistic and thrilling movie even by todays standards.

Needed a film editor with a much sharper pair of scissors.

[JohnHowardReid · 5/10 · 23 May 2018]

Producer: Milton Sperling. A United States Picture, released through Warner Bros. Copyright 17 December 1951 by United States Pictures, Inc. New York opening at the Warner: 25 December 1951. U.S. release: 29 December 1951. U.K. release: May 1952. Australian release: 23 July 1953 (sic). 101 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: In 1840, deep in the Florida Everglades, General Zachary Taylor accepts an idea put forward by Captain Quincey Wyatt to strike a blow at gun-runners supplying the Seminole Indians.

NOTES: Although its story is somewhat similar to Northwest Passage, this film is a more direct re-make of Walsh's own Objective Burma (1945) with Errol Flynn in the role now played by Gary Cooper.

Photographed on locations in the heart of the Florida Everglades at Silver Springs, and at the Castillo de San Marcos in the South-Eastern National Monuments, through the courtesy of the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

COMMENT: Pale adventure, lacks the gusto and excitement of say a Savage Islands and now seems feeble and dated. The laughable introduction of glamor girl Mari Aldon into the plot, the stiff acting by some of the support players (Webb who also narrates, Barratt) negate the realism of actual location filming.

At best, an adequate adventure for Cooper fans. Others beware! And it has one of Steiner's least memorable, if atmospherically appropriate music scores.

OTHER VIEWS: Although largely (and beautifully) shot on Florida locations (including the famous Everglades swamp), this film is burdened with a laughably inept, cliché-ridden script. Fortunately, most of the dialogue can be ignored in favor of the splendid action scenes which Walsh handles with his customary vitality. - JHR writing as George Addison.

Walsh at half-steam. Even the Everglades action is rather listlessly handled until the pursuit really gets underway. But then the chase is hampered by Mari Aldon with her needlessly boring romantic punctuations which do nothing for realism and undermine suspense. Sub-hero Webb is little help either. Distant Drums has all the makings of a first-class action adventure. What it needed was a film editor with a much sharper pair of scissors. - JHR writing as Charles .Freeman.

REALLY EPIC AND ACTION-PACKED!!!

[supercalafragilisticexpealadochu · 8/10 · 25 August 2021]

This is a very heroically epic and action-packed Western adventure war movie and the greatest Western movie I've ever seen so far!!! I highly recommend this movie!!!

And also, this movie has Gary James Cooper (this was released only a decade before he died). Yep, he's that man who Melvin Jerome Blank wanted to be like in "The Melvin Blank's Fix-It Shop Show". And Shelby Frederick Wooley, the voice of the greatest noise in the universe: THE WILHELM SCREAM!!!

I think Warner Brothers, the company that made this movie is the greatest American company and the 2nd-greatest company ever. I also think that this movie, along with Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory, Looney Toons: Back In Action and Space Jam are the greatest Warner Bros movies I've ever seen so far.

You might need those eyelid-holders from A Clockwork Orange for this one.

[Ben_Cheshire · 27 July 2015]

For the life of me I couldn't figure out how to pay attention to it. Its just a thick slice of old Hollywood hokum, the like of which I haven't seen for a loooong time. I found it in my late grandpa's old VHS collection, which might explain something. And check my other reviews, I'm not one of these Avatar the Last Airbender kiddies who expects an Avenger every half- second or I rage quit, I can be a patient and respectful sort, through about the only cheese this cheesy I tend to like is John Ford brand.

This picture was directed by the great Raoul Walsh, and you've either come here for him or Gary Cooper. Neither one of who really impresses here. It looks OK, with some decent technicolor photography.

I guess I might be giving up on westerns unless they're supposed to be the absolute creme of the crop. Its just not my genre.

BORING

[invisibleunicornninja · 2/10 · 6 November 2018]

I watched this movie because I heard that the first Wilhelm scream came from it. Unfortunately, the movie is really boring. And kinda racist. And dated. And also boring. And from what I've heard, historically inaccurate.

The first scream is in a battle early on so that's good.

I got about 30 minutes into this movie because its really boring. I wouldn't recommend it.

Cavalry-Indian fighting in the Everglades

[NewEnglandPat · 8/10 · 16 June 2003]

This adventure is a good film that has reliable Gary Cooper for star power and he doesn't disappoint in a rousing cavalry-Indian yarn that unfolds in the Everglades during the Seminole War. Cooper's men battle gun runners, jungle rot, dangerous reptiles and savage Indians as the military aims to quell the Seminole menace for good. Most of the film has the soldiers trying to stay one jump ahead of the pursuing Indians while being slowed by hostages, including striking Mari Aldon, who supplies the romance for Cooper later on. The action lags here and there but the clashes between the soldiers and the Indians pack a wallop, especially the final siege and confrontation at Cooper's island refuge at the finish. The camera work is fine and Max Steiner again contributes a nice score. This film is perhaps Cooper's least-known western adventure but it's a winning feature with a solid cast.

