Another remarkably pro-Indian film from Audie Murphy - he starts out hating them because they killed his maw, despite his paw (Walter Brennan) being on their side... but gradually comes around the supporting them, even taking up arms to protect them against ruthless mining interests. The climax involves Audie leading a group of bad white men to be killed by Indians!
It's a good solid Western with strong support from Walter Brennan and Lyle Bettger, a weak female lead (Lisa Gaye), a femme fetale character (Mara Corday) who you think is going to be important but isn't. Audie is in excellent form as a little young guy who gets picked on (he's wrongly blamed for some crimes and avoids a lynching) but is tougher than everyone thinks. He's got a great character to get his teeth into here - a guy full of hate and violence, who comes to see the benefits of pacifism and avoiding wars, but is still deadly with a gun; he romances girls, gets arrested, busts out of prison, worries about his dad... it's great.
There's also a black leather gunslinger with a smile who was surely ripped off from Jack Palance in Shane, Jay Silverheels, a good amount of action, and a fast pace.
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