MovieChat Forums > The Indian Fighter (1956) Discussion > Kirk's leading ladies

Kirk's leading ladies

posted 16 years ago by hobnob53
7 replies | jump to latest

Minor possible spoilers ahead: It's really amazing -- or is it just plain cheekiness? -- that Kirk Douglas, who produced as well as starred in The Indian Fighter, cast his ex-wife, Diana Douglas, in this movie, as the sturdy, no-nonsense pioneer widow Mrs. Rogers set on marrying Kirk's "Johnny Hawks" character -- while at the same time he makes clear he's interested only in the luscious Elsa Martinelli as the gorgeous young Indian maid Onahti. Really rubbing it in, Kirk allows himself several sexy tussles with Elsa, none more astonishing (for 1955) than his unsubtle nude romp in the river with her at movie's end -- with plain ol' Diana driving her covered wagon out West with the rest of the wagon train, which has to pass by the river where Johnny and Onahti have thoughtfully elected to frolic naked, laughing and waving as the settlers pass by.

It's always been rumored that Kirk and Elsa carried on a dalliance during this film (no surprise -- Kirk and other leading men always did a lot of that sort of thing). Was casting his ex in this movie a way of showing her up? If so, bravo to Diana for not being intimidated.

And after all the trouble he caused by sneaking off to diddle Onahti instead of sticking with the train and foiling the greedy gold thieves, why has Johnny abandoned them a second time by refusing to take them to Oregon at the end?

[–] toshguy 14 years ago

That's the part I like about Kirk's character here - he's an ass hole. And not one of those typical and cliched Western ass holes that are tragic antiheroes who are begrudging something or avenging for his wife/family's rape/murder. He's willing to do the right thing, but only when he feels like it. Hell, he was probably gonna force himself on the Indian girl if she hadn't willingly given herself when she did. And when he got his way with her, he was ready to skip off while she was asleep, saying that he would have come back after guiding the settlers through the hills, but we can't be too sure he was being sincere. The Indian Fighter isn't sullen or glorified too much, he's an egotist that wans to get his own way and jumps into action only if he really needs to instead of being the hero all the time. He probably wouldn't have married the squaw if the peace between the peoples didn't depend on it. When I heard the kid say he had no dad, I intantly thought, "Oh boy, here we go, Kirk's got himself a bride!" And when Mrs. Rogers started surprisingly blatantly pressing him to go off and marry her and Johnny shied away, I thought that would lead up to them eventually riding off into the sunset with the boy that we'd later see bonding with Hawks. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised by the ending.
By the way, if you enjoyed this film, you should check out The Last Wagon with Richard Widmark.

I'm here, Mr. Man, I can not tell no lie and I'll be right here 'till the day I die

[–] hobnob53 14 years ago

Interesting analysis, and I basically agree. His character certainly was different from what you'd normally expect in a '50s western, and the ending not what you'd expect either. Wonder what Kirk's kids thought of his on-screen treatment of mom (and Elsa)!

I agree also, The Last Wagon is a good film.

[–] Captain_Woodrow_Call 11 years ago

Maybe Kirk cast Diana in the movie in lieu of making some alimony payments.

[–] hobnob53 11 years ago

Actually, you might be on to something. Not so much in lieu of alimony as having the production company (which Kirk owned) basically pay it for him...disguised as part of Diana's salary, plus a little extra for her thespian efforts and post-marital cooperation with the scheme.

Which, of course, left Kirk free to rub it in with Elsa. After all, he'd paid for the privilege!

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Whatever shenanigans went on in the film, the sight of Elsa Martinelli bathing in the river and looking up to watch Douglas ride by, was quite, er, moving...

What an absolute stunner she was.

[–] Redsfan001 (6147) 5 years ago

What is interesting to me is that he is still alive!

He also had a relationship with Marilyn Monroe. She did not date younger men, so that means he most probably is the last person on the planet who knows who it was like to sleep with her!