Ronald Reagan

Rhonda Fleming

Bruce Bennett

Bill Williams

Noah Beery Jr.

Peter Hansen

Hugh Beaumont

Lloyd Corrigan

John Ridgely

Charles Evans

James Burke

Richard Crane

Burt Mustin

Lewis R. Foster

Winston Miller

George Worthing Yates

Daniel Mainwaring

Howard A. Smith

Lewis H. Creber

Lucien Cailliet

William H. Pine

William C. Thomas

Loyal Griggs

Kay Shea

David Lang

Western

The Last Outpost

Pine-Thomas Productions

United States of America

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

English

The Last Outpost ≣ 1951 ≣ Trailer