The Last Outpost (1951) watch online HD

Ronald Reagan and Bruce Bennett play brother versus brother in "The Last Outpost," an entertaining but old-fashioned Civil War western set on the historic Santa Fe Trail. Reagan has charisma to spare as Vance Britten, a Confederate cavalry captain dispatched from Virginia by General Robert E. Lee to raise hell in the heart of Union territory, and raise hell he does with style and wit. Opposite him in Union blue is his brother Colonel Jeb Britten (Bruce Bennett of "The New Adventures of Tarzan") who wears an occupational stiff-upper lip and displays less sympathy since he represents law and order. Happily, director Louis R. Foster keeps the tone of "The Last Outpost" as light-hearted as possible for most of this western's nimble 89-minute running time. Veteran western character actor Noah Beery, Jr., who wears his trademark Stetson more like a construction foreman than a cowboy, flanks Reagan as a good ole boy CSA sergeant, while Bill Williams rides at our hero's other elbow. Matters come to a boil when an unscrupulous white Indian agent Sam McQuade (John Ridgely of "The Big Sleep") demands that Washington intervene in the conflict and arm the Indians, so the Native Americans can help the strapped Union troops weed out the Confederate raiders.

Actually, all that McQuade wants is an excuse to agitate the redskins, so he can sell them more guns and liquor. McQuade gets hoisted on his own petard when hostile Indians kill him and burn his supply wagon. The Indians didn't appreciate the inferior firearms and the rotgut whiskey that McQuade pedaled to them. Caught up in the middle of this fracas is McQuade's beautiful, red-haired wife Julie (Ronda Fleming of "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral") who has few friends and is unhappy out west. Before he dies as the price for his own perfidy, McQuade tries to play a trick on Julie by inviting Jeb over for supper. Years earlier Julie had made plans to marry a Britten, but not Jeb. Instead, Vance abandoned her, and she hasn't sufficiently recovered from his bad manners. Meanwhile, Vance intercepts the Union officer sent from Washington with orders to negotiate with the Indians, appropriates his uniform, and visits the Indian camp to sue for peace. He learns about the death of McQuade and others at the hands of Geronimo (John War Eagle of "They Rode West") and two braves. He also learns to his chagrin that these warriors are rotting in a white man's jail.

The Indian chieftains are neither pleased with Geronimo's precipitate actions nor do they approve of the white man's reprisal against Geronimo. Vance decides to maintain his masquerade as the Union officer. Not only does he plan to free Geronimo and his braves before the territory explodes into Indian warfare, but also he plans to relieve the Federals of a payload of gold coins. Things do not go as Vance plans, because he finds himself face-to-face with Julie, his former sweetheart who he abandoned without so much as goodbye. Julie still smolders with rage at this slight, and she warns Vance that she won't tolerate either his presence or his disguise for more than 24 hours. Predictably, when Vance cannot spring Geronimo and company from the town's hoosegow, the Indians go on the rampage and try to burn the town down. Things are looking mighty bad in the last ten minutes for the out-numbered Union troops and the beleaguered settlers when Reagan rides to the rescue with his Confederate cavalry.

Ironically, this Paramount Pictures release reunites Reagan, Bennett, and Ridgely who were once worked on the Warner Brothers backlot during the studio's heyday. What "The Last Outpost" lacks in stature, this solid little but unsurprising sagebrusher makes up for with its swift, sure pace, and its exciting battle scenes.

All them Yankee writers in Hollywood usually manage to make at least one stupid mistake per script when they try to depict Southerners.

When the Noah Beery character says to his commanding officer, played by Ronald Reagan, "Y'all gonna get us killed," it didn't quite ruin the movie -- "y'all" is a plural, and no real Southerner has ever said "y'all" to one person -- but did detract.

The cast is quite good -- Rhonda Fleming seems almost the reason Technicolor was invented; Ronald Reagan made a great cowboy or, in this case, cavalry officer -- the story is intriguing; the battle scene near the end begins with a spine-tingling charge that, every time I see it, literally sends chills down my spine.

Overall, the film is enjoyable, well worth watching.

This isn't one of those "researched" cavalry Westerns. This is just a fun fest. It's everything that is cool in a film. It is Raiders of the Lost Ark, only it's an old fashioned Western.

