One of several films I'm familiar with that relates to the infamous massacre of peaceful Cheyenne, mostly women and children, at Sand Creek, CO. The historic Chivington, who led this slaughter, is renamed Major Ives(Warner Anderson). However, his hatred of all Native Americans is not changed. Perhaps the most glaring alteration of history is the designation of Chief Red Cloud as the main chief of the Cheyenne, whereas he actually was the most important chief of the Sioux during this period. ...The basic story is that Major Ives plans on building an army fort on Cheyenne land, besides his duty of escorting immigrants through Cheyenne territory, on their way to Oregon. This raises the ire of Red Cloud(whom we never see), and one of his lieutenants: Fire Knife, who uses the presence of his soldiers on their land as an excuse to attack the temporary camp of Ives, which includes some women and other civilians. Most of the soldiers and civilians are killed, but, inexplicably, Ives survives, and journeys with the rest to the nearest fort.....Vagabond scout Adam Reed(Roy Calhoun) happens upon Bostonian Kathrine(Peggy Castle) swimming in the nude in a small lake. Seems she's staying with Major Ives' bunch because her boyfriend is a lieutenant there. After this titillating scene, Reed interacts with her periodically, as he hangs around the camp. After her boyfriend is killed in the Indian attack, she soon latches onto Reed as the man most likely to insure her survival. Eventually, they kiss and hug several times. Given Reed's preferred wandering lifestyle, I'm not sure they have a future together, in which case, Kathren probably will return to the civilization of Boston....A more convincing developing couple consist of Mexican Tonio Perez(Noah Berry) and Nez Pierce maiden Honey Bear(Rita Moreno). As she emphatically states, she's not Cheyenne, who destroyed her native village. Tonio treats her well, thus she sticks with him, despite his perception that she is too young for him. That is, until she saves him from an Indian attacker. Thereafter, he's more accepting of her. Rita provides a beautiful impish presence, being more charismatic than blond Peggy Castle. ....One aspect of the story that doesn't come across as tenable is Major Ives' eventual desperate claim that he is part Cheyenne(and thus should be spared by the Cheyenne, out for vengeance). ....This B&W B western has a cheesy feel to it, but is generally acceptable entertainment. See it on YouTube.... Besides Major Ives, there is another villain on the European side in Peter Graves, as Sawyer. Along with his 2 buddies, he was a gold prospector, presumably on Cheyenne land. They were attacked by Cheyenne, and his one buddy got an arrow to the chest. Sawyer brought him to the army camp. While other's weren't looking, he drove the arrow deeper into his chest, killing him. He later admitted he killed his other partner for the gold. He met his end trying to escape into the bush with his sack of gold, where an Indian was hiding.
Review of The Yellow Tomahawk
