HOUR OF STARS: BROKEN ARROW (TV)
Summary
One in this dramatic anthology series, a remastering of the 1955 “20th Century Fox Hour” anthology series adapting both original content and popular films as television plays. This episode features an adaptation of the 1950 film of the same name, which served as the pilot episode of a 1956-1960 television series, also of the same name. The story begins in the year 1870 in what would later become the state of Arizona. United States army scout Tom Jeffords rides through the desert, returning to Tucson from a tour of duty, when he comes across an Apache dying in a deserted patch of land. Despite some initial animosity, Jeffords spends days treating the man’s gunshot wounds and restoring him to health. The man leaves to return home, silently thanking Jeffords, but stops when several arrows are fired out of the brush at Jeffords; the Apache notes that they intentionally missed since they saw that he was unharmed. Jeffords is convinced to drop his gun, and the Apache signals them to come out, explaining that Jeffords is a friend. The other Apaches are skeptical of Jeffords but decide to leave without further incident. Jeffords finds himself surprised at the Apache’s sense of “fair play.” Eventually Jeffords reaches Tucson and settles in for a meal at the local inn. There he is approached by Colonel Bernall, who has just assumed command of Fort Grant. His mission is to clear out the Apaches in the surrounding area, and asks Jeffords to be his scout, owing to his extensive knowledge of the local terrain. Jeffords is only in town for a mail run and declines, but invites suspicion as to his ability to pass through Apache territory unmolested. He describes his experiences over the past week, although his peers are unable to understand why he did not kill the Apache. One, Ben Slade, becomes quite enraged; he explains that his farm was burned down by the Apache’s the previous year, which also claimed the life of his wife. Jeffords points out that they have been just as savage towards the Apache, including a war with Cochise, the Apache leader, which claimed the life of his brother. Jeffords further notes that he feels they could peacefully coexist with the Apache, and that he is weary of war and killing. In an effort to reopen mail routes blocked off by the Apaches, Jeffords makes an effort to learn about Apache culture in hopes of speaking to Cochise directly, hoping for a diplomatic solution to the animosity. Several weeks later Jeffords rides into an Apache stronghold, hoping to appear nonthreatening to the many braves observing him. Once inside, he relinquishes his gun and finds himself face to face with Cochise. He explains to Cochise the importance of his mail system, and asks that other mail carriers be allowed to pass through Apache territory. Cochise is still bitter about the many Apache lives lost at the Battle of Apache Pass, in which Jeffords participated. However, Cochise agrees to consider his request and offers Jeffords shelter, impressed by his presence of mind and willingness to try to understand Apache culture. He visits a young woman, Sonseeahray, designated as the “white painted lady” as part of a religious ceremony, and she gives him a blessing. Soon Jeffords attempts to endear himself to Sonseeahray, who remarks that as an unmarried woman she should not be seen speaking to him. He tries to tell her that he is developing feelings for her, and that without her he will be lonely for the first time in his life. They are interrupted by the arrival of Cochise, who tells Jeffords that he approves of his request to allow mail carriers to pass through Apache lands. He asks Jeffords to return on his way back, feeling comfortable around him now, although the prospect of peace with white men still makes him uneasy. Jeffords tells the others back in Tucson of his trip, although some doubt his word and bet Jeffords that Cochise will go back on his word and attack mail carriers. At first, a number of riders make their trips through the desert peacefully. One day, a wagon train moves through Apache territory led by Colonel Bernall, who plans to massacre the Apache when they emerge for an ambush. Cochise launches an attack, and is successful, stealing several of the wagons. A survivor of the Apache attack informs the people of Tucson of it, and convinces them that Jeffords betrayed Colonel Bernall’s plans to the Apache. Jeffords punches Slade when he accuses him directly, but the other men are convinced of Jeffords’s treachery despite his claims that he is working towards peace. They form an angry mob and nearly hang Jeffords, but