Chuka (film)
Encyclopedia
Chuka is a 1967 American western
film starring Rod Taylor who also produced and worked on the screenplay. The film began a series of tough guy roles for Taylor. A story of honor, debt, and personal redemption, it was directed by Gordon Douglas
and is based on 1961 novel by Richard Jessup
, who also wrote the screenplay.
After finding the Arapahoes starving, a wandering gunman named Chuka (Rod Taylor) gives them the last of his food. "For the Children", he says. His gift impresses Hanu. Later, Chuka encounters a stagecoach with Mexican passengers Senora Veronica Kleitz (Luciana Paluzzi
) and her niece Senorita Helena Chavez (Victoria Vetri
). The Arapahoes arrive, led by Hanu. Everyone is prepared for death, but Hanu recognizes Chuka and simply rides on.
Later, Chuka finds himself stranded in an isolated U.S. Army fort with the coach and passengers.
The fort's second-in-comomand. Major Benson, asks the stage driver about the "saddle tramp" hanging around the stable and is told not to let him hear Benson calling him that, warning him: "That, Major, is a hired gun. He's called Chuka and he is fast. Awful fast."
The fort's commander, Colonel Stuart Valois (John Mills
), is worried that the Arapahoes may have ambushed his overdue patrol and refuses to allow the civilians to leave. He sends out his scout Lou Trent (James Whitmore
) to reconnoiter, but his horse returns without him.
Meanwhile, it is revealed that nearly everyone in the fort has a past they would rather forget. Before he became a hired gunman, Chuka was in love with Kleitz, but because he was only a lowly hired hand on her wealthy father's ranch, he was beaten and run off and she dutifully married a man selected by her father from their own social class. The soldiers are the dregs of the army. Valois was cashiered from the British Army for suspected cowardice for being drunk when his command was attacked. His second in command, Major Benson (Louis Hayward
) is a card cheat, while Lieutenant Daly was acquitted of the charge of treason. Only Sergeant Otto Hansbach (Ernest Borgnine
) is a first-rate soldier; he had served with then British Captain Valois in the Sudan and owes his life to Valois.
Chuka tries to renew the relationship with Kleitz, now a widow, but she tells him it is too late. He offers to take the two women to safety, but by the time Kleitz asks him to save her niece, the fort is under siege.
Chuka agrees (for $200) to sneak out and scout the enemy for Valois; in the process, he rescues Trent. Chuka then pleads with Valois to abandon the fort, since Hanu (Marco Lopez
), the Arapahoe leader, only wants the supplies, but Valois is determined to find out if he really is a coward or not, even though he is hopelessly outnumbered. He has to put down an attempted mutiny, killing the ringleader Spivey (Michael Cole
). That night, as they wait for the impending attack, Kleitz goes to Chuka, and they make love.
The next day, the Indians attack. Kleitz is killed early on, as is Valois; with his last words, the colonel mourns the fact that he was struck down too soon, never to learn if he was a coward. With nearly everyone else dead and himself seriously wounded, Chuka hides with Helena Chavez. The victorious Arapahoes take the supplies and leave. As they pass, Chuka has his pistol at Helena's head. ready to kill her to keep her from the Indians. But Hanu again recognizes him and rides one, letting them both live. The debt he owes this man is now paid in full.
We return to the present and learn about the grave and the gun. Of Chuka - and Helena - there is no sign, but the inference is that the gunman has put away his past and taken Helena away, paying his debt to Kleitz.
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
film starring Rod Taylor who also produced and worked on the screenplay. The film began a series of tough guy roles for Taylor. A story of honor, debt, and personal redemption, it was directed by Gordon Douglas
Gordon Douglas
Gordon Douglas may refer to:*Gordon Douglas , American film director*Gordon Douglas , the first Western monk in Buddhism-See also:*Gordon K. Douglass, sailor*Gordon, Douglas County, Wisconsin...
and is based on 1961 novel by Richard Jessup
Richard Jessup
Richard Jessup was a prolific American author and screenwriter. He also wrote under the name of Richard Telfair.-Biography:...
, who also wrote the screenplay.
