In 1866 the U. S. Government and the leaders of the Sioux Nations met to negotiate a passage through Indian territory, when gold is discovered in the mountains of Montana. Unable to reach an agreement, the U. S. Cavalry defy the peace treaty and build a fort to protect their new road.
Van Heflin stars as Jim Bridger, a scout hired by the cavalry and the only man capable of defusing the powder-keg situation. Against the backdrop of a potential war, Bridger must also face personal demons when he runs into Lieutenant Rob Dancy, a bigoted army officer with a dark history.
Tomahawk is loosely based around several incidents involving Bridger when he was a scout for the US Cavalry in Wyoming, with his affinity with Sioux Chief Red Cloud- Van Heflin plays Jim Bridger and is excellent in the role. His sympathy with the Indian is strong and he tries his best to persuade the top dogs not to gun for war. However, there's a bigot of a lieutenant, who had once rode with Chivington - he kills a young Buck, hence a confrontation starts. There's a nice intrigue surrounding Bridger and the Lieutenant.
It's a solid western with good drama, dialogue and action and a feeling of authenticity, mainly down to the fact Bridger converses in Sioux dialect to Susan Cabot's Indian maiden and Red Cloud. Another nice touch is that Yvonne DeCarlo doesn't get the guy. There's no romance as you would expect.
Van Heflin stars as Jim Bridger, a scout hired by the cavalry and the only man capable of defusing the powder-keg situation. Against the backdrop of a potential war, Bridger must also face personal demons when he runs into Lieutenant Rob Dancy, a bigoted army officer with a dark history.
Tomahawk is loosely based around several incidents involving Bridger when he was a scout for the US Cavalry in Wyoming, with his affinity with Sioux Chief Red Cloud- Van Heflin plays Jim Bridger and is excellent in the role. His sympathy with the Indian is strong and he tries his best to persuade the top dogs not to gun for war. However, there's a bigot of a lieutenant, who had once rode with Chivington - he kills a young Buck, hence a confrontation starts. There's a nice intrigue surrounding Bridger and the Lieutenant.
It's a solid western with good drama, dialogue and action and a feeling of authenticity, mainly down to the fact Bridger converses in Sioux dialect to Susan Cabot's Indian maiden and Red Cloud. Another nice touch is that Yvonne DeCarlo doesn't get the guy. There's no romance as you would expect.