Matanza infernal

Because it is a western built around an investigation, as a crime drama, a court drama. The main interest is for me Albert Dekker as a villainous character. For the rest, I repeat that this western is not like any other of this kind. This is for me one of the best movies from director Bruce Humberstone; he will repeat in western with TEN WANTED MEN for Columbia Pictures and starring Randolph Scott. But keep in mind that he was mostly specialized in comedies, light hearted dramas or musicals. A film noir though, I WAKE UP SCREAMING, also starring Vic Mature, was a little gem to pick up from Humberstone's filmography.

While escorting a wagon train carrying supplies to Fort Furnace Creek a cavalry officer by the name of "Captain Grover A. Walsh" (Reginald Gardiner) receives a message from "General Fletcher Blackwell" (Robert Warwick) to remove the troops guarding the wagon train in order to relocate to another destination immediately. Although the wagon master doesn't like the idea of being left unprotected in Apache territory, the captain insists that he must follow orders and subsequently departs with his men. Not long afterward the wagon train is attacked and Fort Furnace Creek is destroyed. Naturally, the army immediately conducts an investigation and it is then determined to courts-martial General Blackwell. Unfortunately, it's during this time that General Blackwell dies of a stroke and unable to clear his name his reputation is seriously tainted. However, rather than accept things as they are his two sons "Captain Rufe Blackwell" (Glenn Langan) and "Cash Blackwell" (Victor Mature) decide to conduct their own separate investigations into the matter-and they discover a number of things that weren't brought up at their father's trial. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a decent Western due in large part to the acting of Victor Mature. Admittedly, there were a couple of scenes which weren't quite as realistic as they could have been but other than that I enjoyed this film and have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

When a general gives an order to divert a military escort from a wagon train to the remote Fort Furnace Creek, the Apache leader "Little Dog" sees his chance to reduce everything to rubble... The horrified authorities proceed to court-martial the general, but he dies on the witness stand and it falls to his two, estranged, sons, to get to the bottom of this mystery. One, "Rufe" (Glenn Lankan) a soldier; the other "Cash" (Victor Mature) an astute gambler handy with his six-gun. The latter gets to the town where one of the chief witnesses against his father "Capt. Walsh" (Reginald Gardiner) has take refuge in the bottle. Clearly seeing he has something on his mind, "Cash" attempts to find out what. The arrival of the other brother, the murder of "Walsh" and a note that might clear things up all feature as the story comes to an head - appropriately, in the burnt out ruins of the fort. It's a solid, action-packed adventure that gives Mature a chance to be more than the usual swarthy, sandalled hero. Coleen Grey ("Molly") introduces the tiniest element of romance, but nothing to clutter the quickly-paced plot that amalgamates just about every theme from the genre. Some effort has been put into the production, and I quite enjoyed it.

The title "Fury at Furnace Creek" is a little bit of false advertising. There's not much fury in this movie. This movie is more of a detective story than a western. That's fine. I enjoyed the mystery. It just wasn't what I was expecting. "Fury at Furnace Creek" is a beautiful looking, well acted (mostly) movie. Even though I enjoyed "Fury at Furnace Creek", I can't see myself watching it again anytime soon.

Bruce Humberstone directed mainly B pictures - competently, by and large, but nothing too memorable. FURY AT FURNACE CREEK is an odd name to give a Western, but there is high quality written all over it. The direction is assured and even inspired, resting on strong dialogue, convincing characters, unexpected twists, superior cinematography - the horse rides and chases against desert background might just rate the finest I have ever watched - and far better than average acting.

Victor Mature posts one of his best performances, in line with MY DARLING CLEMENTINE, KISS OF DEATH, ESCORT WEST, his roles as Demetrius in three different films, and - to me the jewel in the crown - his self-deprecating performance in Vittorio de Sica's AFTER THE FOX, as a has-been actor. In FURY, Mature dominates the screen. His scenes with lovely Coleen Gray convey a chemistry that contrasts with the film noir-like tones of this Western, where murder is being planned against Captain Walsh, remarkably played by Reginald Gardiner, as a decent man who is sinking into alcohol because of his betrayal of his commanding officer, General Blackwell, who reportedly issued an order that caused the massacre at Fort Furnace Creek.

Albert Dekker as top villain Leverett; Charles Stevens as murderous hispanic gunhand José Artego; and Charles Kemper as Peaceful Jones, the comic relief carrying a large tree trunk, are unforgettable.

Glenn Langan plays the other Blackwell brother. I would have liked to see a more developed part there. Langan does well enough with what he is given, but his sudden exit down a stream strikes me as unsatisfying in an otherwise top grade Western. The other star is lost to a disappointing soundtrack reminiscent of STAGECOACH (1939).

Despite those drawbacks, I would include FURNACE among the 20 best Westerns ever made. Real must-see.