Davy Crockett, Indian Scout (1950)

George Montgomery plays the title character, the nephew of the Davy who died at the Alamo.

He and faithful sidekick Red Hawk (Philip Reed) are scouting for the Army and helping guide a wagon train to California when it comes under attack by Indians.

At the height of the battle, school marm Frances Oatman (Ellen Drew) appears on her wagon, driven by a deaf mute, as they flee the marauding redskins.

Davy and his friends help rescue her. Pretty soon, it’s clear he’d love to be her new star pupil

But suspicions abound that someone is tipping off the Indians about the Army’s movements.

And when Red Hawk learns that pretty Frances is part Indian — well, he can’t help but be suspicious of her.

Indeed, she and her supposedly mute assistant are slipping information to her father, chief of the Kiowa.

And with the Army desperate to resupply a garrison at Fort Gardner, the key piece of information he needs is which route the troops will take.

Once that information is revealed, Frances and her driver slip off in the middle of the night to deliver word to the Indians.

But are they the ones responsible for the attack that follows?

Review:

Lively action footage and a plot that has the leading lady playing traitor — and playing with the hearts to two males leads — helps make this worth watching.

Unfortunately, the plot gets more fanciful as the film progresses. At one point, Drew spends about 20 minutes of the film dressed as an Indian princess.

And the way Davy saves the wagon train and the ending that follows are both groan worthy.

Noah Beery Jr. plays the leader of the wagon train, which for some reason decides to tag along with the Army on the dangerous trip to Fort Gardner. Addison Richards is the Army commander.

This film was re-released when Davy Crockett became a huge hit for Disney.

Directed by:
Lew Landers

Cast:
George Montgomery … Davy Crockett
Ellen Drew … Frances Oatman
Phillip Reed … Red Hawk
Noah Beery Jr. … Tex McGee
Paul Guilfoyle … Ben
Addison Richards … Capt. Weightman
Robert Barrat … James Lone Eagle
Erik Rolf … Mr. Simms
Vera Marshe … Mrs. Simms
Jimmy Moss … Jimmy Simms
Billy Wilkerson … High Tree
John Hamilton … Col. Pollard
Chief Thundercloud … Sleeping Fox
Ray Teal … Capt. McHale
Kenne Duncan … Sgt. Gordon

Runtime: 71 min.

Memorable lines:

Crockett: “You, a school marm?”
Frances Oatman: “Yes. Is that so startling?”
Crockett: “Yes ma’am, it sure is. Where’d I get the idea that a school marm looked like last year’s bird’s nest.”

Red Hawk to Frances: “It is difficult for one of Indian blood to hide it from another. I felt it the first time I saw you.”

Red Hawk: “When the hungry fox hunts, he overlooks no tracks.”

Red Hawk: “In the dark, wolf and coyote look alike.”
Davy Crockett: “Yea, but tonight, we’re weasel trappin’.”

James Lone Eagle, of Frances: “Her heart is with her mother’s people. Now let her die with them.”

Robert Barrat as James Lone Eagle, an adviser for the Army whose allegiance lies with the Indians in Davy Crockett, Indian Scout (1950)

Jimmy Moss as Jimmy Simms, convinced Davy’s friend Red Hawk is a traitor in Davy Crockett, Indian Scout (1950)

Paul Guilfoyle as Ben, the supposedly deaf and mute driver for Frances Oatman in Davy Crockett, Indian Scout (1950)

Phillip Reed as Red Hawk and Ellen Drew as Frances Oatman watch a settler take an arrow in Davy Crockett, Indian Scout (1950)