Pillars of the Sky (1956)

Jeff Chandler is 1st Sgt. Emmett Bell, commander of a group of Nez Perce military police; Ward Bond is Dr. Joseph Holden, who has converted many of the Indians to Christianity. Together, they’ve helped keep peace among the tribes of the northwest.

But the peace is broken when Col. Edson Stedlow arrives on the scene with a full regiment of recruits, a couple of artillery pieces and orders to build a road and construct forts through Indian territory.

Bell warns him to do so will mean trouble, and his prediction proves correct.

Complicating matters is the fact that the Indians have two white women as hostages; one is Calla Gaxton (Dorothy Malone), who’s traveled west for a reunion with Bell, the man she loves, even though she’s married to an officer serving under Stedlow (Keith Andes as Capt. Tom Gaxton).

Bell manages to help rescue the women. Rescuing the troop from annihilation might prove more difficult.

Severely whittled down, the remnants of Stedlow’s command have to sneak down a hill in the middle of the night to make a final stand at a Christian mission Holden has built.

Jeff Chandler as 1st Sgt. Emmett Bell, offering his advice for dealing with the Indians while Lucas (Felix Noriega), one of his scouts, looks on in Pillars of the Sky (1956)

Ward Bond as Dr. Joseph Holden, the man who has brought Christianity to the Nez Perce in Pillars of the Sky (1956)

Review:
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Here’s the good news: For the first 90 minutes, this is a solid cavalry vs. Indians film graced with lots of fine character actors, snappy dialogue and battle footage that hasn’t been lifted from another movie. And there’s an occasional touch of humor thrown in for good measure.

The bad news: The ending is so fanciful, it will make you forget how good the first 90 minutes were. And the bit of an Army wife traveling across the country to meet up with the man she didn’t marry seems a wee bit far-fetched.

Lee Marvin has a substantial secondary role as a hard-drinking, no-nonsense sergeant aligned with Bell. Willis Bouchey is the commanding officer who first clashes with Bell until the two develop mutual respect — Bell for his commander’s bravery; the commander for Bell’s knowledge of the Indians they’re fighting.

Dorothy Malone as Calla Gaxton, the woman infatuated with Emmett Bell though she’s married to another man in Pillars of the Sky (1956)

Willis Bouchey as Col. Edson Stedlow, the officer leading the expedition to build a road through Indian land in Pillars of the Sky (1956)

Directed by:
George Marshall

Cast:
Jeff Chandler … 1st Sgt. Emmett Bell
Dorothy Malone … Calla Gaxton
Ward Bond … Dr. Joseph Holden
Keith Andes … Capt. Tom Gaxton
Lee Marvin … Sgt. Lloyd Carracart
Sydney Chaplin … Timothy
Willis Bouchey … Col. Edson Stedlow
Michael Ansara … Kamiakin
Olive Carey … Mrs. Anne Avery
Charles Horvath … Sgt. Dutch Williams
Orlando Rodriguez … Malachi
Glen Kramer … Lt. Winston
Floyd Simmons … Lt. Hammond
Pat Hogan … Jacob
Felix Noriego … Lucas

Runtime: 95 min.

aka: The Tomahawk and the Cross

Michael Ansara as Kamiakin, a chief determined to defend land given to the Indians by treaty in PIllars of the Sky (1956)

Keith Andes as Capt. Tom Gaxton, watching for another Indian attack with wife Calla (Dorothy Malone) by his side in Pillars of the Sky (1956)

Memorable lines:

Sgt. Bell, handing Dr. Joseph Holden an arrow found in the body of a dead white boy: “Looks like I’ll be hanging more of your flock, doctor … They keep forgetting those commandments you teach them.”

Sgt. Bell to Holden: “My old man rammed it (The Bible) down my throat til I was big enough to run away. I can quote that book to you forwards. Or backwards. Which is the devil’s way, isn’t it?”

Sgt. Bell, to one of his Nez Perce policemen, when they arrive at a cavalry camp: “There will be no genuine Sioux scalps for sale. Last time we met up with recruits there wasn’t a horse left in the troop with a whole tail.”

Officer to Col. Stedlow: “Well, that’s Sgt. Bell, colonel. Away from his scouts, he’s half drunk all the time, all drunk half the time and rebelliously insubordinate, drunk or sober. A shame and disgrace to his uniform. But if you had a hundred more like him you could ride into hell and put out the fires.”

Sergeant to a recruit: “Don’t you hurt that horse. The army got you for free. He cost $50.”

Lee Marvin as Sgt. Lloyd Carracart, wounded by ready for the next Indian attack in Pillars of the Sky (1956)

Orlando Rodriguez as Malachi, a young Indian boy who’s made a friend of Dr. Holden in Pillars of the Sky (1956)

Calla Gaxton: “Let’s both talk about Tom. How do you think he feels? Living with me as my husband, knowing that every time he touches me, every time he looks at me, I’m thinking about you?”
Sgt. Bell: “Frankly, I don’t care.”
Calla: “I do. You taught me this, Emmett: When you cut, use a sharp knife, and do it quickly. That’s why I’m here.”
Sgt. Bell: “I’m taking you back to your husband. You made a deal, Calla. Stick with it. As for me, I still drink, I’m still broke and I still draw a sergeant’s pay.”

Recruit: “Look, Sergeant Bell’s bringing in some women. Wonder where he found them in this God-forsaken land?”
Sergeant: “That proves the point. A good soldier can live off the land, finding all the basic necessities for survival in the most unlikely places.”
Recruit: “Yep, I read that in the book. But I didn’t think it meant women.”

Cavalry officer: “But I heard that Indians wouldn’t fight at night. Something about their ghosts not being able to find their heaven in the dark.”
Sgt. Bell: “These Indians don’t believe in ghosts, lieutenant. Thanks to Dr. Holden, they’re Christians.”

Richard Hale as Isaiah (left) and Olive Carey as Anne Avery among those listening to 1st Sgt. Emmett Bell after an attack has been repulsed in Pillars of the Sky (1956)

Jeff Chandler as 1st Sgt. Emmett Bell and Sydney Chaplin as Timothy, one of his scouts, watching a war party approach in Pillars of the Sky (1956)