Sierra Nevada Jones (Barbara Stanwyck) arrives in Buffalo Valley, Montana, with her father. They’ve come all the way from Texas with dreams of starting a new ranch on fertile land with ample water.
But the night before “Pop” Jones plans to file his claim to the property, Indians attack. The cattle are stampeded. Only Sierra Nevada and the Nat Collins (Chubby Johnson) survive. They’re found by Colorados, a Blackfoot Indian who attended school in the east and wants peace with the whites.
Turns out the raid on Jones’ “77 Brand” outfit was pulled off by Natchakoa, a Blackfoot warrior who plans to compete with Colorados for control of the tribe once the elder chief has passed on.
He’s been in cahoots with a rancher named McCord, who pays off the Indians to drive other settlers out of Buffalo Valley. Sometimes, the payment is in cattle. Sometimes, the payment is in rifles.
With the unlikely aid of Colorados, Sierra Nevada sets about fulfilling her dream of a cattle ranch in Montana. And she’s out to prove it was McCord who was responsible for her father’s demise and the theft of their herd. After all, he filed claim to the very same land the day after her father’s death.
McCord orders the woman and Nat Collins dead. They’re unfortunate loose ends he can’t afford. And he has a new hired gunman to nip off those loose ends — a man named Farrell (Ronald Reagan).
Review:
Supposedly, Robert Mitchum was supposed to play the Ronald Reagan part but turned down the film because he didn’t like the script. Little wonder considering how far-fetched it is.
Fortunately, the film is heavy on action and Stanwyck fiery as ever, spending most of the film with a gun strapped on. She even has one of those “swimming” scenes that seemed to pop up in so many 1950s Western. This time, the cowpoke riding by is Farrell, of course.
Oh, Farrell’s character isn’t what he seems to be. That’s the film’s big plot twist. This marked just the second credited role for Lance Fuller (he played a cavalry officer in “Taza, Son of Cochise.” Let’s just say he’s more convincing as a cavalry officer than a Blackfoot warrior.
Yvette Duguay plays an pretty Indian woman who wants to be Colorados’ squaw, but is jealous of the attention he pays Sierra Nevada and winds up siding with Natchakoa as a result.
Directed by:
Allan Dwan
Cast:
Barbara Stanwyck … Sierra Nevada Jones
Ronald Reagan … Farrell
Gene Evans … Tom McCord
Lance Fuller … Colorados
Anthony Caruso … Natchakoa
Jack Elam … Yost
Yvette Duguay … Starfire
Morris Ankrum … J.I. “Pop” Jones
Chubby Johnson … Nat Collins
Myron Healey … Hank
Rodd Redwing … Powhani
Paul Birch … Col. Carrington
Burt Mustin … Dan
Byron Foulger … Land office clerk
Runtime: 88 min.
Memorable lines:
Tom McCord, inspecting Farrell’s six-gun: “No notches.”
Farrell: “New job; new gun.”
Sierra Nevada Jones: “Why don’t you kill us and get it over with.”
Colorados: “This animal, this redskin, brought you here so the vultures would not feed upon your flesh.”
Natchakoa to Colorados: “You have learned the soft ways of the whites. You are not fit to lead Blackfeet warriors.”
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