Ambush at Cimarron Pass
Savage by savage...they fought out of a deadly Apache torture trap!
Directed by film editor Jodie Copelan, this 1958 Western follows a small group of men who reluctantly join up with a group of Yankee solders in order to get revenge against Indians who have crossed their path. This movie is typical of the Cowboy Adventure flicks of the time.
The Film is very short, barely over an hour long, yet it still feels drawn-out, boring, forgettable and remarkably simplistic even for it’s time. In fact the only thing that makes this film remotely worth watching is that it features Clint Eastwood in his first major film role, after he starred on the TV show Bonzana.
Although Eastwood’s role in Cimarron Pass is cast as a supporting one, at times it is almost difficult to spot him on screen, unless you watch the film pretty closely. Overall, his performance doesn’t stick out and is pretty bland to say the least.
After some consideration, I would have to recommend for Client Eastwood Fans, that you should start your research into this legendary actors filmography, with a film which came out six years after Cimarron Pass, Sergi Leone’s ‘A Fistful of Dollars’, which in many ways was his first film in the ‘Man with no Name’ trilogy. This classic film is far more worthy of your attention, as Client begins to hone his iconic, menacing, line mumbling, scene stealing talent that he was and, (as I’m writing this), still is.
3/10 – Calum Roberts