Ambush (1950 film)

Ambush is a 1950 American Western film starring Robert Taylor, John Hodiak and Arlene Dahl. Directed by Sam Wood, the film is based on the serial story Ambush by Luke Short in The Saturday Evening Post (25 December 1948 – 12 February 1949).

Principal photography was done on location at the Corriganville Ranch in Simi Valley, California, home of hundreds of western movies and television shows through the decades as well as such outdoor action films as The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) and Jungle Jim (1948). Additional location work for the film took place in and around Gallup, New Mexico. Ambush was the first MGM film in the 1950s'.

Plot
In 1878, Ward Kinsman, an Indian scout turned prospector, has been persuaded by the US Cavalry to find Mary Carlyle, the daughter of a general, who has been taken by Apaches. He returns to town to find a by-the-book Major Lorrison is in charge, having taken command from an injured colonel, Kinsman's good friend. He also meets beautiful, curvaceous, willful Ann Carlyle, Mary's sister and Lorrison's fiancé. Sparks fly in all three directions.

Setting out on the trail with a few cavalrymen and Ann, they come across an Apache encampment. Ward learns from an Apache woman that Mary has been taken by a chief called Diablito. Returning to the cavalry fort with Tana, a captive who had refused to either fight or flee, preparations are made for a full-scale expedition to find Diablito and capture or destroy he and his renegades.

Captain Lorrison proposes marriage to Ann; she postpones a yes. Ann tells Ward that she intends to accept his proposal, but Ward gets her to admit that she is not in love with him.

The expedition sets off. Tana disappears to warn Diablito, but Ward kills him before he can. Eventually the trackers come across Diablito’s camp and stampede the horses. A gun battle ensues. A cavalry re-enforcement column arrives and routs the Indians. Ward rescues Mary. Lorrison sets off in pursuit of a small band of escaping warriors, who ambush and decimate their pursuers. After killing Lorrison Diablito plays dead, lying in wait for Kinsman, whom has previously captured and returned him to a reservation. Sensing a set-up, Kinsman gets Diablito to reveal himself, and slays him.

Mary and Ann are re-united back at the fort. Ann concedes that Kinsman was right, and indeed many lives would be lost attempting to save just one; this opens the door for him to reverse himself and acknowledge that someone had to stop Diablito to end his rampaging ways, and Lorrison was willing to pay that price. The mutual unburdenings draw the pair closer together.

Cast

 * Robert Taylor as Ward Kinsman
 * Arlene Dahl as Ann Duverall
 * John Hodiak as Capt. Ben Lorrison
 * Don Taylor as Lt. Linus Delaney
 * Jean Hagen as Martha Conovan
 * Bruce Cowling as Tom Conovan
 * Leon Ames as Maj. Breverly
 * John McIntire as Frank Holly
 * Pat Moriarity as Sgt. Mack
 * Charles Stevens as Diablito
 * Chief Thundercloud as Tana
 * Ray Teal as Capt. Wolverson
 * Robin Short as Lt. Storrow
 * Richard Bailey as Lt. Tremaine

Reception
According to MGM records the film earned $2,108,000 in the US and Canada and $1,107,000 overseas, resulting in a $401,000 profit.