First, we have the "cool" Robin Hood style hero, this time in the guise of a Confederate officer, along with his cool merry men, particularly the affable Noah Beery.

Then we have his old sweetheart married to a sneaky bad guy.

Then we have the older brother as a more officious officer on the Union side. Naturally, they clash.

Then we have the noble native American chiefs. This is middle of the road in treatment of the Indian. The Indians are treated with great dignity and respect, and like most old Hollywood Westerns, they are never bad, but misled by evil white men.

However, as many note, this is almost like two different movies from the first two thirds to the last third. In the end, although the evil guys are a pair of white men, the Indians get the brunt of the assault.

The other major problem is that the main bad guy is killed almost immediately, and we're left without a villain, until a towns-person takes the role, but it looks like an afterthought, as though there was a contract dispute with an actor somewhere. It is a novel idea, but not dramatic, and certainly not Hollywood.

However, this is an Indiana Jones style adventure, filled with humor and pathos along the way. We know a few good men will die. We aren't sure who, but there are clues that give us good ideas.

This isn't a "look for reality" movie, nor does it pretend to be. It is a barroom brawl fun-house film, made to be cool. And it succeeds.

Vance Britton (Ronald Reagan) is the captain of a brigade of Confederate troops wreaking havoc on Union outposts . His brother Jeb (Bruce Bennett) is a Union officer sent to the Western frontier to take care of the Confederate problem . Despite their fighting on opposite sides during the Civil War, they have to set their differences aside in order to survive an Apache attack. Vance's former girlfriend (Rhonda Fleming) is also living in the territories with her new hubby (John Ridgeley) . All three converge when Indians assault a llttle town . They lived hard ... they fought hard ... they loved hard ... and they died hard !

Good will and integrity characterize the US soldiers from both sides : Condederacy and Union . Well produced by two notorious producers : William H Pine and William C Thomas , this was their most expensive production to date, mainly because of its cast of higher-paid stars. In the movie appears some known Indian chiefs , usually played by real Indian actors , such as Geronimo performed by John War Eagle , Cochise interpreted by Chief Yowlachie , Iron Eyes Cody plays Mangas Coloradas and Victorio is acted by Charles Brunner . The future President USA gives a passable acting as the brave Confederate hero . Reagan played all kinds of genres such as : The killers , Hellcats of the Navy , This is the Army , Desperate journey, The winning team , It's a great feeling . And Westerns such as : Tenesse's partner , Cattle Queen of Montana , Santa Fe trail . His greatest hits were : Santa Fe trail , Dark victory and King's row . Gorgeous Rhonda Fleming provides a lively performance , she played various Westerns as a stubborn woman , such as : A brothel's owner in ¨Tenesse's partner¨ , a póker player in ¨Gunfight at O.K. Corral¨ , an adventurer in ¨Pony Express¨ and as secondary in Abilene Town ; she had important roles in The Eagle and the Hawk , The Redhead and the Cowboy , Those Redheads from Seattle , Gun Glory , Bullwhip , Alias Jesse James and Backtrack . Decent support cast such as : Bill Williams Noah Beery Jr ,Peter Hansen ,Hugh Beaumont ,Lloyd Corrigan and flm debut of Burt Mustin.

The picture was effficiently produced but in medium Budget by William H. Pine and William C. Thomas, this were known in the industry as "The Dollar Bills" because they made movies so quickly and efficiently that their films seldom, if ever, lost money. The film was regularly directed by Lewis R Foster . He was a prolific composer, songwriter, author and director, educated at the University of California. He began his directorial and film-writing career in 1920. Joined Hal Roach Studios as a writer/gagman in 1923, the same year as director Leo McCarey.He also worked as a newspaperman in San Francisco. He joined ASCAP in 1960. Foster was the director who gave Stan Laurel the freedom to do things his way in films . Worked as a director at Universal Pictures from 1936-37, at Paramount Pictures from 1949-53. And directed a lots of films such as 1953 Tropic zone , 1953 Those Redheads from Seattle ,1950 The Eagle and the Hawk 1950 Captain China , 1949 Manhandled ,1949 El Paso , 1949 The Lucky Stiff ,1937 Armored Car , 1937 She's Dangerous , 1936 Love Letters of a Star . And for TV the successful series : El Zorro with Guy Williams

THE LAST OUTPOST aka CAVALRY CHARGE 1951

This one has the North against the South, brother against brother, Cavalry against the Apache along with a little romance thrown in. This 1951 Technicolor western was made by Pine-Thomas Productions and released through Paramount Pictures. The film stars, Ronald Reagan, Rhonda Fleming, Bruce Bennett, Noah Beery Jr, Hugh Beaumont, John Ridgely and Lloyd Corrigan.

