While this Disney film attempts to give more sides to the story, it seems to be missing important plot developments and characterization necessities that would have made for a much stronger film. James MacArthur is a white teen raised by native Americans who taught him to hate his own race based upon genuine fears of "the white devil". A truce has been declared among the natives and white settlers, but only on the agreement that all whites abducted by the natives be returned to their families. MacArthur, the natural son of John McIntire and Jessica Tandy, has learned the ways of the Indian brave too deeply and at first rejects the white man's ways.
But through the patience of kind mother Tandy (initially at odds with supporting his native American ways), MacArthur slowly begins to adapt, especially when he befriends the pretty Carol Lynley whose own family was allegedly slaughtered by another native tribe. However, Lynley's cruel, native hating foster father (Wendell Corey) makes life difficult for MacArthur, and he escapes to be reunited with his tribe and best friend Rafael Campos who came to bring him home.
One of the issues I have with this film is it's true lack of a point of view. Is it pro-native, or trying to show how the natives needed to switch to the European ways to survive in the old world that had been taken over by newcomers? Performances are fine (especially Corey as a truly despicable character), and the photography is pretty, but there's just a little too much Disney "cutesiness" to truly deal with the harsh topics. what other reviewers have said, perhaps one day there will be a realistic story told about similar topics that makes its viewpoint clear, but this is not it.
But through the patience of kind mother Tandy (initially at odds with supporting his native American ways), MacArthur slowly begins to adapt, especially when he befriends the pretty Carol Lynley whose own family was allegedly slaughtered by another native tribe. However, Lynley's cruel, native hating foster father (Wendell Corey) makes life difficult for MacArthur, and he escapes to be reunited with his tribe and best friend Rafael Campos who came to bring him home.
One of the issues I have with this film is it's true lack of a point of view. Is it pro-native, or trying to show how the natives needed to switch to the European ways to survive in the old world that had been taken over by newcomers? Performances are fine (especially Corey as a truly despicable character), and the photography is pretty, but there's just a little too much Disney "cutesiness" to truly deal with the harsh topics. what other reviewers have said, perhaps one day there will be a realistic story told about similar topics that makes its viewpoint clear, but this is not it.