Watch Chuka For Free

I love this movie so much

Thanks for the memories!

Simply A Masterpiece

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

I found this film so disappointing that it moved me to write my first review.I enjoy the western genre and was particularly looking forward to watching it as it is one I haven't seen before. Firstly, there is really some odd casting in this movie - Rod Taylor is completely unconvincing as a tough gunslinger, John Mills as a terribly English upper class officer in charge of a US fort(!), Louis Hayward as a lecherous womaniser with a weakness for young natives, James Whitmore as a drunken Indian scout, Luciana Paluzzi as Taylor's superfluous love interest, and Victoria Vetri who is just superfluous. Lastly, there is Ernest Borgnine as a bullying American/German army sergeant who shouts a lot and also we are led to believe served with Mills in the Sudan!There is very little in the way of action until the climax apart from one brutal and overlong fight scene between Taylor and Borgnine which ends with them being friends - isn't that sweet?! I won't bore anyone with the 'plot' mainly because I couldn't find one suffice to say that thankfully the injuns eventually turn up and kill all of these thoroughly unpleasant people.I can honestly say this film has no redeeming features - I can't really fault the acting but the story such as it is has more holes than a tea bag and also leaves many unanswered questions. I give it a generous 2/10.

The director was not allowed to film on location,which ,for a western is perhaps not a very smart idea.But as almost all the action takes place in a fort besieged by starving Indians,the movie does not suffer for it.It's a very dark western,with a murky atmosphere ,unsympathetic characters; in spite of the gorgeous Luciana Paluzzi (one of the best James Bond girl that ever was ) and her niece (portrayed by Angela Dorian,more famous for her small part of Terry Gionoffrio in "Rosemary's baby" ),the dinner becomes a settling of scores.The movie contains very violent scenes in its last quarter ,predating Peckinpah and "soldier blue" and it's one of the rare films of the genre to feature a thoroughly unhappy ending.

Among the films of Rod Taylor, one is hard pressed to single any which stand out as wrong for him. This particular film called " Chuka " is right up his alley. The rugged, good looking rough and tumble action hero is right at home in a run down Army post surrounded by frigid miles of empty winter desert. The year is 1876, the place Fort Clandenen, home to an odd collection of misfit soldiers, deserters and questionable officers. The post is commanded by an aging Ex-British Colonel called Stuart Valois. Although disliked by his small command, only one has respect for him. That man is professional soldier Sgt. Otto Kahnsbach. (Ernest Borgnine) Into the shabby excuse of an outpost, looking for a bed is an experienced gunfighter called Chuka. (Rod Taylor) Accompanying him is the overland stage with two Beautiful Spanish women. Senora Veronica Kleitz (Luciana Paluzzi) and (Angela Dorian). With a gathering and ever encircling force of Arapahoes, led by Hanu ( Marco Lopez) a young warrior Chief, his people, ill fed and starving, need the supplies of the fort. The action in the movie is convincing as are the supporting cast. Seasoned actors James Whitmore who plays Lou Trent, the Chief scout, Louis Hayward and Lucky Carson all give fine performances. Despite the interesting stories of the characters, it is Rod Taylor who warrants most of the attention on the screen. Although lacking in cinematic promotion, this story earns the status of Classic western and is therefore recommended viewing. ****

Pretty good western about the evil injun attacking the beleaguered Army outpost. What I didn't like about the film was that everything was so CLEAN. All these soldiers, drifters, and scouts always looked so nice and tidy; they should have looked like something the cat dragged in. Also, the fight scene between Chuka and the top kick was so phoney I nearly gagged. That seemed to be the way western fights went during this time span - lots of haymakers, stumbling into horses, falling through corrals, and rolling around in the hay. Fortunately, there was only hay on the barn floor, don't know where all the dung went. Ok, the show was corny, but it still had lots of gunplay and action. I feel that those of us who love old westerns will get a bang out of this flic.