Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Richard Boone | ... | Capt. Stephen Maddocks | |
George Hamilton | ... | Lt. Curtis McQuade | |
Luana Patten | ... | Tracey Hamilton | |
Arthur O'Connell | ... | Sgt. Karl Rodermill | |
Charles Bronson | ... | Trooper Hanna | |
Richard Chamberlain | ... | Lt. Porter | |
James Douglas | ... | Lt. Thomas Gresham | |
Tammy Marihugh | ... | Laurie Detweiler | |
Carole Wells | ... | Camden Yates | |
Duane Eddy | ... | Trooper Eddy | |
Slim Pickens | ... | Trooper Erschick | |
Clem Harvey | ... | Trooper Denton | |
Casey Tibbs | ... | Trooper Baker | |
Irene Tedrow | ... | Mrs. Scarborough | |
Marjorie Bennett | ... | Mrs. Yates |
Captain Maddocks will never be promoted beyond Captain because of a mistake that he made in the past. Lt. McQuade is a green rookie who is now under the command of the tough Captain and he does not seem to be able to do anything right. Lt. McQuade also has trouble with Tracey, but it will be the renegade Indians that will test him and teach him the importance of following orders. Written by Tony Fontana <tony.fontana@spacebbs.com>
This movie is interesting, as the two central characters played by Richard Boone and George Hamilton are,in the story by James Warner Bellah, Capt. Nathan Brittles and Lt. Clint Cohill, who appear in the John Ford classic 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon'. John Wayne's gruff but fatherly character contrasts with Boone's gruff but miserable martinet. We also know (or may infer) from 'Ribbon' that it is Cohill's father,General Cohill, who has blocked Brittles's promotion. Hence the 'attitude'. Boone's character could have been played more sympathetically, but he does come across as an experienced old hand who outwits his Apache foe and in the process teaches valuable lessons to his protege.