This was John Ford's last Western before 7 WOMEN and his retirement, and compared to many of his movies, is weak and loses steam after the first half.
The first part of the movie concerns about the Cheyenne population that since is tired that their treaty with the US government is broken, they migrate for 1,500 miles towards their ancient grounds. Cavalry Captain Thomas Archer (Richard Widmark) has to retrieve them, but ends up respecting them and helping them.
As many consider it even today, this is a misfire by a great director. Despite a cast that includes Richard Widmark, Carroll Baker, Karl Malden, Sal Mineo, Dolores del Rio, Ricardo Montalban, Gilbert Roland and even Edward G. Robinson, the movie has two flaws. Half-way in the movie we have a pointless cameo by James Stewart, Arthur Kennedy and John Carradine (as Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and a Major) playing poker in a saloon until Elizabeth Allan passes by. Was it necessary having three major stars in such a pointless and awkward cameo? Second, in the second part, especially before the ending, the movie drags a bit. I have nothing against long movies, provided that they engage the viewer until the very end. I honestly think that if they would have chopped at least 30 minutes the movie would have been better to digest.
In substance, not a great movie but not a terrible one either. Just a prime example in how even the best directors can have their misfires.
The first part of the movie concerns about the Cheyenne population that since is tired that their treaty with the US government is broken, they migrate for 1,500 miles towards their ancient grounds. Cavalry Captain Thomas Archer (Richard Widmark) has to retrieve them, but ends up respecting them and helping them.
As many consider it even today, this is a misfire by a great director. Despite a cast that includes Richard Widmark, Carroll Baker, Karl Malden, Sal Mineo, Dolores del Rio, Ricardo Montalban, Gilbert Roland and even Edward G. Robinson, the movie has two flaws. Half-way in the movie we have a pointless cameo by James Stewart, Arthur Kennedy and John Carradine (as Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and a Major) playing poker in a saloon until Elizabeth Allan passes by. Was it necessary having three major stars in such a pointless and awkward cameo? Second, in the second part, especially before the ending, the movie drags a bit. I have nothing against long movies, provided that they engage the viewer until the very end. I honestly think that if they would have chopped at least 30 minutes the movie would have been better to digest.
In substance, not a great movie but not a terrible one either. Just a prime example in how even the best directors can have their misfires.