Plot
The film begins with a U.S. Army fort destroyed and burned as an army patrol combs the ruins for survivors, but everyone is dead. Held prisoner in the former commander's office is the Arapahoe war chief, Hanu, who led the raid. He will say very little. And all the searchers can find is a single grave and a Colt pistol left behind by a gunman Hanu remembers as a "quiet, lonely man..."After finding the Arapahoes starving, a wandering gunman named Chuka (Rod Taylor) gives them the last of his food. "For the Children", he says. His gift impresses Hanu. Later, Chuka encounters a stagecoach with Mexican passengers Senora Veronica Kleitz (Luciana Paluzzi
Luciana Paluzzi
Luciana Paluzzi is an Italian actress. She is best known for playing SPECTRE assassin Fiona Volpe in the fourth James Bond film, Thunderball.-Career:...
) and her niece Senorita Helena Chavez (Victoria Vetri
Victoria Vetri
-Biography:Vetri was born in San Francisco, California to parents who were immigrants from Italy. She attended Hollywood High School in Hollywood, California between 1959 and 1963 and later studied art at Los Angeles City College. She began acting and modelling in her teens. Vetri is a singer and...
). The Arapahoes arrive, led by Hanu. Everyone is prepared for death, but Hanu recognizes Chuka and simply rides on.
Later, Chuka finds himself stranded in an isolated U.S. Army fort with the coach and passengers.
The fort's second-in-comomand. Major Benson, asks the stage driver about the "saddle tramp" hanging around the stable and is told not to let him hear Benson calling him that, warning him: "That, Major, is a hired gun. He's called Chuka and he is fast. Awful fast."
The fort's commander, Colonel Stuart Valois (John Mills
John Mills
Sir John Mills CBE , born Lewis Ernest Watts Mills, was an English actor who made more than 120 films in a career spanning seven decades.-Life and career:...
), is worried that the Arapahoes may have ambushed his overdue patrol and refuses to allow the civilians to leave. He sends out his scout Lou Trent (James Whitmore
James Whitmore
James Allen Whitmore, Jr. was an American film and stage actor.-Early life:Born in White Plains, New York, to Florence Belle and James Allen Whitmore, Sr., a park commission official, Whitmore attended Amherst Central High School in Snyder, New York, before graduating from The Choate School in...
) to reconnoiter, but his horse returns without him.
Meanwhile, it is revealed that nearly everyone in the fort has a past they would rather forget. Before he became a hired gunman, Chuka was in love with Kleitz, but because he was only a lowly hired hand on her wealthy father's ranch, he was beaten and run off and she dutifully married a man selected by her father from their own social class. The soldiers are the dregs of the army. Valois was cashiered from the British Army for suspected cowardice for being drunk when his command was attacked. His second in command, Major Benson (Louis Hayward
Louis Hayward
Louis Charles Hayward was a British actor born in South Africa.-Biography:Born in Johannesburg, Hayward began his screen work in British films, notably as Simon Templar in Leslie Charteris' The Saint in New York.] In 1939 he played a dual role in The Man in the Iron Mask.During World War II,...
) is a card cheat, while Lieutenant Daly was acquitted of the charge of treason. Only Sergeant Otto Hansbach (Ernest Borgnine
Ernest Borgnine
Ernest Borgnine is an American actor of television and film. His career has spanned more than six decades. He was an unconventional lead in many films of the 1950s, including his Academy Award-winning turn in the 1955 film Marty...
) is a first-rate soldier; he had served with then British Captain Valois in the Sudan and owes his life to Valois.
Chuka tries to renew the relationship with Kleitz, now a widow, but she tells him it is too late. He offers to take the two women to safety, but by the time Kleitz asks him to save her niece, the fort is under siege.
Chuka agrees (for $200) to sneak out and scout the enemy for Valois; in the process, he rescues Trent. Chuka then pleads with Valois to abandon the fort, since Hanu (Marco Lopez
Marco Lopez
Marco Antonio Lopez is an Arizona politician. He has served in both elected and non-elected public offices, including Mayor of Nogales, Arizona, Executive Director of the Arizona-Mexico Commission, Policy Adviser to Governor Janet Napolitano for Mexico and Latin America, and Senior Adviser for...
