Buffalo Bill in Tomahawk Territory (1952)

Clayton Moore is Buffalo Bill Cody, driving a promised herd of beef to the Indians with the help of his sidekick Cactus.

But in spite of a peace treaty, trouble’s brewing between the whites and the Sioux because of recent Indian raids.

In fact, Bill and Cactus ride to the rescue during one such attack, only to find out the wagon train full of women is really a cavalry detail in disguise, designed to lure the Sioux into a trap.

As for the Indians, it’s an odd attack, according to Bill, because they collect all their dead and wounded before fleeing into the hills.

Then, when Bill and Cactus try to drive their herd through a nearby town, the settlers demand proof that the Sioux weren’t responsible for the recent raids before the cattle are delivered.

So Bill rides off to meet with his old friend, Sioux Chief White Cloud, who insists his braves have remained peaceful, but are getting impatient waiting for the beef promised in the treaty.

Turns out whites masquerading as Indians are the root of the problem. A man named Blake is behind those attacks.

The reason: He’s learned there’s gold on the land occupied by the Sioux and wants them driven from the area.

Review:

Released in 1952, this film looks at least 10 years older, partly because of the liberal use of stock footage for all the large-scale action scenes.

It’s of interest only because it was one in a handful of films Clayton Moore starred in during a one-year hiatus from playing The Lone Ranger on TV because of a salary dispute.

As Buffalo Bill, Clayton’s as heroic as ever, defeating a renegade Sioux in hand-to-hand combat, finding a buffalo herd when no one else can and single-handedly preventing an all-out Indian war.

His sidekick here is Slim Andrews as Cactus, around mostly for comic relief. Specifically, he’s trying to avoid marriage to a homely cavalry cook named Maria, though he sure loves her food.

Charles Harvey plays cavalry commander Lt. George Bryan, who’s trying to talk Janet Walker (Sharon Dexter) into marriage. She’s hesitant because his job is so dangerous with the Sioux on the warpath.

Adding to the outdated feel of the film is a musical interlude, courtesy of The Broome Brothers, with Dexter providing a vocal assist on one song.

Directed by:
Bernard B. Ray

Cast:
Clayton Moore … Buffalo Bill Cody
Slim Andrews … Cactus
Charles Harvey … Lt. George Bryan
Rodd Redwing … Running Deer
Shooting Star … Indian brave
Chief Yowlachie … Chief White Cloud
Chief Thundercloud … Black Hawk
Charlie Hughes … Pinfeathers
Eddie Phillips … Blake
Tom Hubbard … Bill Stokey
Sharon Dexter … Janet Walker
Helena Dare … Maria

Runtime: 66 min.

Song:
“The Old Panhandle Trail”
by The Broome Brothers
with Sharon Dexter

Memorable lines:

Cactus: “Well, Bill, I didn’t mind fightin’ Injuns with ya. And I didn’t mind crossin’ the Great Divide. But when it comes to playin’ nurse maid to a darn orphaned calf, I’m gonna draw the line.”

Cactus, in the middle of an Indian attack on a wagon train: “Watch yourself, Bill?”
Buffalo Bill: “What is it?”
Cactus: “Females. Nothin’ but females. This must be a marryin’ (wagon) train.”

White Cloud, to his renegade braves: “In the teepees of your fathers, there will be wailing for the dead tonight. ”
Fellow Sioux: “White Cloud beats the drums of death too soon. Every Sioux brave has the right to speak.”
White Cloud: “Before the mantel of death covers you, speak, so all may hear.”

Running Bear: “Why do my people turn their face from me? I am not their enemy.” He pointed toward Buffalo Bill. “There is the enemy. His people have driven the buffalo away. Now he comes with white man’s cattle to soften the bellies of the Sioux … He who eats of the white man’s meat becomes his dog.”