The Yellow Tomahawk (1954) User Reviews

Heed thy warning or face the consequence.

[hitchcockthelegend · 7/10 · 15 November 2018]

The Yellow Tomahawk is directed by Lesley Selander and written by Harold Jack Bloom and Richard Alan Simmons. It stars Rory Calhoun, Peggie Castle, Noah Beery Jr., Warner Anderson, Peter Graves, Lee Van Cleef and Rita Moreno. Music is by Les Baxter and cinematography by Gordon Avil.

Scout and tracker Adam Reed (Calhoun) is handed a yellow tomahawk by Cheyenne warrior Fire Knife (Cleef). It is to be given to Major Ives (Anderson) as a proclamation of war, a heed to get women and children out the way prior to attack. Ives stubbornly rejects the threat...

Another splendid 1950s Oater begging to be sought out by fans of the genre, and another reason to laud Calhoun as underrated in his time. Story wise there are familiar tropes, but it's always nice to see a screenplay sympathetic to the Native Americans, where here led by *ahem* Van Cleef they are fed up of encroachment and seek to defend their tribal lands. There is honour in the actions, which in turn solidifies a believable friendship between Fire Knife and Reed.

It's also in parts sexy, which gets its first marker during Reed and Katherine's (Castle) first meeting, god bless water! Ok! So the inevitable coupling is all a bit sudden and trite given an event previously, but the romance factor here does not hinder the depth of the screenplay. Also bonus is that Reed is not some unstoppable muscular hero, he is openly shown to be as fallible in a fight as all of us can be - twice! The makers are not here purely for comic book

There's twists in store as well, one of which is a doozy, while the action as you would expect under Selander is very competent and exciting. You will not forget the massacre sequences, where the eye for an eye - violence begets violence theme is banging the drum, while the presence of Beery and Graves is most welcome. Filmed in Colour but released to TV in black and white, a Western fan can't help lament this fact. For you can see the wonderful Kanab locations begging to be colourized. Shame that.

The messages within my grate on some, but if shrugging that off there is a whole lot for Western supporters to savour here. 7/10

"Don't run, there's no place to run to".

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 22 July 2009]

I was a fan of Rory Calhoun back in the late Fifties when he appeared in the Western TV series lead role of "The Texan". In this picture, filmed in 1954, Calhoun looks almost a decade younger and exceptionally athletic. There was no reason to believe that he wouldn't fall for Peggie Castle's character, especially after she broke off her engagement with cavalry Lieutenant Bascomb (Patrick Sexton). She might not have survived network TV as long as Amanda Blake in 'Gunsmoke', but she sure did rival Kitty as one of the pre-eminent saloon keepers of the Old West in 'Lawman'.

I never heard of "The Yellow Tomahawk" until it popped up on Encore Westerns last night, and it proved to be one of those rough cut gems from a half century ago. In addition to Calhoun and Castle, the other interesting casting decision made here was Lee Van Cleef in the role of Cheyenne warrior Fire Knife. You also had Peter Graves in the role of a renegade gold prospector who killed his partners for their dig, eventually proving to be a thorn in the side of Indian scout Adam Reed (Calhoun). But it doesn't end there - Noah Beery's on hand as a cavalry hand named Tonio Perez, and he finds himself fending off the advances of Nez Perce maiden Honey Bear. Rita Moreno is not quite convincing as the fawning young squaw infatuated with a grizzled old goat twice her age, and I kept wondering if Reed might cast an eye in her direction. Maybe he would have if she opened the picture swimming in the buff instead of Castle.

The story itself gets downright brutal in a number of scenes, particularly the attack on Major Ives' (Warner Anderson) new fort under construction. Iron Knife puts an honorable face on things in his dealings with Reed, but ultimately you know that things will end badly. The finale is a bit of a twist, as Reed holds to his own principles just as dearly; the chief should have accepted the gift bow back when it was offered.

