The Charge at Feather River (1953)

The story involves an overland journey through hostile Cheyenne territory to rescue two white women captured by the Cheyenne. One has turned renegade and is not anxious to be rescued as she... See full summary »

Director:

Gordon Douglas

Writer:

James R. Webb

Stars:

Guy Madison, Frank Lovejoy, Helen Westcott

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Guy Madison	...	Miles Archer
Frank Lovejoy	...	Sgt. Charlie Baker
Helen Westcott	...	Anne McKeever
Vera Miles	...	Jennie McKeever
Dick Wesson	...	Pvt. Cullen
Onslow Stevens	...	Grover Johnson
Steve Brodie	...	Pvt. Ryan
Ron Hagerthy	...	Johnny McKeever
Fay Roope	...	Lt. Col. Kilrain
Neville Brand	...	Pvt. Morgan
Henry Kulky	...	Pvt. Smiley
Lane Chandler	...	Pvt. Zebulon Poinsett
Fred Carson	...	Chief Thunder Hawk
James Brown	...	Pvt. Connors
Ralph Brooks	...	Pvt. Wilhelm

Storyline

The story involves an overland journey through hostile Cheyenne territory to rescue two white women captured by the Cheyenne. One has turned renegade and is not anxious to be rescued as she is about to be married to Chief Thunder Hawk. Vera Miles dies and the cavalry comes to the rescue in the nick of time by a stream called Feather River. Knives, arrows, spears and tomahawks all come flying at the audience. Frank Lovejoy discourages a rattlesnake with tobacco juice and even gets off a shot into the audience.

---

Plot Keywords:

rescue | cavalry | river | binoculars | american indian | 

---

Taglines:

New 3D Thrill-History From Warner Bros. ...Makers of 'House of Wax'!

---

Genres:

Western

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 July 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Burning Arrow

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (WarnerPhonic/RCA)

Color:

Color (Warnercolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Began shooting late February 1953.

---

Goofs

When Morgan sets Jennie free, she takes his revolver and then falls from the cliff, taking his revolver with her. In subsequent shots, however, Morgan has a pistol again.

---

Quotes

Miles Archer: They'll charge again as soon as they pick a new chief.

---

Connections

Featured in A Star Is Born (1954)

User Reviews

The Guardhouse Brigade

The Charge At Feather River finds Guy Madison in charge of a group of misfit soldiers called the Guardhouse Brigade because that's where most of them were recruited for this mission from. The mission is to rescue two white women, Helen Westcott and Vera Miles, who were taken years ago during a raid and are now confirmed alive and now living with the Arapahoe.

The worst of his recruits is Neville Brand, but the rest of the crew that Madison has are no prizes with the exception of Lane Chandler who was a former Confederate officer who captured Madison during the Civil War. Along for comic relief are Dick Wesson and Henry Kulky who provide some levity in what is a serious film.

Vera Miles got her first real notice here. She's never been to Sweden, but she suffers from Stockholm syndrome as she now totally identifies with her captors. In fact she's going to be the bride of the chief, making him quite the envy of his tribe since none of them are married to any blonds. She acquits herself well in the part.

The film is loosely based on a real cavalry engagement in the Indian Wars, the battle of Beecher's Island. It combines elements of The Dirty Dozen and with John Ford's classic Two Rode Together.

And of course there's the 3-D which elicited a lot of excitement back in the Fifties. Even today seeing the various spears, tomahawks, and even some tobacco juice, courtesy of Frank Lovejoy, coming right at you on the small screen is impressive.

The Charge At Feather River still holds up well today, but should really be seen at a movie theater.