They Rode West (1954)

Dr. Allen Seward (Robert Francis) is assigned to a western cavalry post where his predecessors had been drunks and slackers. The post doesn't take kindly to him either, especially after he ... See full summary »

Director:

Phil Karlson

Writers:

DeVallon Scott (screenplay), Frank S. Nugent (screenplay),

Stars:

Robert Francis, Donna Reed, May Wynn

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Francis	...	Dr. Allen Seward
Donna Reed	...	Laurie MacKaye
May Wynn	...	Manyi-ten
Philip Carey	...	Capt. Peter Blake (as Phil Carey)
Onslow Stevens	...	Col. Ethan Waters
Peggy Converse	...	Mrs. Martha Walters
Roy Roberts	...	Sgt. Creever
Jack Kelly	...	Lt. Raymond
Stuart Randall	...	Chief Satanta
Eugene Iglesias	...	Red Leaf
Frank DeKova	...	Isatai
John War Eagle	...	Chief Quanah
Ralph Dumke	...	Dr. Gibson

Storyline

Dr. Allen Seward (Robert Francis) is assigned to a western cavalry post where his predecessors had been drunks and slackers. The post doesn't take kindly to him either, especially after he disregards regulations and tends to sick Indians on the malaria-infested reservation. The Indians break away from the reservation to move to a healthier higher ground, and when they join with the Comanches to besiege the fort, Seward is branded as a "woodhawk", the bird that turns against its own. Donna Reed is present as the niece of the post commander; Phil Carey is a cavalry captain that believes the only good Indian is a dead Indian, and May Wynn (who shared a screen debut with Francis in "The Caine Mutiny)is the white girl raised by the Indians and married to the chief's son. Francis would make only two more films before being killed in a 1955 plane crash.

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Plot Keywords:

indian | cavalry | horse chase | sword | attack | 

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 December 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Woodhawk

Filming Locations:

Corriganville, Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

Better than average western

I saw this one at the theater as a kid and was somewhat disappointed, probably too much story and not enough action to suit my taste at the time. However by today's standards, this one treats the Native American much more respectfully than other movies of it's time, most notably the God-awful "Arrowhead"(1953). The story moves along well and there really is enough action to go around and Francis shows that he had some real star quality, had he lived. Not a bad one.