The White Squaw

A very different and interesting western. The subject is the creation of a Sioux Indian reservation. The Indians concerned had lived in the Black Hills of South Dakota. While they are trying to survive on the new reservation, they need to buy some cattle because they can't "eat grass." The movie concerns the opposition of the ranchers who had previously owned/used the reservation areas, who poison the water, commit murder, etc. Another interesting plot line is the young Indian girl whose father was white and sent money to the tribe for years to take care of the girl. When the Indians find a trail drive that will sell them the cattle,they run into heavy opposition from the whites. Only the Indian agent and the sheriff, and the cattle driver, try to help the Indians. This is an aspect of western history that is not widely known or discussed. It is worth trying to gain an understanding of the beginnings of the reservations, and of the Indians themselves.

Not ambitious and cheap western but worth the watch, the same kind of interest - but at a lesser scale though - that the one you could have with the Budd Boetticher's westerns made in the late fifties and starring Randolph Sott. It is not a western speaking of an anti Indian tale, on the contrary. It exposes the greed from the White folks. OK, it is surely not a masterpiece, and David Brian brings an unexpected performance. Yes, I like this little Columbia Pictures that was lucky enough to be produced by Wallace Mc Donald instead of the bland and horrible Sam Katzman. I was afraid of this before I seat in front of my TV set, I admit.

Eetay-O-Wahnee (May Wynn, the Caine Mutiny) is a white squaw raised by a Native American tribe. Not knowing her true father, the secret is revealed when he wills her half of his land on his deathbed. A ruthless landowner (David Brian, Intruder in the Dust), however, will do anything to keep Eetay-O-Wahnee and her tribe from getting even an acre of the land.

Very good western with a sympathetic attitude towards native Americans. It's quite a different western and hasn't has much of trappings of the usual cowboy vs Indians - it's not loaded with action but has more drama, a fast moving plot and some good dialogue, all that makes this Ray Navarro directed western quite gripping. There's good performances by May Wynn, William Bishop, George Keymas as a hothead native, Brian Keith as an obnoxious racist rancher and the rest of the cast. Check out the fight between Bishop and Brian - it's quite brutal fisticuffs that lasts a while, and unusually the hero doesn't come out on top. The ending is quite fiery.

This film essentially begins with 4 cowboys attempting to poison an important water source used by a small tribe of Sioux Indians who had recently been relocated to that area by the U. S. government. The leader of the cowboys is a man named "Sigrod Swanson" (David Brian) and, along with his 3 sons, feel that the land belongs to them--and they don't care whether innocent people die because of their actions. However, just as Sigrod is in the process of pouring the liquid into the pond, some other cowboys ride up to confront him about it. Unfortunately, they arrive a little too late because, hiding nearby is a small group of Sioux who, upon seeing Sigrod poisoning the pond, open fire upon all of them. To that effect, although they succeed in mortally wounding one of the men, the person they shoot just happens to be the agent responsible for their health and welfare. Not only that, but when the Sioux eventually retreat, an attractive woman named "Eetay-O-Wanee" (May Wynn) is recognized and subsequently held accountable--even though she was there attempting to prevent hostilities in the first place. So, unaware of this fact, all kinds of problems arise when she subsequently tries to buy cattle in town from an honest cowboy named "Bob Garth" (William Bishop). Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this film turned out to be somewhat better than I initially expected. Admittedly, the movie is somewhat dated, but even so, I enjoyed it for the most part and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

Director Ray Nazarro brands this oater with the distinctive Nazarro touch, namely flat lighting, dreary compositions and inattention to detail.

Still, the film has a fresh, compelling story to recommend it, one with topical urgency. Ruthless land baron David Brian (in a career high performance), a European immigrant who has achieved the American dream, makes life hell for Native American sodbusters in general and a half-breed babe in particular.

It also boasts a glittering cast of low-budget luminaries: May "The Unknown Terror" Wynn as the titular tootsie, Myron "Varan the Unbelievable" Healey as a lecherous lout, Paul "My eyes are alien!" Birch as a kindly rancher, Emil "The Fourth Stooge" Sitka as a squeamish barfly, Frank "It is balloon!" DeKova as a Sioux chief, Russ Meyer regular Henry "Martin Bormann" Rowland as a shifty-eyed cowhand and frequent Sam Fuller bit player Neyle "I am impotent and I like it!" Morrow as a Sioux Indian brave named Swift Arrow.

Well worth a look, especially for psychotronic stargazers.