Fighting Seminoles, Alligators and Snakes in the Everglades

[Uriah43 · 5/10 · 6 September 2021]

This film essentially takes place during the Second Seminole War with American troops becoming quite frustrated in their war against the Seminole tribes in Florida. Of particular concern is an old Spanish fort where it is believed the Seminoles are stockpiling arms and ammunition supplied by European gunrunners. So in order to resolve this problem the United States Navy sends a young officer named "Lieutenant Richard Tufts" (Richard Webb) with a boat to "General Zachary Taylor" (Robert Barrat) who plans to transport soldiers into the Everglades to destroy the fort and everything of value there. In command of this specific mission is an Army officer by the name of "Captain Quincy Wyatt" (Gary Cooper) who knows the area--and in particular the Seminole Indians--only too well. What he doesn't count on, however, is being encumbered by hostages held within the fort once he secretly penetrates the walls of the fort. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a pretty standard Western movie for its time with a rather routine by-the-numbers plot and mediocre acting by all concerned. One unique feature is the introduction of the famous "Wilhelm scream" sound effect probably vocalized by Sheb Wooley (as "Private Jessup") and subsequently used numerous times--with one of the most famous examples being by "Private Wilhelm" (Ralph Brooks) in the 1953 film "The Charge at Feather River." Be that as it may, I found this movie to be somewhat dated and predictable and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

A GREAT FILM CLASSIC OF GARY COOPER !

[whpratt1 · 10/10 · 28 September 2003]

Besides being a great fan of Gary Cooper(Capt. Quincy Wyatt) "Love In The Afternoon",'57; my family wanted to visit Florida and the Castillo de San Marcos Fort in 1951 where a great scene in the film depicts a fight in this famous fort, now a National Monument. My family visited the fort the day after Gary Cooper was at this fort. As many have said, there is great under water photography, actual scenes of Florida during the 1950's which made it more realistic. Gary Cooper carried this entire film on his back and it is truly a great film classic.

Entertaining but Slightly Irritating

[don-180 · 12 October 2003]

This picture was made when directors sacrificed authenticity for rapid gunfire. The trapdoor rifles and the Colt Single Action revolver were not even invented until 30+ years after the Seminole Wars. The under water knife fight reminded me of the face-to-face shootouts of "classic westerns". It never happened. The practical lawman of the old west (if he wanted to see the sunrise next day) captured his quarry while asleep or shot him from ambush. No sane person would willingly stand face-to-face against another armed man and yell "DRAW"!! Would YOU? There are no recorded shootouts of this type in Western history.

Time is a cruel mistress...

[markovd111 · 5/10 · 22 February 2024]

My grandpa asked me to find him this movie because he watched it in his childhood. I dug it out and we watched it together. "Distant Drums" has a beautiful setting, being shot in Florida and some of the nature shown in the movie is gorgeous! Upon reading about the movie on the Internet, I also found out Wilhelm scream originates from this movie, which is a nice thing to know if you are a cinema fan. A character that goes by the name of Monk is an interesting one and stands out from the rest of mostly bland and uninteresting characters. Everything rest about this movie is mediocre at best. Capt. Quincy Wyatt, played by Garry Cooper, is your typical Hollywood macho man of the time, that is a born leader and unmatched fighter and every man can only dream to be like him. Mari Aldon isn't any better and plays equally stereotypical damsel in distress who predictably falls victim to Wyatt's charm by the end of the movie. Even setting the historical inaccuracies aside, for which I don't care in a movie like this, the movie is full of unreasonable stuff like lighting grass aflame by firing a bullet in it, gunfights where most of the time people miss each other, even though they are a rock throw away from each other and generally stupid stuff people do for no reason. 70 years ago, this was probably passable or maybe even magnificent. The movie was in colour and it had Garry Cooper in the lead role and the action and the drama and the nowadays predictable character development (if you can call it that) were probably amazing and it was hard to believe that you are watching something as fun and as exciting as this. Nowadays, all of that falls flat. The whole thing never feels so bad it's good, it mostly feels bad and my grandpa and me made fun of the movie almost during it's whole runtime. It isn't the worst western movie ever made, but it certainly isn't even close to the good ones, yet alone the best. If you like this genre or you can somehow find the way not to notice all the culturally dated and contrived elements along with plentiful platter of simply dumb stuff, "Distant Drums" is an OK movie to watch when bored, but not a lot more than that. At least I now have a precious memory of watching it with my grandpa who couldn't probably even dream that he will one day watch it on his own modern television. 5.5/10! Only for the most hardcore western fans and people who have nostalgia for it.