I have been a fan of Tim McCoy's westerns for some time. This is because he played 'normal' characters---not the pretty boys who sang their way through the old west. Additionally, McCoy really WAS a cowboy--who knew how to ride and rope horses, was a world-class shot as well as a Colonel in the Army! He brought a realism that was often lacking in many of the other B-western stars of his age.
Of the dozens of McCoy films I have seen, this is one of his best. Much of it is because of how the American Indians are portrayed in the film. The film is extremely sympathetic towards them--much more than other films of the era. McCoy's character even makes a very impressive speech about how badly these people have been treated by the White folks and the Indians in the film are actual Indians--with authentic costumes and sign language! You just don't normally see this concern for the tribes in most westerns.
As for the story, McCoy plays Captain Tim Travers in the Cavalry. When his men are attacked by the natives and he alone survives, the idea that perhaps Travers was working with the Indians takes hold and he is soon tossed out of the service in disgrace. In response to this and the death of his young son, Travers goes to live with the Indians and his life as a White man is over...at least for now. When his people are later attacked by the Cavalry, he fights with them--killing one of the soldiers. Will it be the firing squad for Travers?
Other than the way the natives are treated, this is also a very unusual movie in so many ways that it also seems like it's not a B- movie. Folks who are major characters who normally would NEVER die in a B-western die, the usual clichés are mostly missing and the film really keeps your attention far more than the usual film in this overcrowded genre. My score of 9 is not because it's one of the best westerns ever made--but among the Bs, it is. Among McCoy's best--and definitely one of his top performances in addition to the terrific script.
By the way, I have no idea why but IMDb reveals in the summary who framed Travers! Huh?!
