Matrixston Wow! Such a good movie.

RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Aedonerre I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.

SeeQuant Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Scott LeBrun Silver has been discovered on Comanche lands. The U.S. government has reached a deal with the Comanches for mining of the land, but it seems that greedy locals want to make sure that they're not made aware of any agreement. The legendary James Bowie (Macdonald Carey) arrives on the scene, realizing that he's got his work cut out for him in trying to prevent hostilities from flaring. Among the characters that he meets are genial politician Dan'l Seeger (Will Geer) and the incredibly feisty local businesswoman Katie Howard (Maureen O'Hara).Overall, this is a reasonably absorbing if also routine Western. It is beautifully shot, in colour, by Maury Gertsman. It treats its Indian characters with a modicum of respect, although it does take one out of the action seeing that Rick Vallin, playing Pakanah, is clearly white. A fairly short running time (76 minutes) and adequate direction (by George Sherman) help to make this pass the time agreeably. Certainly the big action finale is rousing enough.The cast is the best asset that the movie has. Carey is an engaging lead. O'Hara is at her most fiery and ravishing as Katie. Carey and Geer have fine chemistry, and Geer, who steals the show, clearly has some fun playing a rather colourful character. Charles Drake is also good as Katies' brother Stacey. Other players include Pedro de Cordoba as Comanche chief Quisima, Ian MacDonald (the villain in "High Noon" two years later) as Walsh, film debuting Parley Baer as Boozer the bartender, James Best as Sam, and Glenn Strange as Big Joe.There's nothing here that's really all that memorable, but it *is* entertaining.Six out of 10.

zardoz-13 George Sherman supplements the clichés with humor in "Comanche Territory," another disposable but pleasant dust-raiser with Maureen O'Hara playing her usual red-haired hellion. MacDonald Carey squares off against her over silver and a peace treaty with the Comanche nation. Will Geer is cast as Carey's sidekick, while Charles Drake is O'Hara's less than scrupulous brother. This movie qualifies as a period western since the characters are armed with black powder firearms. Yes, the American Civil War has not happened yet, much less the Alamo. Mind you, Andrew Jackson is President of the United States so it isn't a traditional oater. During the 1950s, westerns adopted a new sentiment that Native Americans weren't always good if they were dead. In other words, the Indians had won the cultural role and western filmmakers didn't utilize them as often as villains. Jim Bowie (MacDonald Carey) is sent into Comanche country to see that the treaty becomes a reality. He encounters former Congressman Dan'l Seeger (Will Geer) who had the treaty stolen from him by the villains. When Bowie and Seeger meet, they have to fight the Comanches. Bowie wins the favor of the Native Americans after facing off with some of them in a knife fight. Indeed, they like the pig-sticker enough that they insist Bowie show them how to make them. "Gunman's Code" lenser Maury Gertsman's cinematography is outstanding, and the real scenery in Sedona, Arizona, is gorgeous. Nothing about the Lewis Meltzer and Oscar Brodney screenplay is really exciting. The characters are shallow and one-dimensional. Carey plays Bowie without gusto, while dependable supporting players like Glenn Strange, James Best, I. Stanford Jolley, and Iron-Eyes Cody get a line or two of dialogue. Altogether, "Comanche Territory" is nothing special.

jldmp1 While this isn't an awful Western, there are clearly deficient aspects here that prevent greatness. The fight scenes don't thrill. The saloon brawl is poorly crafted, and nowhere near as funny as intended. The Comanches are depicted as 'injuns', with whites playing the only speaking parts. The central love/hate relationship between Carey and O'Hara is of the screwball comedy variety, but Carey is no Clark Gable. In addition to the desert scenery, the only other real value this has is historical -- a reminder of whence more recent movies extract their ideas. For example, the imposing presence of the Bowie knife would later be borrowed by the "Rambo" movies.O'Hara is probably the best single feature here, her two-fisted feisty redhead serving as a template for the Nicole Kidmans of the modern era. And the bull whip cracking and fight on the runaway wagon would become ingredients in "Raiders of the Lost Ark".

Michael O'Keefe Run-of-the-mill western. A fictional adventure of the legendary Jim Bowie(Macdonald Carey), who represents the government in keeping peace between the Comanches and whites. Silver has been found on Comanche land and a treaty has been stolen. It appears that a fiery redhead saloon keeper(Maureen O'Hara)and her brother(Charles Drake)know more about the situation than they let on. The 'white skins' plan on making a small fortune from mining the silver on the land they take from the Indians.O'Hara is the movie. Carey is just too wooden in his portrayal of an otherwise flamboyant Bowie. Other cast members: Will Geer, Parley Baer, James Best and Glenn Strange.