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M
urphy
Native Americans in Audie Murphy Films
One of the lttle ironies of life is that Audie often played a cowboy up against "Indians". In reality, Audie's mother was herself part Indian, and his second wife Pamela was half Greek and half Cherokee.
In most pictures in which Audie faced off against "Indians" he may have wound up shooting, but he also played peacemaker between cultures, as in "Walk The Proud Land", or he learns the hard way to respect another culture, as in "Drums Across the River". It's just another reason I have such respect for him. Those portrayals were more than just a little "anti-establishment" behavior for those times.
 Eddie Little Sky, one of Hollywood's authentic Indian actors, credited Audie with encouraging him not to give up on the movie business. Audie even went so far as to convince him to use the name "Little Sky"; at that time he was calling himself Eddie Little.
Updated Memorial Day 2000
Many people have been kind enough to write to me, seeking information I don't have. Therefore, I am providing a reference source for those of you with questions I am unable to answer. You will find this information on the last page. Thank you.
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DRUMS ACROSS THE RIVER: Gary Brannon's mother was killed by Indians. He learned to hate. Then, through a series of complications, he is forced into an uneasy truce with the same people who killed his mother. He learns the Chief's son was the one responsible, and the Chief had his own son executed for the crime. Through their ordeal, Gary learns his own people are not altogether blameless, and he learns to trust and respect these people of a different culture, and understand the common humanity they share.
TUMBLEWEED: Jim Harvey stops to give help and water to an Indian, shot by white men, in the desert. He removes the bullet, and almost loses his life in return. They struggle, then talk, and Jim explains this is one cowboy who believes in peace between all men. When Jim is later accused of cowardice, and almost lynched by his own people, this same Indian man gives up his life to save Jim's. Warfare between the cultures is narrowly averted only because of the selfless acts of these two men of different cultures.
THE UNFORGIVEN: Cash Zachary's father was killed by Kiowas who resented homesteaders on their land. His hatred is deep rooted, and bitter. His sister, adopted by their parents as an infant, stands accused of being Kiowa herself. When the truth is revealed, that she is indeed Kiowa, Cash flies into a rage, drinks himself senseless, and runs away. He returns when he senses trouble at home, an attack by the Kiowa who want the girl back. He's in time to save the lives of his siblings, including his "sister", and he realizes in the end she is as much his family as the others, regardless of her heritage.
