White Feather (1955)

Robert Wagner is Josh Tanner, a surveyor sent West to lay out a town near suspected gold fields.

As he arrives, the cavalry is trying to negotiate a new treaty with the Indians. And the tribes are receptive, with the exception of the Cheyenne under Chief Broken Hand.

By showing bravery in the face of death on two occasions, Tanner wins the friendship of two young Indians, Little Dog (Jeffrey Hunter) and American Horse (Hugh O’Brien).

But a young Indian girl named Appearing Day (Debra Paget) also catches his eye. And, suddenly, the guy who showed up in the territory “having no feeling” for Indians has a change of heart.

But that change of heart could also prove costly for the Cheyenne. Appearing Day disowns her tribe when she falls for Tanner and follows him back to the fort.

What he doesn’t know is that Appearing Day has been promised to American Horse. The Cheyenne brave kills one man trying to retrieve Appearing Day. When he’s jailed, Little Dog kills another breaking him free.

Now the cavalry has to track down the two renegades. Complicating matters: Little Dog is Broken Hand’s son, and doesn’t share his father’s opinion that a treaty with the whites would be the best option for their tribe.

Robert Wagner as Josh Tanner, announcing his presence and his lack of concern about Indians in White Feather (1955)

Debra Paget as Appearing Day, about to ask Josh Tanner for a kiss in White Feather (1955)

Review:

The narrator tells us, both at the beginning and end of the film, that this movie is based on a true story. Perhaps, but it comes off as contrived fluff. Worse yet, it’s long on talk, very, very short on action.

Though their tribe hasn’t signed a peace treaty, Indian braves Little Dog and American Horse seem to visit the fort whenever they want, both with good intentions and bad. And the Indians practice killing soldiers, but welcome Tanner to their camp with open arms, and even let him watch their practice.

At least there’s a little depth to Little Dog, Hunter’s character. Hugh O’Brien gets to do little but snarl. A bit of trivia: This film was released the same year he began his much more famous role of Wyatt Earp on TV.

As for highlights here: Paget looks lovely. The film has little else to offer.

Jeffrey Hunter as Little Dog, the Cheyenne warrior who befriends Josh Tanner in White Feather (1955)

Hugh O’Brian as American Horse, meeting Josh Tanner for the first time in White Feather (1955)

Directed by:
Robert Webb

Cast:
Robert Wagner … Josh Tanner
John Lund … Col. Lindsay
Debra Paget … Appearing Day
Jeffrey Hunter … Little Dog
Eduard Franz … Broken Hand
Noah Beery Jr. … Lt. Ferguson
Hugh O’Brien … American Horse
Milburn Stone … Peace commissioner
Emile Meyer … Magruder
Virginia Leith … Ann Magruder

Runtime: 105 min.

Eduard Franz as Broken Hand, watching his son defy the new peace treaty in White Feather (1955)

Virginia Leith as Ann Magruder, surprised by Josh Tanner’s presence after her bath in White Feather (1955)

Memorable lines:

Josh Tanner: “To me, Indians are Indians. I have no feeling about them.”
Col. Lindsay: “I envy you that, Mr. Tanner.”

Magruder, of his daughter Ann, while drunk: “She don’t have nothing to do with men.”
Josh Tanner: “If she sees many more like you, I don’t blame her.”

Appearing Day to Josh Tanner after sharing her first kiss with him: “Indian boys do not kiss Indians girls. I do not know why. It is very nice in feeling. I would like it again, please. But longer.”

Appearing Day to Josh Tanner: “Many white people have come here. Behind them, they must have left a great empty space. So if they no longer want this place, maybe the Cheyennes could go there to live.”

Col. Lindsay, as his entire troop prepares to face Little Dog and American Horse:: “I don’t remember anything in the book that tells you how to draw up a battle line for a war like this.”

Little Dog: “Words have too many shadows. I want no more words.”

John Lund as Col. Lindsay, trying to negotiate a treaty with the Cheyenne in White Feather (1955)

Emile Meyer as Magruder, the Indian hating trading post owner, with Josh Tanner (Robert Wagner) in White Feather (1955)

Noah Beery Jr. as Lt. Ferguson, serving under Col. Lindsay in White Feather (1955)

Debra Paget as Appearing Day, professing her love for Josh Tanner (Robert Wagner) in White Feather (1955)

Robert Wagner as Josh Tanner and Jeffrey Hunter as Little Dog at the peace talks in White Feather (1955)

Robert Wagner as Josh Tanner, a surveyor sent to Laramie map out a town in White Feather (1955)