If you're paying attention to the opening credits, you'll wonder as I did why 'Color by Color Corporation of America' heralds the start of a black and white picture. I guess I've seen enough films to not be surprised by such a minor detail, but it would have been cool to actually see the yellow tomahawk.

A Warning Message

[romanorum1 · 7/10 · 1 August 2016]

As rugged Indian scout Adam Reed (Rory Calhoun) rides in the open country of Utah towards a US Cavalry outpost, he is stopped by his close friend, Cheyenne warrior Fire Knife (Lee Van Cleef). Fire Knife gives Reed a yellow tomahawk to give to the outpost commandant, Major Ives whom he and Chief Red Cloud call a "butcher" and hold mainly responsible for the Massacre at Sand Creek. That site is a real historical event (1864) where the US Cavalry killed over 100 Indians, most of whom were women and children. The yellow tomahawk is a warning – more than the Cavalry gave earlier to the Indian – for the soldiers to clear out of the planned future fort or face the consequences. The soldiers will be allowed to depart peacefully.

On his way to the military encampment, Reed spots blonde and nubile Kate Bolden (Peggy Castle) bathing and swimming in a pond. They briefly exchange words; Kate tells him that she's from Boston. At the post, arrogant commander Ives (Warner Anderson) is adamant: he has no intention of leaving, even though the encampment is in Cheyenne territory. No lover of the Indian, Ives believes that the red men are dangerous to civilization. Ives gives women (and children) a choice whether to leave for Ft. Ellis or remain. Orders are given for the men to fortify the position. When preparations are being made, Reed tells Master Sergeant Bandini (Dan Riss) that advance pickets should be placed on the hills, and that not all of the men should be placed behind the barricades. Bandini agrees but explains to Reed that he is resigned to taking orders, whether he agrees or not. The Indians soon attack, and Ives' faulty tactics manifest themselves. When the violence ends there are only nine survivors: the major, a corporal, a private, a Mexican Indian scout Tonio (Reed's friend, Noah Beery Jr.), Tonio's Indian girlfriend Honey Bear (a lovely Rita Moreno), an army engineer/surveyor, a slimy prospector (Peter Graves) who has murdered his two partners for gold, blonde Kate, and Reed.

Now the survivors must make the dangerous trek to Ft. Ellis and safety. Reed wants to keep the major alive at all costs so that he can stand trial (court martial) for provoking an Indian war. Along the way, their numbers will shrink, as will those of the attacking Indians. When Reed and Fire Knife have a parlay, the latter says he will let the dwindling survivors leave peacefully, except for Ives. Reed cannot accept this condition. So the trek continues until the inevitable conclusion.

Director Lesley Selander has directed a nice, very well-paced western. The actors are well-cast, and are given an above average script. Some sympathy is given to the Indians, who are defending their tribal lands from encroachment. There are two twists at the end that involve Major Ives; they will not be revealed here. The western was shot in Technicolor but released to television in black and white.

Star-studded B western.

[michaelRokeefe · 7/10 · 19 April 2009]

Feels just like Saturday afternoon at the movies. The ever popular Rory Calhoun plays Adam Reed, a Wyoming Indian scout, who has a strong bond with Fireknife(Lee Van Cleef), a Cheyenne warrior. Against a treaty with the Indians, the army decides to build a fort on their land. Reed is caught between both sides, but as predicted ends up in a vicious fight to the finish with Fireknife. The fetching Peggie Castle plays Calhoun's love interest. On the lighter side Noah Berry Jr. plays a Mexican that scouts for the army and falls in love with a beautiful Indian girl Honey Bear(Rita Moreno).

This almost forgotten B western features a star-studded supporting cast: Peter Graves, Warner Anderson, James Best, Ned Glass and Robert Bray. Thank you Encore Westerns channel.

Grim Revengeful Western!

[bsmith5552 · 7/10 · 11 March 2018]

This almost forgotten western was ahead of it's time. The theme of "an eye for an eye" revenge is carried to the extreme with the brutal massacre sequence where soldiers, women and children alike are slaughtered without mercy.

