Ulzana's Raid

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Ulzana's Raid

R

1972

1h 43m

Western

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Popcornmeter

90%

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10 Reviews

65%

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1,000+ Ratings

When word arrives that Apache warrior Ulzana has assembled a war party and left the reservation, the United States Army pegs veteran tracker McIntosh (Burt Lancaster) and Apache Ke-Ni-Tay (Jorge Luke) to lead a young, prejudiced lieutenant's (Bruce Davison) troops to find Ulzana. Outmaneuvered and unfamiliar with the terrain, the cavalry struggles to stop the long-mistreated and raging Apaches from destroying everything in their path in what initially seem like senseless acts of violence.

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

01/10/2025

5/10

Lancaster's presence remains firm as the impassive explorer, but overall, this is a revisionist Western that becomes dull and somewhat repetitive in its violent plot about the corollaries of colonialism. [Full review in Spanish]

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Quentin Tarantino

The New Beverly

06/22/2020

Ulzana's Raid is hands down Aldrich's best film of the seventies, as well as being one of the greatest westerns of the seventies.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

01/25/2020

3/4

The film is particularly pointed in its measured look at how the myopia of people hailing from different cultures can only lead to fear and loathing, death and destruction.

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Dick Lochte

Los Angeles Free Press

01/03/2020

It is an exciting, suspenseful film made with thorough professionalism.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

04/12/2008

A-

One of Aldrich's finest films, this underestimated Western presents a bleak yet intelligent portrait of the racial warfare of the white men vs. Native Americans and also serves as effective and damning allegory of the American involvement in Vietnam.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

10/31/2006

B

A superior western though somewhat ponderous and its action sequences are formulaic.

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Abhishek B

@RT99159990 Feb 24

Harsh Realism. Brutal and Violent truth about Frontier lives.The storytelling is captivating and keeps you on the edge the whole time.

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Leaburn O

@RT35452347 Oct 5

It’s a fairly somber Apache hating Western. Lancaster is fine in it but not much support from rest of the cast. Not the most captivating plot I’ve seen in the genre and one I will likely instantly forget having seen. Watched on DVD.

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S R

@ScottR 05/31/2025

Not my cup of tea with the dark, brooding narrative that Tarantino liked, but I certainly didn't. It was harsh realism, that left me sad. NYT 1000 movies list. SLC DVD.

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Paul M

@RT74450555 07/14/2024

Interesting cat and mouse game with the cavalry after the Apaches. Based on a true story. Look up the true history of Ulzana.

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Steve D

@RT35616104 04/20/2024

Nothing special despite the cast.

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mark g

@Mark_Alan_G. 01/23/2024

Authentic, gritty, and mean. Solid film that seems way ahead of it's time. Entertaining and educational stuff.

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Robert Aldrich

Director

Burt Lancaster

McIntosh

Bruce Davison

Lt. Harry Garnett DeBuin

Jorge Luke

Ke-Ni-Tay (army scout)

Richard Jaeckel

Sergeant

Joaquín Martínez

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Synopsis

When word arrives that Apache warrior Ulzana has assembled a war party and left the reservation, the United States Army pegs veteran tracker McIntosh (Burt Lancaster) and Apache Ke-Ni-Tay (Jorge Luke) to lead a young, prejudiced lieutenant's (Bruce Davison) troops to find Ulzana. Outmaneuvered and unfamiliar with the terrain, the cavalry struggles to stop the long-mistreated and raging Apaches from destroying everything in their path in what initially seem like senseless acts of violence.

Director: Robert Aldrich
Producer: Carter DeHaven, Harold Hecht, Burt Lancaster
Screenwriter: Alan Sharp
Distributor: GoodTimes Home Video [us], MCA/Universal Pictures [us], MCA/Universal Home Video
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 1972, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Mono