Some Sam Katzman fun, with a Robert E. Kent script, Jon Hall in the lead, Columbia colour and a slightly random time period for a Western: the War of 1812. Jay Silverheels is Chief Tecumsah, Michael Ansara as the Prophet, and James Seay as William Harrison - all real people.
History is distorted but it at least provides some novelty. It borrows from the Broken Arrow playbook by having a contrast between peaceful Silverheels and bloodthirsty Ansara, and Jon Hall as an Indian agent who has to battle corrupt whites.
It's got a sluggard pace and is hard to care. I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong. I think it was just dull. Lacked vivid characters. The colour is lovely.
The most memorable character is Tecumsah. He's in love with a white woman who throws him over for Hall, he has to fight against his brother who dies, the whites kill his people, he's left alone... But, er, he feels good about it because Hall and the girl are good. I think. It's unexpectedly moving and complex - far more so than the film.
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