Rip-roaring 50’s Western shot in the heart of Oregon with Kirk Douglas

This relatively obscure Western is similar to "The Last Frontier" (aka "Savage Wilderness"), released earlier the same month of December, 1955. They’re both Fort & Indians Westerns taking place in the Northwest with Red Cloud & his braves as the antagonists. The assault on the fort in the movie recalls Red Cloud’s real-life siege of Fort Phil Kearney in the shadow of the Big Horn Mountains in the Wyoming Territory where attacks were launched against troops & settlers for two years from 1866-1868.

The exciting Oglala attack on the Fort is one of the highlights. It reveals the most practical way to assault a stronghold made of lumber in the wilds. Regrettably, the key Native characters are played by Caucasians, but there weren’t many quality actors of Amer-Indian descent back then. Thankfully, the peripheral Natives appear to be real Amer-Indians. Basically, just pretend that Red Cloud, Grey Wolf and Onahti look more Amer-Indian than they do. Problem solved.

The film was shot in the area of Bend, Oregon, including Smith Rock State Park and also the Deschutes National Forest.