NEW MEXICO

US, 1951, 76 minutes, Colour.
Lew Ayres, Marilyn Maxwell, Robert Hutton, Andy Devine, Raymond Burr, Jeff Corey, Lloyd Corrigan, Ted de Corsia.
Directed by Irving Reis.

New Mexico is a standard western. However, in 1951 in the aftermath of such Indian-friendly films as Burning Arrow, it begins with a meeting between Abraham Lincoln and an Indian chief in New Mexico. The president extends the hands of friendship, promising collaboration with the Indians. However, after his assassination, the military commanders in New Mexico take a very strong line against the Indians, stirring up animosity, the arrest of many Indians, deaths and the decision by Acoma, the Indian chief, to lead a rebellion against the military. In the middle of all this is Lew Ayres as Captain Hunt, the friend of Acoma, witness to the meeting with Lincoln, forced to take a stand against Acoma when he rebels.

Lew Ayres is solid as the captain, voicing the concern about the treatment of the Indians by the military. There are various military officers, some with a comic touch as Andy Devine, others sinister like Raymond Burr. There is also a prejudiced judge, played by Lloyd Corrigan, who eventually is executed by the Indians with some savagery. The film contrives to have Marilyn Maxwell and her chaperone in the West, a showgirl on her way to perform in Nevada. She gets caught up in the confrontation between the military and the Indians, especially on a mountain top.

The film ends rather pessimistically – the military take refuge on the top of a mountain, are attacked by the Indians. However, they find a cache of arms and while the central characters are both killed, there is an explosion of the arms which destroys everyone except the little son of the Indian chief who is taken away to safety by the showgirl. The film shows the hands of Hunt and Acoma touching each other at the end, an irony about American history.

The film is directed by Irving Reis whose untimely death meant that he directed very few films although some were quite significant in their way including The Bachelor and the Bobbysoxer, All My Sons, The Four- Poster.

1. A 1950s western? The Indians and the resolutions of quarrels with Abraham Lincoln? The attitudes of the militaries and the stirring up of Indian attacks? The resolution – as a mystic yet with hope with the two hands touching each other?

2. The title, the New Mexico settings, the fort, the desert, the mountains? Colour photography? The musical score?

3. The prologue, Abraham Lincoln, travelling to the West, his dignity? With Captain Hunt? The judge present? The encounter with Acoma, the presentation of the pact? The hopes for the future?

4. Lincoln’s assassination? The news coming to New Mexico, the change of attitude in the military? The commander and his harsh treatment? The Indians, the rations, stealing? The looting, the shooting? Hunt and his stand, the explanations? The commander being hardhearted? The judge supporting him?

5. The character of Acoma, leading his people, meeting the president? Friendship with Hunt? The treatment by the commander? The deaths of the Indians? Acoma saying that war was inevitable?

6. The attack on the fort, the hatchets? The freeing of the Indians and Acoma? The death of the commander? Hunt and his speaking with Acoma, trying to heal the situation? Saying that he would have to take a stand?

7. The military, the variety of types? Their bad behaviour? The leadership? Their going out in search of the Indians? The shooting of Acoma’s son? Blame on the shooter? His resentment?

8. The arrival of Cherry? Her chaperone? The reception? The encounter with Captain Hunt, his not showing her the town? The reception by the men? Her wanting to go on to the West? The stagecoach, the judge, the Indian pursuit, overturned? The rescue? Climing the mountain? With the little boy, finding the water, telling Hunt? The arms? Her helping Hunt, his being wounded? Her taking the boy to safety?

9. The Indians, the siege of the mountain? The troops on top, their bad behaviour with Cherry and Hunt taking charge?

10. The judge, the water, with the little boy, coming down the mountain, his talking to Acoma, his execution?

11. The siege, the striking long shots, the flaming brands going down the mountain, the rocks? The attack, the deaths? Hunt and his being wounded, his preparing the explosion, shooting Acoma? The explosion and all being destroyed?

12. The symbolism of the hands together?