The film opens with army scout Adam Reed (Rory Calhoun) being brought to Cheyenne Chief Fire Knife (Lee Van Cleef). The chief warns of an impending Cheyenne attack on an army encampment in retaliation to one led by commanding officer Major Ives (Warner Anderson) who has been branded as "The Butcher" by the Indians for his slaughter of women and children.

Reed brings a yellow tomahawk to Ives as a warning from the Cheyenne. He ignores the warning. Reed meets Katherine Bohlen (Peggie Castle) skinny dipping and sparks fly. Katherine is engaged to Lt. Bascomb (Patrick Sexton) whom she unceremoniously dumps. Reed also meets up with fellow scout Tonio Perez (Noah Beery Jr. complete with Mexican accent) who assists Reed in sounding the alarm. At the same time, Tonio is being pursued by the young Indian squaw named , now get this, Honey Bear (a very young Rita Moreno).

Into the camp comes prospector Walt Sawyer (Peter Graves) and his wounded partner. Subsequent events reveal that Sawyer has a hidden agenda of his own.

Then the Cheyenne attack and savagely "kill all white eyes" except for Major Ives who was away obtaining buried ammunition, Tonio who had been escorting a wagon load of wives escaping the attack, Sawyer and Reed. The survivors which also include Cpl. Maddock (Adam Williams) and Private Bliss (James Best) then try to reach the distant fort while being pursued by Fire Knife and his braves and.......................................................................................

Although the massacre sequence is not as graphic as one would see today, it is nonetheless brutal and totally unexpected. Calhoun is a stalwart hero who had been appearing in a number of low budget westerns at this time. Castle in her skin tight slacks, makes a sexy heroine. The always likeable Beery is good as is Graves and Anderson as the heavies. Lee Van Cleef is also excellent as the Indian Chief. Walter Reed, Dan Riss and Robert Bray round out the cast.

A quirky unexpected ending round out this opus ably directed by veteran director Lesley Selander.

Major With Issues

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 24 June 2013]

Although color would have been nice for this western shot on location in Kanab, Utah, The Yellow Tomahawk is no frills, brutal, and bloody western about some survivors of a massacre trying to make it home to safety. The Cheyennes however are only retaliating for the infamous Sand Creek Massacre in which the commanding officer had a big part. The commander is Major Warner Anderson who has some real issues of his own.

Rory Calhoun and Noah Beery, Jr. play a couple of scouts who see the problem, but are helpless with Anderson's intransigence and stupidity. Anderson even after Sand Creek is now building an army fort on Cheyenne land and the Cheyenne don't take kindly to that. They send the army warning signal of The Yellow Tomahawk which is their way of saying clear out. The scenes of the massacre of the cavalry and some civilians including women is not for the squeamish.

Peggie Castle and Rita Moreno play the women paired with Calhoun and Beery. Peter Graves is a shifty gold prospector. But the film belongs to Warner Anderson, this might be his career role. You won't believe why he ordered the Sand Creek massacre, but it's actually curiously relevant to issues coming before the Supreme Court to be rendered as I write this.

Another Cavalry Versus the Indians Oater

[zardoz-13 · 4/10 · 6 July 2007]

Director Lesley Selander's thoroughly routine outdoor yarn "The Yellow Tomahawk" (1954) pits the Cheyenne against the U.S. Cavalry with leathery tough Rory Calhoun in the middle as the seasoned, buckskin-clad Indian scout who has to lead the survivors to safety. This United Artists western was lensed in color but the TV print that Turner Classic Movies aired was inexplicably in black & white.