The action is set in Arizona where Ronald Reagan is in charge of a small band of Confederate Cavalry. The unit is raiding Union wagon trains along the Santa Fe Trail. They take what they need and then burn the rest. Union Headquarters in Washington sends out a new officer, Bruce Bennett, to take charge of hunting down the Confederates.

Bennett plans an operation to rid the area of the Confederate gnats. The plan backfires and Bennett and his detachment are captured by Reagan and his men. Now the viewer finds out that Bennett and Reagan are actually brothers. One had stayed Union, and the other went with the Stars and Bars. Reagan takes the Union weapons, boots and then sets them free. Needless to say that Bennett is fuming by the time he and his men straggle back to the fort.

Complicating matters is local store-owner and whiskey trader, John Ridgely. Ridgely wants the US Army to enlist the aid of the local Apache tribes in the fight against the Confederates. Ridgely has sent this idea on to Washington. Ridgely of course would profit from this by selling rotgut and poor quality rifles to the Apache. Also in town is Ridgely's wife, Rhonda Fleming. Fleming and Bennett's brother, Reagan, had been an item back east before the war. When Reagan had left to join the South, Fleming had married Ridgely out of spite. The marriage is not a happy one.

Reagan and his merry band now capture a high ranking Union officer, Ewing Mitchell. Mitchell is out from Washington to see if Ridgely's idea of enlisting the Apache is valid. Reagan is horrified at the idea of the Apache on the warpath. He knows that they would attack everyone, north or south, once the blood lust set in.

Reagan dresses up in Mitchell's uniform and keeps the meeting with the Apache chiefs. He tells them that they should remain out of the war. Of course the old fly in the ointment appears. It seems that Ridgely has been killed by several warriors for selling them bad whiskey. The men had been captured are sitting in the town jailhouse. The Apache want Reagan to have them released. If Reagan can do this, the Apache will remain at peace. He is given 24 hours. Reagan agrees and heads for town.

Reagan and two of his men, Richard Crane and Noah Beery Jr, still dressed as Union types, hit town. They try to bluff their way into getting the prisoners released. Also in town is a government bigwig from Washington, Lloyd Corrigan. Corrigan is also looking into the Apache matter. Reagan's cover as a Union officer is nearly blown when Miss Fleming shows.

Matters do go sideways for Reagan when he is collared by his brother Bennett. Bennett, not wanting to have his own brother shot, lets him get away after he promises to leave the area. Reagan had no chose but to go along with the deal.

The next day, as Reagan and his unit are riding off they hear gunfire in the distance. The Apache have gathered and are attacking the town to recover their warriors. The badly outnumbered garrison is getting beat with the heavy end of the stick.

The Confederates come in hard and fast into the flank of the Apache attack. The fighting is brutal with plenty of dead and wounded on all sides. The Apache finally decide that they have had enough and retreat back into the hills.

The Union and Confederate types are momentarily comrades while the dead are buried, and the wounded patched up. Reagan and Bennett shake hands and Fleming promises to wait for Reagan till after the war ends.

For a Pine-Thomas production, this one has some heavy action. The "Dollar Bills", as William Pine and William Thomas were called, were known for mostly low end B films. This was their most expensive film to date, and was also their biggest moneymaker.

The director was the reliable B-film veteran, Lewis R Foster. Foster was a two time Oscar nominated and one time winning writer. (Mr. Smith goes to Washington)He also directed with, EL PASO, CAPTAIN CHINA, THE EAGLE AND THE HAWK, CRASHOUT and MANHANDLED as examples of his work. Handling the cinematography is another Oscar type, Loyal Griggs. The four time nominated, and two time winner, Griggs, is best known for lensing, THE TEN COMMANMENTS and the superb western, SHANE.

