SoftInloveRox Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

Dorathen Better Late Then Never

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Lidia Draper Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

classicsoncall What - that's it? I'm trying to take away something meaningful from this picture, but it's not working. Let's see - Beth Colter (Lana Wood) is kidnapped by the title character (Alex Cord), and it's ultimately revealed that he did so in order to introduce her to her biological father, a dying chief of the Cheyenne tribe. So how is it that John Colter (Ben Johnson) might not have figured this out and been a little more realistic about Grayeagle's intentions? Without a back story about the origin of Colter and his daughter, how is the viewer supposed to react when her paternity is revealed? I mean, we see Colter going to pray at the grave of his wife, who Beth acknowledges as her mother. Colter's friend Standing Bear (Iron Eyes Cody) knows all about Beth's Cheyenne background, but all this time he's kept that secret? I mean, she didn't just fall from the sky at birth, but the whole time Colter played it like his wife was Beth's mother. Am I missing something here?Without trying to figure it all out, probably the best one can expect from this picture are the characterizations. Alex Cord as Greyeagle is sufficiently regal in his bearing and demeanor, and he adequately filled the role (for a white man playing an Indian that is). Charles Pierce as the demented bugler was something of an anomaly for a Western character, and I always enjoy seeing Jack Elam in any kind of role. As well as Iron Eyes Cody, but gee, couldn't Colter have treated him with a little more respect as a purported friend instead of bossing him around the way he did? The Lone Ranger considered Tonto an equal partner even when he asked him to go into town to scout out the bad guys. You'd think that Colter could say please once in a while. Then you have Paul Fix in the opening credits as Running Wolf, so when it comes time for Running Wolf to appear on screen, I'm asking myself, where's Paul Fix? That didn't look like any kind of make up job, and I had to wonder if the real Paul Fix sent a stand in that no one noticed. Just another question mark that pops up along with all the others.What it comes down to is that this is one baffling movie that could have really made it if a little more thought went into the story to clean up some of major sticking points. What I might have to do is watch it again the next time it hits Encore Westerns to see if I missed something. But I'm betting I didn't.

David Foy I can understand the actors, all skilled second-tier people working to make a living, participating in this nonsense, but the writer/director/producer has really, truly stunk the place up. I recommend he find a decent textbook and re-read the part about high concept. Watch this as an archaeological expedition, a research exercise into truly dreadful scriptwriting. But not for serious entertainment. Lana Wood -- I'm sure God will forgive you. Charles Pierce, you managed some stunning cinematography, you hired good costume and props people, and your method of faking dead animals to keep the SPCA off your tail was remarkable, but the rest is Hollywood crap at its crappiest. There is absolutely no reason to believe in, or care about, or ...when it comes right down to it...watch any of these people. Not one of them. There's a lot more to verisimilitude than costumes and props. Apparently you were on some kind of mission to revive the noble savage myth, but all you managed to do was mock and trivialize it.

MarDendy I loved this movie and would recommend it as a family picture. I disagree that this is a poor remake of the "Searchers" they are not the same at all. Some of the reviewers obviously never really watched the films. I'm a fan of Ben Johnson, Iron Eyes Cody and Jack Elam. I thought Jimmy Clem was so believable in his part of Abe Stroud, though I thought he did a little too much spitting tobacco. Paul Fix was unreconizable as himself in the part of Running Wolf, I would never have guessed it was him. Charles B. Pierce was very convincing as the demented bugler. Lana Wood was very pretty and I think tried to do a good job but she really wasn't a very good actress, at least in this part. Alex Cord was just right in his portrayal of Grayeagle. He really had to carry the scenes he did with Lana. Grayeagle says little because that was the right way to portray a warrior of the day who knew some English but saved it for when he had something to say. Small talk would have been ridiculous for Grayeagle. He used facial expressions and body language very well. Alex Cord was so graceful mounting and dismounting the Appaloosa and rode well centered, it was a pleasure to watch him ride. I always thought Ben Johnson was the best rider I had seen in movies but Alex Cord is excellent. They did a good job picking the horse for Greyeagle to ride, that appaloosa was just the type that would have been ridden in the 1800's not the quarter horse type appaloosa seen in so many movies. Greyeagle's horse looked and moved like the kind of horse a high warrior might ride. Looked like fun to ride if you didn't have to re-shoot too many scenes. I liked the attention to detail of the costumes and blanket for the Appaloosa with the buffalo pictures, meaning kills? I had lots of questions about the meaning of costume items worn by the Cheyenne and customs portrayed in the film. I wish the director could have had Standing Bear tell Beth the meaning of things that went on in the Cheyenne camp so the viewer wouldn't be left with questions about what they were watching. There were a few glaring oops in the film such as the same quilt seen in the Coulter cabin as in Abe Strouds cabin, also the fabrics and colors were all wrong for the period. Shoes on the Indian ponies, though that could be overlooked due to horses used to being shod could come up lame in the filming. I also had the feeling that the Coulter cabin and Abe Strouds cabin were one in the same just changed a little inside. The appearing and disappearing stripes on the legs of the appaloosa, kind of noticeable I think. The music was wonderful and the scenery was beautiful. One of my favorite scenes was Ben Johnson, Jack Elan and Iron Eyes Cody racing across the land shouting to each other and running full out. I think they really had a good time with that scene. Big Oops, Ida Coulter? Trapper Coulters wife was referred to as Maria by the Cheyenne who visited her. The name Ida Coulter was never mentioned. I hope this movie is available to purchase again , I think it's a classic.

lanalou127 It's a classic story. It has love, action, culture, and that old timely feel. I've watched it since I can remember and it never gets old. A White woman is kidnapped by an Indian warrior and travels to Cheyanne camp encountering a few adventures. Soon she finds she's the daughter of the chief and falls for the warrior that took her there. Finally she returns home with the love the Cheyanne. Grayeagle had good actors and awesome scenery. I enjoy it every time I watch it. Most all family could watch and enjoy. So I recommend it if your tired of the old gun fighting Indian movies and ready to see a good old fashioned western love/action story.