The action opens with Adam Reed (Rory Calhoun of "Black Spurs") eluding several Indians and riding up to palaver with his old friend and Cheyenne chief, Fire Knife (Lee Van Cleef of "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly"), who has killing on his mind. Fire Knife warns Adam that his Cheyenne braves are poised to wipe out a nearby cavalry fort under construction because it violates a treaty that the Indians made with the government. On his way to inform stuck-up camp commandant, Major Ives (Warner Anderson of "Objective, Burma!"),about the impending Indian attack, Adam discovers a beautiful wood nymph seductively treading water in a lake. Katherine 'Kate' Bolden (Peggy Castle of "I, Jury") is another of those silly women in westerns that bathe nude in the middle of Indian country without a care in the world. Castle appears to be genuinely nude in her bathing scenes, too, perhaps the most memorable scene of all in this otherwise predictable western. Naturally, Major Ives dismisses Adam's warning from Fire Knife until the commander realizes that somebody has raided his ammunition dump far outside the fort. This is one of the many questions that the Richard Alan Simmons' screenplay leaves unanswered in this trim, 82-minute oater. Why would the cavalry bury their ammunition at a secret spot in the desert rather than keep it on the premises in the fort? No sooner have they made this discovery than the Indians attack, knock out of hero, and leave him as the only survivor. Before this attack, a pair of white prospectors rides into the fort. Sawyer (Peter Graves of "Stalag 17") brings in his partner with an arrow in his chest. While Adam is getting hot water to help in removing the arrow, the greedy Sawyer grinds the shaft in deeper and kills his helpless partner. Later, we learn that Sawyer and his partner had struck gold. The question of the dispersal of the gold is also left unanswered after our heroes survive the ordeal. Adam and Fire Knife have one final pow-wow and Fire Knife demands that Adam hand over Major Ives or everybody will die. Naturally, Adam refuses and the Indians begin to whittle down the whites. James Best in a supporting role as a cavalryman gets an arrow in the back for his efforts. Noah Beery, Jr., plays a aimable Mexican scout pursued by a sexy Indian damsel appropriately named Honey Bear (Oscar-winning actress Rita Moreno of "West Side Story") and Robert Bray of "Lassie" fame is on hand briefly as the ill-fated cavalry officer that Kate had planned to marry.

The biggest surprise in this unremarkable western shot on location in Kanab, Utah, is that the evil cavalry officer Ives, who slaughtered Indian men, women, and children at the infamous Sand Creek Massacre, has been keeping a secret that he is a Native American, too! Ironically, the taut bow that Fire Knife gives out of friendship to Adam at the outset of the hostilities is what our heroic scout uses to kill the stalwart Cheyenne warrior after he has run out of bullets. "The Yellow Tomahawk" concludes on an ambiguous note. The survivors reach another outpost, Fort Ellis, where Adam and Ives furnish their respective reports about the issue to an army general, but we never learn the outcome of this meeting. Is this artistic ambiguity or yet another unanswered question. Producer Howard W. Koch is no relation to "Casablanca" scenarist Howard Koch. Ultimately, "The Yellow Tomahawk" is one of many pro-Indian westerns that appeared in the aftermath of "Broken Arrow" (1950) where the Native American is viewed as a noble savage unjustly treated by some but not all whites. Selander, who made dozens of westerns during the 1950s and the 1960s, makes this minor western tolerable despite its thin characters and familiar predicament. Calhoun stands out of an above-average cast as the always serviceable leading man, and good looking Castle is worth watching for her feminine charms. Peter Graves plays a skunk as was usual in most of his early roles. Actually, Lesley Selander did a more satisfactory dramatic version of this movie the year before called "War Paint" (1953) with Robert Stack. Incidentally, Noah Beery Jr. and Rita Moreno both went on to become regulars on "The Rockford Files".

I love my little Honey Bear

[weezeralfalfa · 7/10 · 20 January 2018]

