Bugles in the Afternoon (1952)

"After violently attacking a fellow officer Lt. Edward Garnett, cavalry Captain Kern Shafter is court martialled. Later, he rejoins the army with Custer's regiment at Fort Lincoln, Dakota, becoming a sergeant, where he runs into his old foe." (IMDB)

This is reasonably well-done, with a fine color cinematography and adequate performances, but the storyline holds no surprises for the spectator, a fact which detracts from its entertainment value. Although at times one could mistake this for an A-grade Western, its overall cheapness is visible in the fact that they edited footage from an old black-and-white movie into it for a few battle scenes. Perhaps cheapness also accounts for its shortness; I would have preferred that it included an early part that depicted the situations which led to Shafter attacking Garnett. As it is, we have to take the aggressor's word for what happened. And, even so, I do not quite understand what exactly Garnett did that would earn him such violent attack.

Rating: 39