On the writing front there is also plenty of talent with Daniel Mainwaring, Winston Miller and George W Yates. Mainwaring is well known to noir fans for, THE BIG STEAL, ROUGHSHOD, ROADBLOCK, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS and OUT OF THE PAST. Miller's work includes, RED MOUTAIN, THE BOUNTY HUNTER, MY DARLING CLEMENTINE, STATION WEST and BRANDED. Yates had a hand in, THE TALL TARGET, THEM and THIS WOMAN IS DANGEROUS.

Ronald Reagan's first starring western occurred in 1951 when he did this horse opera for the Pine-Thomas Paramount B picture unit. Reagan was always a good rider and would have loved to do more westerns in his career. But according to the Citadel Film series book on The Films of Ronald Reagan the real clincher for him okaying the Pine-Thomas deal was a chance to ride his own horse in the film. So Reagan's horse which was named Tarbaby got some screen immortality.

The Last Outpost casts Reagan and Bruce Bennett who are brothers and who have split their loyalties during the Civil War. Fate has brought them together in the west with Bennett taking command of a Federal outpost in Arizona territory to deal with a band of pesky Confederate raiders. Little does Bennett know that Reagan is commanding those raiders and little does Reagan know that the girl he left behind played by Rhonda Fleming is out west and unhappily married to trading post owner John Ridgely.

Ridgely gets killed early on in the film, but not before he sets in motion a plan whereby he will be legally allowed to sell whiskey and arms to the Apaches in exchange for them just taking out the men in gray. In fact Lloyd Corrigan has come east as a member of the government to implement said plan. Reagan refers to him as 'the expediter' and he's the kind of government bureaucrat Reagan would make fun of when he later got into politics.

Bennett is the solid dependable brother, but Reagan invests his part with a certain dash and rakish charm which if you didn't know better you would swear was coming from Errol Flynn. But the most interesting role came from actor Charles Evans playing Apache Chief Grey Cloud who is a disgraced former American general who left the army because his society wouldn't accept the Apache woman he married. Evans really makes his few scenes count and I wish we had seen more of him.

The Last Outpost is a solidly entertaining western with the cast giving fitted performances in the roles they are doing.

In the later part of the Civil War, or War Between the States, if you will, one might have found few or some rebel officers dashing around in clearly dazzling tailored uniforms, but, in this movie, even the lowest enlisted men looked like they were ready for inspection, not dirty as they would have been after several charges into enemy ranks, nor did their uniforms and boots appear haggard or well-worn as they should have been after 3 years of close conflict with the Yankees in several well-fought campaigns. As an avid reader of related literature, I know that the southern soldiers were unmatched in dedication and loyalty to their cause, and that they had little money to splurge on spectacular articles of clothing. A good portion of the southern troops wore their own clothing. I imagine that Hollywood financed this company of men to look good, and they did. I was impressed, and this movie is probably why I personally preferred the uniforms of the Confederacy to those of the North, even though I was born and raised in New England. Remembering this movie after 30 plus years, and then seeing it again recently has only confirmed my appreciation for the looks of those gray uniforms, but not the overall content of the movie. Ronald Reagan was a top box office draw when he made this movie; he demonstrated to me that a gentleman of the South could still be a good American even if he was not a soldier of the Union forces. These words are only my opinion, and were not intended to offend anyone, but, there it is.

This film made me go back in time. I saw it when I was 9 years old and loved it so much I kept annoying people by trying to tell them the film story. Today, I rate it as an average western, colorful, and where everything happens very fast contributing to its entertainment value. Ronald Reagan is Confederate Captain Vance Britten who has a brother who is an officer in the Union. Reagan ends up changing colors of uniform in order to avoid a great Indian attack and meets his brother and his old sweetheart, the beautiful Rhonda Fleming in most awkward circumstances. Noah Beery Jr. as always is his lovable sidekick Sgt. Calhoun. If ever an actor was stereotyped in a role it was Beery Jr. The best of the film is Lloyd Corrigan as Mr. Betancourt, the "expediter". His bureaucracy and pomposity are a fantastic caricature of what we see in our everyday life.

I saw this movie under it's reissue name "Cavalry Charge", and must say that it's original title makes a lot more sense. The film is not a cavalry Western per se, but a story that takes place in 1862 along the route of the Santa Fe Trail, with Union and Confederate forces alternately getting the upper hand in the action taking place. But it's not your typical Civil War yarn either, as brothers on opposing sides of the War reunite with opposing views on the U.S. Government's efforts to enlist Apache aid in defeating the Rebels.