One of several films I'm familiar with that relates to the infamous massacre of peaceful Cheyenne, mostly women and children, at Sand Creek, CO. The historic Chivington, who led this slaughter, is renamed Major Ives(Warner Anderson). However, his hatred of all Native Americans is not changed. Perhaps the most glaring alteration of history is the designation of Chief Red Cloud as the main chief of the Cheyenne, whereas he actually was the most important chief of the Sioux during this period. ...The basic story is that Major Ives plans on building an army fort on Cheyenne land, besides his duty of escorting immigrants through Cheyenne territory, on their way to Oregon. This raises the ire of Red Cloud(whom we never see), and one of his lieutenants: Fire Knife, who uses the presence of his soldiers on their land as an excuse to attack the temporary camp of Ives, which includes some women and other civilians. Most of the soldiers and civilians are killed, but, inexplicably, Ives survives, and journeys with the rest to the nearest fort.....Vagabond scout Adam Reed(Roy Calhoun) happens upon Bostonian Kathrine(Peggy Castle) swimming in the nude in a small lake. Seems she's staying with Major Ives' bunch because her boyfriend is a lieutenant there. After this titillating scene, Reed interacts with her periodically, as he hangs around the camp. After her boyfriend is killed in the Indian attack, she soon latches onto Reed as the man most likely to insure her survival. Eventually, they kiss and hug several times. Given Reed's preferred wandering lifestyle, I'm not sure they have a future together, in which case, Kathren probably will return to the civilization of Boston....A more convincing developing couple consist of Mexican Tonio Perez(Noah Berry) and Nez Pierce maiden Honey Bear(Rita Moreno). As she emphatically states, she's not Cheyenne, who destroyed her native village. Tonio treats her well, thus she sticks with him, despite his perception that she is too young for him. That is, until she saves him from an Indian attacker. Thereafter, he's more accepting of her. Rita provides a beautiful impish presence, being more charismatic than blond Peggy Castle. ....One aspect of the story that doesn't come across as tenable is Major Ives' eventual desperate claim that he is part Cheyenne(and thus should be spared by the Cheyenne, out for vengeance). ....This B&W B western has a cheesy feel to it, but is generally acceptable entertainment. See it on YouTube.... Besides Major Ives, there is another villain on the European side in Peter Graves, as Sawyer. Along with his 2 buddies, he was a gold prospector, presumably on Cheyenne land. They were attacked by Cheyenne, and his one buddy got an arrow to the chest. Sawyer brought him to the army camp. While other's weren't looking, he drove the arrow deeper into his chest, killing him. He later admitted he killed his other partner for the gold. He met his end trying to escape into the bush with his sack of gold, where an Indian was hiding.

Good Lesley Selander vintage

[searchanddestroy-1 · 18 December 2022]

This western belongs to the second part of career for Lesley Selander, his best part, unlike his cheap one, during the forties. Here, with more budget, he is of course more comfortable, and without being under the lack of freedom, which is usually the bad side of a bigger budget. Producers generally remove any wish for something new, or unusual, when some directors dare something daring. Exectuves only seek the gross, and in that purpose, the key is to propose to audiences what they seek for, what they search for, and certainly not something unexpected. Such a shame. Here, with this film, and others that he made more or less in the same period, Lesley Selander makes me think of a total freedom, concerning camera angles, characters study, and above all the Indian attack over the cavalry base camp, so violent, so brutal, with shocking scenes of women slaughtered with tomahawk. Yes, this is a very effective, excellent western from a specialist. An overall atmosphere and spirit that you can't forget, especially from a grade B movie, and not a Z.

Sunday morning coffee western...

[clwbchpat · 3/10 · 8 November 2005]

I happened to have seen this movie this morning on TCM. Very bad acting, low budget and poor plot are the impressions I felt while watching the movie. The only highlight of the movie was watching tender young Rita Moreno, (23 years old), playing a teenage Indian squaw in love with an older man in his 50's. She reminded me of a earlier version of Sue Lyon as Lolita (1962), only a more innocent Lolita. She bounces up and down like a 1950's teeny bopper, almost as if you would expect her to be chewing gum, falling all over this old man, willing to give him anything, as he plays it off like she's a hindrance to him. Any man in his 50's that had a beautiful, virgin, teenage girl willing to do ANYTHING for him and be his bride, would be insane not to take advantage of her. It's too bad that the censorship board back when this movie was released didn't permit more of an expansion of a character such as Rita Moreno's. The only reason why I gave this movie a 3 instead of a 1 is Rita Moreno's appearance in the movie.

