From director John Ford comes this moving tribute to the Native American. Unlike his early films where they were seen as uncivilized savages, this film " Cheyenne Autumn " depicts them as they really are. Natives Americans who long wish to return to their Homeland. Set against the beautiful, panoramic landscape, these noble people set out across the open desert. Although it's 1,500 miles and in the mists of sub-zero winter, they struggle to reach their sacred ground where they wish to live with their children. Along the way, their every encounter with the White man is met with racial hostility and murder. Their most threatening adversary is the American Press which decries the Indian as everything from blood-thirty barbarians to a marauding hoard of renegades. The inner story is of sympathetic Capt. Thomas Archer (Richard Widmark) a Calvalry Officer who understands their plight and attempts to see the Sect. of the Interior (Edward G. Robinson) to correct a grievous injustice. Within the Cheyenne Tribe are two brothers, Little Wolf and Dull Knife (Ricardo Montalban, Golbert Roland) who wrestle with conflicting methods as to how to win their ultimate victory. This is difficult as Dull Knife's son (Sal Mineo) is seen as dishonorable for coveting Little Wolf's wife. With a plethora of Hollywood stars like Mike Mazurki, Karl Malden, James Steward, Patrick Wayne, Arthur Kennedy, Carroll Baker, John Carradine, Victory Jory and Ken Curtis, this film nearly becomes top heavy. Instead the entire cast makes for a tremendous effort to establish what has come to be known as a John Ford Classic. Excellent film. ****