Ronald Reagan stars, and portrays three different characters before it's all over. He's introduced as Confederate Captain McCready, surprising a band of Union soldiers taking a swim break, while routing their horses and burning their uniforms, though taking no prisoners. His identity is revealed to be that of Vance Britten, brother of Union Colonel Jeb Britten (Bruce Bennett) when the two meet up in an ambush within an ambush within an ambush, trust me on this. Later, he assumes the identity of a Union Major dispatched from Washington, in an attempt to subvert his brother's mission of securing help in the war effort from the Apaches.

Rhonda Fleming appears as the unhappy wife of a trader stationed at Fort Point, harboring memories of her romance with Vance Britten years earlier. With her husband killed in an Indian attack, she's free once again to take up her romance with Britten, though there are ups and downs along the way, and you never get the feeling Reagan's character is playing it straight with her.

The prominent Indian Chief Grey Cloud is portrayed by Charles Evans, in a role stating that he was once a Union General who became an Apache when he married a squaw, renounced by the military for doing so. Even though their screen time was limited, it was still fun to see Iron Eyes Cody and Chief Yowlachie as fellow chiefs who agree to remain neutral in the white man's war. That of course goes all to hell in a war bonnet in the movie's latter third, when an impatient civilian fires on Grey Cloud standing under a white flag. Arguably, the white man comes across looking pretty poorly at this point, leaving the Indians no resort but to attack Fort Gil.

Up to that point the film had an entertaining appeal, questionable as the premise was. With the Confederates coming to the aid of the Union soldiers and civilians within the fort, any hope of keeping the Indians neutral went up in smoke. Speaking of which, stay attentive during the Indian attack; when a white bearded civilian is hit with a burning arrow in the back, he falls into a pile of hay, but the hay ignites into flame somewhat to the right of where the man fell.

Except for the rather exceptional cast of talent in the film, the movie is really nothing special. In addition to the starring players already mentioned, notable support comes by way of Noah Beery Jr. and Hugh Beaumont, both as Confederate officers.

I got a kick out of one of Reagan's lines in the film - while impersonating Union Major Riordan at Fort Gil, he encounters a mob that wants to lynch Geronimo for his attack on trader McQuade's wagons, resulting in three dead white men. To keep the mob from erupting, he orders one of his men to shoot the leader if the mob got out of hand. In a weirdly prophetic line that would later become a hallmark of his presidency, Reagan's character states: "That's what's known as delegating authority."

Reagan is star top-billed in this Paramount oater from 1951. Non- big budget movie was a surprise big hit in 1951. It also stars Rhonda Fleming, a woman it was could not photograph badly from any angle, and it shows in this movie, though her role isn't major. She plays the girl. She wasn't exactly known for her acting chops. The plot has the makings for a great Western, two brothers take different sides in the civil war. Reagan is a Confederate while Benett is a Union officer. Also involved is a certain benevolent look at the Indians - in the fifties, one can easily see the changing tone of Hollywood's outlook on the Indians; from snarly wordless caricatures to humane three dimensional characters, mainly highlighted by the James Stewart movie, Broken Arrow. Dances with wolves, this is not but it tries, as it has a white man as the Apache chief, an ex military officer who turned Injun after marrying an Indian. He was ousted from the army for this. Also, to be noted, Reagan and Bennett don't have anything really negative to say about the Indians. They are just interested in their war and just want to keep the Indians from getting involved. It is the supporting characters who are portrayed bug-eyed yellow in their thinking of the red man as the colloquial connotations go. But a notorious third act finale bruises all the good will the earlier sessions had earned. In this act, Bennett and Reagan, that is Confederate and Union team up to slaughter the Indians in a battle that was superceded by the white man. You can argue for this scene, in a pseudo " man must survive" argument that states that even if I'm on the wrong, I shouldn't just stand by the chop me to pieces. Man must defend himself. But staging of the battle is certainly cliched and flimsy as the Indians ride straight into a gauntlet set up by the allies. Right smack into it as they are shot of their horses. And do they change strategy? No. They keep running into the awaiting bullets. It should be noted that earlier, Bennett notes they are outnumbered 50-1. How original? Good entertainment especially the first two-thirds that focuses on Regan's derring-do.