Another western sleeper from the 1950s with good plot, acting, characters of some depth , and violent action

[mvescovi · 8/10 · 7 May 2008]

Major Ives (Warner Anderson), one of the commanding officers of the infamous Sand Creek Massacre ( an actual event) is building a fort in Cheyenne territory. Fireknife(Lee Van Cleef) , tells his friend Adam Reed (Rory Calhoun) to warn the soldiers that they must go or be killed. This is a true act of decency as they know the butcher Ives is in command and they really want him: and revenge for the slaughter he caused. Reed and Fireknife may actually have been blood brothers as they refer to each other as brothers and Reed tells Catherine (Peggy Castle) "the Indians are as much my people as you are." The arrogant Ives won't listen, the Indians attack and the action is unusually violent for it's time. (When Catherine tries to find her former fiancé she says, with a look of horror " I can't tell if it's him") The survivors are forced to go through Cheyenne territory to another fort to reach safety, and this sets up a confrontation between friend Reed and Fireknife.

This is another example of a modestly budgeted western with a superior script, very good acting and characters of some depth. Also, the Indians are not the "bad guys". Reed tells Catherine " It might surprise you but Indians love their children and are loyal to their friends." And Fireknife does save his life There is also a very interesting twist in the end which I do not believe has been done before or since. Definitely worth seeing.

The film was originally shot in color but only black and white prints were every released on television. This film deserves to be restored.

Some things to like

[drystyx · 6/10 · 14 September 2015]

A lot of the B Westerns were "fluff", but usually the director or writer would want to add some "sidebar" on for their personal motif.

It is the "sidebar" that is usually the message the director and writer want to display. Sometimes, it is "advertising" for products, such as tobacco companies, soda companies, or what have you.

Here, either Director Selander, or writers Simmons and Boone, looked to want to add their own flavor to a fairly routine cavalry Western.

Like most Westerns of the day, the Indians are depicted as semi good guys with evil white men upsetting the apple cart.

The overkill of the evil white men has always been very politically correct, and especially was in the decades that followed this movie.

However, the real sidebar here is what happens with the evil corrupt cavalry officer who causes at least two massacres, quite knowingly, quite viciously.

Also, a few red herrings come into play here. The fates of a few of the characters you won't guess, as they go against the usual Hollywood propaganda formula. Thus, this particular Western has some surprises by the end.

Garbage Western That Argues Race is More Important Than Morality

[bkkaz · 2/10 · 10 February 2023]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, this is one of those stories that purports to show the injustices done against Native Americans but, being told through the point of view of its non-Indigenous characters, ultimately just says the settlers are going to stick together no matter how wrong they are.

There are any number of problems with this movie, from the casting of non-Indigenous actors in roles as Indigenous People to a lumbering pace to Rory Calhoun, who though perhaps a nice guy isn't riveting leading man material, not even in a B movie western while wearing tons of mascara.

Some details are more or less right. The Army uniforms are closer to actual gear of the time, though as with standard Hollywood procedure, are far too clean and fitted.

You already know how history turns out, but this movie -- though I'm sure pretending to be rather progressive for its time -- reminds us why.

The worst kind of brute.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 4 December 2023]

The twists concerning army major Warner Anderson are infuriating, and it'll take some time for me to determine if it's a flaw in reality of the screenplay or inside the psyche that has made Anderson the way he is. But that does make for a fascinating ethical battle as his brutal charscter is absolutely vile and probably deserves a worse fate than he gets. It's touching that army scout Rory Calhoun has brotherly love for Cheyenne warrior Lee Van Cleef, and the giving of a family heirloom to Calhoun seals that bond. But this is a time of settlement in the old west, and there's going to be casualties, some shockingly brutal.

