Captain Apache

Captain Apache is a 1971 Spaghetti Western film directed by Alexandro Jodorowsky, starring Stewart Granger as Captain Apache. The story begins with Captain Apache, a seasoned U.S. Army officer of Native American descent, riding his horse through a desolate and dry desert landscape. He is a member of the U.S. Army's Indian Scouts, a group of Native Americans serving as guides and trackers for the U.S. military. The year is 1870, and tensions between the U.S. government and its Native American populations are at a boiling point. Apache (Stewart Granger) is summoned by his commanding officer, Col. Wetherton (Harlan Elsen), to investigate the murder of Indian Agent, Henry, who was found dead on the outskirts of a small settlement. The only clue left behind by the agent is a whispered phrase, "April morning," seemingly a random phrase that holds no significance at first. As Captain Apache leaves his base with his Native American scout, Gray Wolf, to begin the investigation, it becomes apparent that their journey will not be an easy one. They are met with hostility from various groups of outlaws and Native Americans alike, who seem to have motives of their own in the killing. Throughout his journey, Apache encounters numerous characters who all seem to be entangled in the web of intrigue surrounding the murder. He encounters a ruthless bandit, El Lobo, who appears to be connected to Apache's own troubled past. There is also a mysterious woman named Elvira (Sonia Rull), whose true intentions are unclear, and a young, feisty Mexican woman named Rosa, who becomes entangled in Apache's quest for justice. Captain Apache's investigation leads him deeper into a world of double-crosses and shifting allegiances. He must navigate a maze of deceit and treachery to unravel the mystery of "April morning." As Apache digs deeper, he discovers that several characters are hiding secrets and lying about the events surrounding the agent's murder. This complex scenario forces the U.S. Army captain to think strategically, using his Native American skills as a tracker and his U.S. military training to unravel the web of deceit and identify the killer before time runs out. A major revelation arrives when Elvira, the mysterious woman, is found to be involved with a U.S. government agent tasked with keeping the tensions between the U.S. government and Native American populations high. Elvira, along with her partner, has manipulated the events surrounding the agent's murder to create a justification for the U.S. military to further their campaign against the Native American populations. Through his unwavering commitment to justice and his Native American cultural knowledge, Apache identifies the true culprit, a seemingly innocuous settler who has ties with the U.S. government agency involved in the intrigue. With his Native American allies by his side, Apache confronts the settler, leading to a dramatic showdown where he confronts him about the truth behind the "April morning" incident. Ultimately, Apache emerges victorious, but not before several innocent lives are lost, including that of the woman he was starting to fall for, Rosa. "April morning" takes on a new meaning in the story, becoming a metaphor for Apache's ability to navigate the treacherous and violent world he lives in, a world where the phrase has been twisted to serve the purposes of his enemies.