), the Arapahoe leader, only wants the supplies, but Valois is determined to find out if he really is a coward or not, even though he is hopelessly outnumbered. He has to put down an attempted mutiny, killing the ringleader Spivey (Michael Cole
Michael Cole (actor)
Michael Cole is an American actor. His career includes a leading role as Pete Cochran on the television crime drama The Mod Squad, which ran from 1968 to 1973.-Career:...
). That night, as they wait for the impending attack, Kleitz goes to Chuka, and they make love.
The next day, the Indians attack. Kleitz is killed early on, as is Valois; with his last words, the colonel mourns the fact that he was struck down too soon, never to learn if he was a coward. With nearly everyone else dead and himself seriously wounded, Chuka hides with Helena Chavez. The victorious Arapahoes take the supplies and leave. As they pass, Chuka has his pistol at Helena's head. ready to kill her to keep her from the Indians. But Hanu again recognizes him and rides one, letting them both live. The debt he owes this man is now paid in full.
We return to the present and learn about the grave and the gun. Of Chuka - and Helena - there is no sign, but the inference is that the gunman has put away his past and taken Helena away, paying his debt to Kleitz.
Reception
The film performed disappointingly at a box office and remains the only film to date on which Rod Taylor is credited as producer.Cast
- Rod Taylor as Chuka (so named because, as a child, he hung around chuckwagonChuckwagonA chuckwagon or chuck wagon is a type of wagon historically used to carry food and cooking equipment on the prairies of the United States and Canada. Such wagons would form part of a wagon train of settlers or feed traveling workers such as cowboys or loggers.In modern times, chuckwagons feature...
s) - Ernest BorgnineErnest BorgnineErnest Borgnine is an American actor of television and film. His career has spanned more than six decades. He was an unconventional lead in many films of the 1950s, including his Academy Award-winning turn in the 1955 film Marty...
as Sergeant Otto Hansbach - John MillsJohn MillsSir John Mills CBE , born Lewis Ernest Watts Mills, was an English actor who made more than 120 films in a career spanning seven decades.-Life and career:...
as Colonel Stuart Valois - Luciana PaluzziLuciana PaluzziLuciana Paluzzi is an Italian actress. She is best known for playing SPECTRE assassin Fiona Volpe in the fourth James Bond film, Thunderball.-Career:...
as Veronica Kleitz - James WhitmoreJames WhitmoreJames Allen Whitmore, Jr. was an American film and stage actor.-Early life:Born in White Plains, New York, to Florence Belle and James Allen Whitmore, Sr., a park commission official, Whitmore attended Amherst Central High School in Snyder, New York, before graduating from The Choate School in...
as Lou Trent - Victoria VetriVictoria Vetri-Biography:Vetri was born in San Francisco, California to parents who were immigrants from Italy. She attended Hollywood High School in Hollywood, California between 1959 and 1963 and later studied art at Los Angeles City College. She began acting and modelling in her teens. Vetri is a singer and...
as Helena Chavez (as Angela Dorian) - Louis HaywardLouis HaywardLouis Charles Hayward was a British actor born in South Africa.-Biography:Born in Johannesburg, Hayward began his screen work in British films, notably as Simon Templar in Leslie Charteris' The Saint in New York.] In 1939 he played a dual role in The Man in the Iron Mask.During World War II,...
as Major Benson - Michael ColeMichael Cole (actor)Michael Cole is an American actor. His career includes a leading role as Pete Cochran on the television crime drama The Mod Squad, which ran from 1968 to 1973.-Career:...
as Spivey - Hugh ReillyHugh ReillyHugh Reilly was an American actor, appearing on the Broadway stage, in films, and on television. He is best remembered for co-starring in the mid-1950s television series Lassie.-Early years and career:...
as Captain Carrol - Barry O'Hara as Slim, the cook
- Joseph Sirola as Baldwin
- Marco LopezMarco Lopez (actor)Marco Antonio Lopez , also credited as Marco Antonio, Antonio Lopez, and Marco Lopez, is an American actor who was known for his roles in Jack Webb-produced television series, such as Adam-12, where he played the recurring character of Officer Sanchez, and Dragnet, where he was credited as Marco...
as Hanu (as Marco Antonio) - Gerald York as Lieutenant Daly
- Herlinda Del Carmen as Indian Girl, who is brought in to sleep with Benson; she later stabs him to death
- Lucky Carson as Stage Driver