The script does give the Cheyenne motive for their brutality, and it comes from white man brutality that led to their revenge. The battle scene is lengthy and horrifying, insinuating more blood than is shown, making me wonder how this looked in the long missing color print. Peggie Castle as Calhoun's love interest and Noah Beery, Jr. Are good in support, but they are overshadowed by Calhoun, Van Cleef and Anderson, with the tension building up to a shocking finale where the unexpected does happen. Like it or not, I found it quite real and thus somewhat sad.

A Fairly Average Western Movie

[Uriah43 · 5/10 · 3 August 2022]

This film begins with a scout by the name of "Adam Reed" (Rory Calhoun) being brought to a Cheyenne chief named "Fire Knife" (Lee Van Cleef) to discuss a matter of utmost concern. At this meeting, Fire Knife tells Adam that a U. S. Army is in violation of a treaty that states that no forts are allowed to be built in that section of Wyoming. Fire Knife further states that, unless the fort is immediately abandoned, the Cheyenne will kill everyone inside and then burn it to the ground. He then gives Adam a yellow tomahawk to give to the commander of the fort to show that the Cheyenne mean business. With that, Adam is released and goes to deliver the message to the commander of the fort. Unfortunately, when he tells "Major Ives" (Warner Anderson) the message, rather than abandoning the fort, the order is given to speed up construction on it instead--and this has drastic consequences for all involved. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this turned out to be an okay movie due in large part to the number of solid actors involved. Admittedly, the plot was fairly standard and the ending was somewhat predictable, but even so it was worth the time spent and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

Typical 50's Western but good.

[Flaming_star_69 · 8/10 · 25 September 2005]

An Indian scout warns the settlers around the army post they are in danger from Indians and he is proved right. Twenty-seven year old Castle fills out her tight-fitting shirt and jeans and makes her presence known as she breaks her engagement with an army officer and falls for Calhoun--who, as a scout, rescues her and the commander after the raid. But the rescue is only temporarily as, on their way to the nearest fort, they are attacked again by Indians led by Lee Van Cleef. He and his fellow Indians want the commander for what he did at Sand Creek. It was there, in history, that the Federal army slaughtered Indian women and children without giving them a chance to surrender. Calhoun wants to keep him alive and take him to the fort for court-martial so to help stop future slaughter of Indians.

It's a typical 50's Western but one of the good ones--perhaps because of Rory Calhoun (who was always good) or Peggy Castle who made cowboys glad they were men. Or both!

Good western, offers different perspective on westward migration.

[bux · 8/10 · 23 October 1998]

Calhoun spends much of his time in this film, warning the builders and settlers of a new army outpost, that they will be wiped out by the hostiles. In this decidedly downbeat tale, he is not only snubbed by authority, but mocked and ridiculed...and guess what? The action scenes are done well, and the unusual ending is fresh.

Surprisingly Good Western --

[alonzoiii-1 · 8/10 · 17 May 2005]

The 1950s was the decade of the message western, and this is a low budget version of the genre. But don't let the low budget (or the deterioration of the film negative) scare you away. This story about a bloody confrontation that is the direct result of a barbarous US general's attempt to occupy Indian lands is surprisingly brutal, sympathetic to the native Americans, and much more cynical about the inherent decency of those in power than one would expect from a movie from this era. Yes, if you look, you will find ample and annoying western movie clichés. Rory Calhoun and Rita Moreno are the recognizable stars here -- and they are playing types, rather than roles. (Rory is the scout raised by the native Americans, who is conflicted. Rita Moreno has an obnoxious role as the cute native American who has attached herself to Rory's Mexican sidekick). The reason to watch is plot, pacing, and, yes, the ending that you will not predict.

Note. The film was shot in color, but TCM broadcast it in black and white. This looks like a film in bad need of restoration, particularly as much of it was shot against sagebrush that was actually in bloom.

Interesting

[starwood-34136 · 8/10 · 8 March 2021]

The movie I am watching has a Howard Koch listed as director and is black and white. I have enjoyed Calhoun's success and am sorry he was overlooked while Noah Berry jr. Continued. Our loss. Big difference in Calhoun's performance from this film to 1965 Apache Uprising.