A young cavalry doctor, against orders, treats very sick Indians who are forced to stay on unhealthy land, which could lead to a war.A young cavalry doctor, against orders, treats very sick Indians who are forced to stay on unhealthy land, which could lead to a war.A young cavalry doctor, against orders, treats very sick Indians who are forced to stay on unhealthy land, which could lead to a war.
- Capt. Peter Blake
- (as Phil Carey)
- Wounded Trooper
- (uncredited)
- Bugler
- (uncredited)
- indian Woman
- (uncredited)
- Lt. Finlay
- (uncredited)
- Trooper
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaSecond picture in a row for Robert Francis and May Wynn sharing significant screen time together in each film.
- GoofsWhen the Indians ride away after attacking the fort, there are no dead bodies in sight, even though many Indians were killed.
- Quotes
Capt. Peter Blake: You've disobeyed orders by coming here. Let's go.
[pause]
Capt. Peter Blake: Doctor, I said let's go!
Dr. Allen Seward: Now we'll fix you up little fellow.
Capt. Peter Blake: I said let's go, Doctor.
Dr. Allen Seward: It's going to be alright. Now, son, drink this.
Capt. Peter Blake: [Cocks gun] You're under arrest.
Dr. Allen Seward: 2 people have already died of malaria here. 22 more are sick. Would you mind not shooting me until after I've treated them?
At first I thought Donna Reed's super-coy little flirt was nothing more than star-casting that would ruin the movie. But the script deals intelligently with her development as the plot darkens. Carey's excellent as the no-nonsense Captain, who's the realist counterpoint to the doctor's idealism. Note how he's never treated with disrespect even though some of his decisions seem ethically callous. Too bad, however, the writers included the tiresome cliché of a whiskey- loving sergeant as comedy relief. Nonetheless, director Karlson, who would later excel at crime dramas, keeps things moving, and wonder of wonders, even has the Indians shrewdly shooting horses out from under the cavalry.
The movie's theme reflects the growing racial consciousness of the 1950's. I like the way a bond is established between the doctor and the medicine man in their common human concern with healing. But just as importantly, the screenplay manages to make its point without getting preachy. Sure, the production is low-budget, never getting out of greater LA, with an Indian encampment that looks about as real as a Disneyland tableau. Still, it's a thoughtful and generally well-executed little horse opera that's better than it ought to be.
- dougdoepke
- May 19, 2011
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Details
- Runtime1 hour 24 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1