Ambush (1950 film)

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Ambush is a 1950 American Western film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, directed by Sam Wood in his final film. It stars Robert Taylor, John Hodiak, and Arlene Dahl and is based on the Luke Short serial story Ambush, published in The Saturday Evening Post from December 25, 1948 to February 12, 1949. The movie was shot at Corriganville Ranch in Simi Valley, California, with additional location work around Gallup, New Mexico. It was MGM’s first release of the 1950s.

Plot
In 1878, Ward Kinsman, an Indian scout turned prospector, is hired by the U.S. Cavalry to find Mary Carlyle, the daughter of a general, who has been kidnapped by Apache Indians led by the chief Diablito. Ward returns to town and meets Major Lorrison, who has taken command, and Ann Carlyle, Mary’s sister and Lorrison’s fiancée. On the trail with a handful of cavalrymen and Ann, they locate an Apache encampment. Ward learns Mary is with Diablito. They return to the fort with Tana, a captive who refuses to fight or flee, and plan a full expedition to find and confront Diablito.

Captain Lorrison proposes to Ann, but she postpones and tells Ward she intends to accept his proposal, though she isn’t in love with him. The expedition begins. Tana disappears to warn Diablito, but Ward kills him. The trackers find Diablito’s camp, stampede the horses, and a gun battle follows. A cavalry reinforcement arrives and scatters the Apache. Ward rescues Mary, and Lorrison pursues a small group of warriors, who ambush and nearly wipe out the pursuers. After killing Lorrison, Diablito pretends to be dead, waiting for Ward. Ward realizes the setup, leads Diablito to reveal himself, and kills him. Back at the fort, Mary and Ann are reunited. Ann acknowledges that Ward was right to risk many lives to save one, and that stopping Diablito was necessary.

Reception
Bosley Crowther of The New York Times called Ambush a “super-dupe horse opera,” arguing the action is meager and that Taylor is not well served by the script. Mae Tinée of the Chicago Tribune found the script verbose but noted quiet humor, rugged scenery, and a strong finale, though the film starts slowly.

Box office
According to MGM records, Ambush earned $2,108,000 in the United States and Canada and $1,107,000 overseas, for a total of $3,215,000 and a reported profit of $401,000. The film had a budget of $1,754,000 and a running time of 89 minutes. It was produced by Armand Deutsch and Sam Wood, with screenplay by Marguerite Roberts, cinematography by Harold Lipstein, editing by Ben Lewis, and music by Rudolph G. Kopp. The production and distribution were handled by MGM, and the film was released on December 21, 1949.