Made in 1964, this was one of a number of movies from the 60s and 70s that were sympathetic to the plight of Native Americans in the 19th century. It portrayed how the U.S. government never kept its promises or treaties with Native Americans, how the government was influenced and controlled by land speculators, mining interests, buffalo hunters, railroad builders, and others. In showing how the Cheyenne suffered and ultimately endured on its 1,500 trek from a barren reservation to their native lands in the Yellowstone area, the movie was successful in bringing their story as originally told in Mari Sandoz novel to the screen.
As a movie, however, the film had some disappointing and awkward moments. The major one was the abrupt change of scene to Dodge City, where Wyatt Earp, portrayed by James Stewart, gets the best of a quartet of Texas cowboys (who had just ambushed, killed and scalped a young Cheyenne scout and were bragging about their exploits in the saloon where Earp was playing poker). Following this divergence from the main story the film returns to the plight of the Cheyenne and we never see nor hear from Earp again. Needless to say, it's not surprising when the film's credits prominently feature Jimmy Stewart, even though his role was a cameo at best.
Another awkward scene is when representatives from the Army (Richard Widmark as Capt. Archer) and the Secretary of the Interior (Edward G. Robinson as Carl Schurz) are negotiating with the Cheyenne in the majestic Monument Valley country. Behind these people we can see soldiers and horses lined up in formation waiting for the outcome of the negotiations. But wait! Not a single soldier or horse is moving, even breathing. It's so obvious the background is a photograph and the "negotiators" were filmed on a sound stage with a blue screen background.
As a movie, however, the film had some disappointing and awkward moments. The major one was the abrupt change of scene to Dodge City, where Wyatt Earp, portrayed by James Stewart, gets the best of a quartet of Texas cowboys (who had just ambushed, killed and scalped a young Cheyenne scout and were bragging about their exploits in the saloon where Earp was playing poker). Following this divergence from the main story the film returns to the plight of the Cheyenne and we never see nor hear from Earp again. Needless to say, it's not surprising when the film's credits prominently feature Jimmy Stewart, even though his role was a cameo at best.
Another awkward scene is when representatives from the Army (Richard Widmark as Capt. Archer) and the Secretary of the Interior (Edward G. Robinson as Carl Schurz) are negotiating with the Cheyenne in the majestic Monument Valley country. Behind these people we can see soldiers and horses lined up in formation waiting for the outcome of the negotiations. But wait! Not a single soldier or horse is moving, even breathing. It's so obvious the background is a photograph and the "negotiators" were filmed on a sound stage with a blue screen background.