A Distant Trumpet

A Distant Trumpet
French theatrical release poster
Directed by	Raoul Walsh
Produced by	William H. Wright
Written by	John Twist
Based on	adaptation by Richard Fielder Albert Beicht novel by Paul Horgan
Starring	Troy Donahue Suzanne Pleshette William Reynolds
Music by	Max Steiner
Cinematography	William H. Clothier
Edited by	David Wages
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date	May 27, 1964 (1964-05-27)
Running time	117 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	est. $1,200,000 (US/ Canada) 1,037,484 admissions (France)

A Distant Trumpet is a 1964 American Western film, the last directed by Raoul Walsh. It stars Troy Donahue, Suzanne Pleshette and Diane McBain.

The screenplay by John Twist, Albert Beich and Richard Fielder is based on the 1960 novel of the same name by Paul Horgan.

In 1883, US Cavalry lieutenant Matthew Hazard, newly graduated from West Point, is assigned to isolated Fort Delivery on the Mexican border of Arizona, where he meets commanding officer Teddy Mainwarring's wife Kitty, whom he later rescues from an Indian attack.

Soon after a new commander, Major General Alexander Quaint, takes charge. When his efforts to capture Chiricahua chief War Eagle fail, he orders Hazard into Mexico to cajole the man into surrendering. Hazard convinces War Eagle to return with him with the promise the Indians will be provided a safe haven at a reservation in Arizona. En route to the fort, they encounter Major Miller, who orders the Indians be sent to Florida. Hazard and Quaint journey to Washington, D.C. to request government officials to reverse their decision and allow Hazard to keep his word to War Eagle.

The film was based on a 629-page novel, published in 1960, which was based on extensive historical research. The New York Times called it "the finest novel yet on the Southwest in its settling." Another reviewer for the same paper called it a "first rate historical novel."