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.
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.