are stopped by the arrival of General Howard, another survivor of the attack. Jeffords returns to Cochise’s camp to discuss the situation; Cochise reveals that he knows that Jeffords nearly lost his life defending the Apache, and that he has earned his trust for this. Jeffords proposes a peace settlement between Cochise and General Howard, but Cochise does not think that such an agreement is feasible, owing to previous failed attempts by both sides. That night, Jeffords visits Sonseeahray again and they kiss while being secretly observed by another Apache, Nahilzay. Jeffords wants to propose marriage to her, but she reveals that Nahilzay, has already asked to marry her. Cochise arrives and Jeffords announces to him that he wants to marry Sonseeahray. Cochise agrees to mediate between Jeffords and Sonseeahray’s parents in order to arrange for their marriage. Sonseeahray’s parents agree to allow them to marry the following month, and Cochise tells Jeffords to return to Tucson and bring back General Howard while he gathers representatives from various tribes together. Nahilzay attempts to murder Jeffords in his sleep, but Jeffords wakes up in time and fends him off. Cochise arrives and chastises the Apache, asking Jeffords for forgiveness. Cochise executes Nahilzay for his dishonorable act. Ten days later, Jeffords brings General Howard to a gathering of the Apache tribes, where he and Cochise attempt to convince the contentious delegates of more peaceful solutions to jurisdictional problems between the two sides. Cochise calls for a truce of 90 days to test their peace agreement, and breaks an arrow as a symbolic gesture. The truce begins and seems to go well at first; while there is still prejudice between the two sides, they do not take violent action against each other. Jeffords and Sonseeahray are wed in an Apache ceremony. Soon thereafter, Cochise brings Slade’s son to see Jeffords and Sonseeahray, who claims that the Apache stole two of his horses and he tracked them into the canyon, where he was caught. Jeffords suspects that there may be a few Apache who do not honor the peace agreement fully, and notes that demonstrating their good faith to the Slade family would be a major step in cementing the truce. Slade waits in the hills with a posse, looking to ambush Cochise and his party and using his son as a means of drawing them out. The ambush begins and Jeffords attempts to protect him but is shot along with Sonseeahray. Slade attempts to run down Cochise, but he manages to escape. Jeffords awakens later to find Sonseeahray dead, and grieves over her body. Cochise returns and Jeffords demands that he be allowed to kill the one who shot Sonseeahray, but Cochise refuses, unwilling to jeopardize the peace agreement. Sonseeahray is buried with her people, and General Howard informs Jeffords that the men involved in the ambush have been captured. He offers his condolences and informs him that President Grant has offered to make him the first United States Commissioner to the Apache Nation. Jeffords accepts the position and eventually comes to realize that Sonseeahray’s death signaled a major turning point in the peace agreement, further solidifying it. Commercials deleted. (Originally aired under the title “The 20th Century Fox Hour” on CBS from 1955 to 1957; “Broken Arrow” originally aired on May 2nd, 1956 at 10:00 PM.)
Details
- NETWORK: FOX Movie Channel
- DATE: 2002
- RUNNING TIME: 0:46:52
- COLOR/B&W: Color and B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:78938
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Indigenous Peoples Collection
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1955-1957; FX Movie Channel - TV series, 2002
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- For "Hour of Stars"
- Billy Hall … Executive Producer
- Rick Scott … Executive Producer
- Kenny Rhodes … Producer, Director, Writer
- Teresa Antista … Producer
- Jesse Marcus … Producer
- Nathan Furst … Music by
- Robert Wagner … Host
- For "Broken Arrow"
- Peter Packer … Producer
- Robert Stevenson … Director
- Clark E. Reynolds … Writer
- Elliott Arnold … Based on the novel "Blood Brother" by
- Ricardo Montalban … Cast, Cochise
- Rita Moreno … Cast, Sonseeahray
- John Lupton … Cast, Tom Jeffords
- Robert Simon … Cast, Ben Slade
- Robert Warwick … Cast, General Howard
- Roy Roberts … Cast, Lowrie
- Tony George … Cast, Nahilzay
- Tommy Cook … Cast, Machogee
- Anthony Caruso … Cast, Gokilya
- Tom Fadden … Cast, Duffield
- Donald Randolph … Cast, Colonel Bernall
- Ralph Moody … Cast, Nochalo
- Ralph Reed … Cast, Chip Slade
- Robert Griffin … Cast, Mule Driven