jdrows This movie has it all: great names, great locations, bad acting, bad writing and plot holes. The racism from both sides serves no purpose at all. Chuck Heston and Jack Palance both over-act, especially the former. Brian Keith does well for his first acting job but his character changes direction so many times it's hard to tell what his objective as a cavalry officer is supposed to be. There isn't enough of a story so extra characters were brought in that are really not needed to support the story. Confusing Apache culture and dress with that of the Lakota does nothing to create authenticity. Main characters do and say things that don't make sense. Not worth watching twice. Too bad. Katy Jurado was never more beautiful.

jarrodmcdonald-1 In ARROWHEAD, we have Charlton Heston as a white Cavalry scout who once spent several years of his childhood with the Apaches. He has since rejoined white civilization and he now has nothing but contempt for the native people around him. So by fifties' standards, he is supposed to be the Injun-hating hero.Add into the mix Jack Palance as an Apache who was sent east to be educated by white men. But while he was at school in Pennsylvania, he refused to cut his long hair and act much like a white. Now he's come home to Texas, where he will take off his hat, show off his long hair proudly and declare he is still Apache, which means instant conflict with Heston's character.This all seems rather interesting, until the script takes both characters in a somewhat vicious direction. Heston is given all kinds of dialogue that today seems quite politically incorrect, where he disparages the Apaches, calling one of them dirt. But the tipping point, where we learn who the filmmakers want us to root for, is when Palance goes into an office to meet a white guy he once played with as a child. He has decided that it was a mistake for an Apache to have bonded like a blood brother with a white man. Just as the man goes to call his wife and young son to meet Palance's character, Palance pulls a gun out and shoots him at point blank range, instantly killing his old friend. It is depicted as a senseless brutal act.Of course, this sets into motion a series of scenes where Heston as the good guy must avenge the other white man's death and bring Palance and his lawless Apaches to justice. As I said, it's hard to decide whether either one of them should be who we root for. Do we root for Palance who is filled with his own blind rage against whites and trying to seek vengeance against those who have taken so much from his own people? Or do we root for Heston who supposedly has law and order (and civilization) on his side, but is filled with just as much contempt toward the natives?

drystyx This is the movie which gave Heston the persona of the self righteous bigot of the movies. It is an action filled Western, true, and Brian Keith actually plays a more likable character than either Heston or Palance. Palance probably felt sick about the role he played in this movie which can only be described as a "hate film". There has never been a movie before or after this one which depicted native Americans so horribly, in such a way reminiscent of Nazi propaganda against Jewish people. This is the movie people are talking about when they talk about such sick junk. I'll try not to spoil it too much. It's told from the punk's point of view (I imagine, but it is the most insane point of view you'll ever see I hope). I will say that the "hero" sleeps with an Apache woman, kills her brother, then kills her, and after he kills her in his room, he tells a cavalry guard "There's a dead Apache on my floor. Get it out!" The punkiness leaves you speechless. It left people speechless when the movie was made, it was so insane! Somehow, the director must have thought he justified the wacko's actions, but he failed. Words can't describe how horrible this movie is. If you watch it, you'll be stunned with the fact someone duped you into wasting your time, and you'll be stunned that so many people actually spent so much time, effort, and alleged talent making this garbage.

JoeKarlosi (possible spoilers)It's a shame that the world has gone so Politically Correct these days that a straight-forward film like ARROWHEAD is so maligned and probably couldn't be made today. It starts off with Charlton Heston as a very despicable and prejudiced cavalry scout who hates Apaches with a passion (he's grown up with them and claims to know their ways), and continually foils any efforts at peace talks between the Indians and the white men. When his bigotry results in the killing of a group of Apaches as well as his own people, he is fired and his boss Brian Keith wants nothing more to do with him. But even while ousted from his duties, nobody is spared Heston's personal wrath -- not even his pretty half-Mexican, half-Apache laundress (the beautiful Katy Jurado). When the respected Indian Chief Toriano (Jack Palance) arrives on the frontier to make peace, Heston still warns not to trust him. And in an old-fashioned turn of events (by today's standards that is), everything Chuck has tried to impress upon his men from the very start actually turns out to be true... Toriano and his followers are in fact planning an ambush. So in a very bizarre twist, Heston's hateful character is hired back to help the fight and turns into the hero. Not a "great" film, and a tad long at 105 minutes. But it's a strong depiction of the personal animosities and prejudices from both sides that often get in the way of progress. The performances of Heston, Palance and Keith are all good. Those who wish to change history and act as if these things never really happened should remember that this film was based on factual, real events. *** out of ****