For an actor who was usually treated as a joke by critics, Victor Mature worked with some top directors in his career - John Ford, Henry Hathaway, Robert Siodmak, Vittorio de Sica. This had him under the hand of Anthony Mann at Mann's peak, and while James Stewart was no doubt a better actor, Mature is pretty good, especially for such a traditionally "urban" actor. It's a great part for him: he's a mountain man who is trapped by economist necessity to scout for the cavalry, facing an imposing attack by Red Cloud and his Indians. It's Civil War time and Robert Preston is hungry for glory, so neglecting his wife Anne Bancroft.
The guts of the story though involves Mature struggling to come to terms with civilisation. One writer described this as a sort of Hairy Ape western, and that was spot on - indeed, William Bendix would have been perfect in this role. (Although Bendix probably didn't have the sex appeal of Mature making it harder to picture him getting with Anne Bancroft).
Brancroft makes the most of what is not really a good role - she's so much better than say Maureen O'Hara would have been (and I like O'Hara) - and Preston is good as always as the slightly deranged glory hunter. I enjoyed Guy Madison's handsome, relaxed presence too - surrounded by some good actors his limitations weren't as annoying.
Mann's direction is very good - there are some beautifully composed scenes, track shots, aerial shots, clever suspense. It's a good Western.
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