"The Last Outpost" is a pretty mediocre Civil War western. Bruce Bennett is a Union officer out west, who finds himself beset by rampaging Apaches on one side and a Confederate guerrilla band led by his brother, Ronald Reagan, on the other side. Rhonda Fleming is the wife of a corrupt trader who's playing footsie with the Apaches. Competently acted, it moves along fairly slowly until almost the end of the picture, when there is a well-staged Indian attack on the town and a very exciting cavalry charge. Even though Fleming isn't called upon to do much more than stand around and look gorgeous, she does that quite well; she was born for Technicolor, and has seldom looked more beautiful. Reagan is a bit stiff in the lead, but not unbearably so, as he is more often than not. Overall not a bad western, but nothing particularly special.

Ronald Reagan was a great President, true. he was a decent horse-rider, and a very sweet, radiant personality. But as an actor, he was rather second-rate and very forgettable, indeed. Well, yes, you can watch his movies, turn it off and then easily forget what was in the movie ten minutes later/ This movie is a typical example - a very much of a period piece, with all the obvious errata goofs of that era - rather predictable plot, unrealistic love-part,typical portrayal of Indians, and some extremely cheap dialogs, which you can utter a second before a word spells out form a speaker's lips. Battle scenes are funny in fact, too. They have no suspense and deliver no thrill. A very good B-movie, with a very average casting and all the plot twists that you can imagine. Some sprinkle of humor often seems to be at odd with the general mood of the film, and very generic performance of all characters make this movie very lightweight, unserious and not memorable. Yup, Reagan grew to some grand things a bit later, smiling his way up. Here, even his smile is a bit of a lame duckie.

Historically speaking, "The Last Outpost" is a dumb mess. And, logically speaking, it's not a lot better. It's a film best enjoyed with your brain completely turned off--otherwise your pesky mind will balk at the writing and silly plot.

This film is set during the Civil War. One brother (the dull one) fights for the North, the other (the duller one) fights for the South. And, it just so happens that BOTH are out West when 99.9% of their compatriots are fighting well to the East...what are the odds?! Anyway, the Southern soldier is on a secret mission to contact the Indians and be sure they stay out of the war. The one fighting for the North has been ordered to help the Indian agent from Washington--but the agent has an insane plan to get the Indians to fight for the Union and take Confederate scalps (though HOW you tell it's a Southern and Northern scalp is beyond me). This Northern officer HATES this and later catches his brother in a Union uniform--acting as a spy! The Southern brother escapes and soon the Indians attack. Just as it looks as if all the civilians and Union soldiers will be massacred, the Southern Cavalry arrives to save the say and all are happy friends (that is, aside from all the Natives who were just killed) and have a pizza party (I added this final part but who would notice?!).

As a retired American history teacher, I just don't know where to start. ALL of this is complete fiction--all of it. None of this happened, nor would Southern soldiers swoop in to save the day. And, if they did (which they wouldn't), they wouldn't have all left good friends!! This brainless plot wasn't even especially entertaining and overall it's one of Ronald Reagan's dullest films. Even the presence of the incredibly pretty Rhonda Fleming wasn't enough to breath any life into this dumb film.

RELEASED IN 1951 and directed by Lewis R. Foster, "The Last Outpost" (re-released in 1962 as "Cavalry Charge") chronicles events in Arizona during the Civil War where two brothers, officers for the Confederacy and Union (Ronald Reagan and Bruce Bennett), have to settle their differences to protect the outpost/town of San Gil from an Indian attack. Rhonda Fleming plays the former's maybe babe.

The old-fashioned style of filmmaking takes a while to acclimate to if you're used to newer movies. It doesn't help that the talky, contrived story is so convoluted that it takes forever to become engrossed into the characters and events. But there are some highlights: It's great seeing Reagan when he was young; and curvy Fleming is jaw-dropping. The climax is action-packed, but with those eye-rolling stunt hits (i.e. someone gets shot or arrowed and throws his hands in the air in a melodramatic manner, falling to the ground).

THE FILM RUNS 1 hour & 29 minutes and was shot in Old Tucson and surrounding areas (e.g. Sierrita Mountains).

GRADE: C