A Thunder of Drums
“A regiment of forgotten men... a woman no man could forget!”
Synopsis
Captain Maddocks will never be promoted beyond Captain because of a mistake that he made in the past. Lt. McQuade is a green rookie who is now under the command of the tough Captain and he does not seem to be able to do anything right. Lt. McQuade also has trouble with Tracey, but it will be the renegade Indians that will test him and teach him the importance of following orders.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Baiting the Apache WarriorsOfficial
Type: Clip • Published 2025-04-07
Top Cast
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Richard Boone
Capt. Stephen Maddocks
George Hamilton
Lt. Curtis McQuade
Luana Patten
Tracey Hamilton
Arthur O'Connell
Sgt. Karl Rodermill
Charles Bronson
Trooper Hanna
Richard Chamberlain
Lt. Porter
James Douglas
Lt. Thomas Gresham
Tammy Marihugh
Laurie Detweiler
Carole Wells
Camden Yates
Duane Eddy
Trooper Eddy
Slim Pickens
Trooper Erschick
Clem Harvey
Trooper Denton
Casey Tibbs
Trooper Baker
Irene Tedrow
Mrs. Scarborough
Marjorie Bennett
Mrs. Yates
J. Edward McKinley
Capt. Alan Scarborough
Kenner G. Kemp
Party Guest
Release History & Theatrical Window
September 26, 1961
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Joseph M. Newman
- Screenplay & Story
- James Warner Bellah
- Original Score
- Harry Sukman
- Original Title
- A Thunder of Drums
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- Production Studios
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Robert J. Enders Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Joseph M. Newman
James Warner Bellah
Harry Sukman
William W. Spencer
Ferris Webster
Robert Enders
Department Leadership Roster
Robert Enders
Producer
Ferris Webster
Editor
James Warner Bellah
Writer
Joseph M. Newman
Director
William W. Spencer
Director of Photography
Kitty Mager
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for A Thunder of Drums.
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Frequently Asked Questions About A Thunder of Drums
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is A Thunder of Drums about?
Captain Maddocks will never be promoted beyond Captain because of a mistake that he made in the past. Lt. McQuade is a green rookie who is now under the command of the tough Captain and he does not seem to be able to do anything right. Lt. McQuade also has trouble with Tracey, but it will be the renegade Indians that will test him and teach him the importance of following orders.
Who directed A Thunder of Drums?
A Thunder of Drums was directed by Joseph M. Newman.
Who stars in A Thunder of Drums?
The principal cast of A Thunder of Drums includes Richard Boone, George Hamilton, Luana Patten, Arthur O'Connell, Charles Bronson.
When was A Thunder of Drums released and how long is it?
A Thunder of Drums was released in 1961 with a total runtime of 1h 37m.
Who composed the musical score for A Thunder of Drums?
The original motion picture soundtrack for A Thunder of Drums was composed by Harry Sukman.
What is the age rating and content advisory for A Thunder of Drums?
A Thunder of Drums holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).