Everglades The Novelty For Indian Fighting

Seminole (1953) Sees Uni Cast Swallowed In Mud

Released just short of Universal's conversion to wide screens, Seminole is swamp-set and endurance trial for talent mostly underpaid to do such muddy work. In-lead Rock Hudson, clear candidate as Universal's next big thing, is backed by weekly-check support in either uniform or feathers, contract players for U getting at least variety in their parts (Hugh O'Brien a shaved-head Seminole, and it looks like he really took it off). Same-time treatment of Seminoles was WB's Distant Drums, more of which had been shot in Florida, but neither pic got made entirely there. These Indians had distinction of colorful dress and repute for no quarter given to white invaders. Background was at least a novelty and that was hoped to bestir interest not roused by mere westerns off U-I rack. Budd Boetticher directs, not so recognizably as later and better outdoor work enabled by superior writing (the Scott/Brown/Kennedy group), but likes of Seminole made possible his move up to Columbia's series now classified as classic. Uni used television heavily to pitch these actioners, and had casts go on whatever local chat shows would have them. This got product noticed more effectively than that from bigger companies and talent that snubbed the medium.

The Seminole story is proposed as true, which historians and even casual watchers know as bogus, but little of 1953 reviewing cared, as what major critics would bother seeing Seminole at all? (Universal could find no Indian women to play squaws, so used Hawaiians in their stead) Formula is doggedly applied, though U-I had by now honed their westerns to sheen of Technicolor and reliable mastery of camerawork. No one's outdoor lensing was more handsome. Two weeks were spent on swampy backlot after briefest establishing shots from Florida-dispatched second unit, to which Boetticher gave morale boost by showing up in immaculate white Panama suit with wide-brim hat, daring any of mud-soaked cast to sully him. They fell upon him, of course, resulting immersion to six feet of "quicksand" poured for the film, as duly reported in humor terms by Variety (7-21-52). Being good sport enough to sacrifice his outfit and be hazed by Seminole cast would earn good will for Boetticher and keep him on U's payroll for another busy year. Seminole has surfaced in rich HD on Retroplex, and is available from Universal's DVD Vault Series.