Dick Ross (James Craig) and mischievous bother Carey (Keith Larsen) flee across the border into Canada following a fuss over a crooked game of poker.
Lacking other plans, they join the North West Mounted Police and find themselves trying to help prevent an outbreak of war. Sitting Bull has fled across the border, too, after his victory at the Little Big Horn, and he’d like nothing better than to convince the Blackfoot Indians to join him on the warpath.
Sitting Bull and his Sioux warriors try their best to stir up trouble, launching a couple of raids against whites. But Blackfoot Chief Crowfoot condemns such activity. The whites respect his tribe and he has faith in the white man’s law.
That faith is tested when his son is put on trial for murder. Seems someone stole an Indian’s furs. The trapper who is implicated is found dead. And there’s no sign of Carey Ross, who went out to make the arrest. Eagle Heart is arrested and could be sentenced to hang.
With his brother missing, Dick Ross goes out to investigate. He might not like what he discovers.
Review:
Pretty lame and padded with a liberal dose of stock footage. But give these characters credit: They have some of the best eyesight ever displayed in a Western.
A band of Indians rides by a few hundred yards off, and the Ross brothers identify the chief as Sitting Bull. Carey takes a couple pot shots at Indians on a nearby ridge, and one of the Indians later has no trouble identifying him among a troop of other redcoats.
The film dwells on the Canadians ability to get along with their Indians neighbors through mutual trust. When the U.S. cavalry shows up offering to help subdue Sitting Bull, their assistance is turned down, though the Northwest Mounted Police are sorely outnumbered.
Rita Moreno has second billing as the flirtatious daughter of a shopkeeper. Fortunately, the plot didn’t call for a silly romantic subplot, so she’s nothing but window dressing.
Directed by:
Lesley Selander
Cast:
James Craig … Dick Ross
Rita Moreno … Bridget Fitzgibbon
Keith Larsen … Carey Ross
Reginald Denny … Inspector Trevett
Morris Ankrum … Cheif Crowfoot
Michael Granger … Sitting Bull
Paul Marion … Eagle Heart
Emory Parnell … Patrick Fitzgibbon
Guy Kingsford … Sgt. Maj. MacRae
Patrick Whyte … Sgt. Maj. Harrington
Runtime: 75 min.
Memorable lines:
Sitting Bull: “Can a wolf be told he is now a rabbit? Easier a Sioux warrior forget his heritage.”
Blackfoot chief: “I am an old man and I have seen many animals. My favorite among them is the fox, who is not helpless like the rabbit, or hated like the wolf.”
Bridget: “My, I never did see such a collection of beautiful young men, all at the same time.”
Her father: “Now you listen to me, Bridget. My life is complicated enough without having to worry about you making eyes at every man.”
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