White Feather (1955)

In 1877 Wyoming, the U.S. government attempts to persuade the Cheyenne tribe to relocate so that settlers can move in and mine for gold. When a surveyor (Robert Wagner) attempts to broker the peace treaty, his romance with the daughter (Debra Paget) of the Cheyenne chief (Eduard Franz) threatens to unravel the mission. Especially since the chief's son (Jeffrey Hunter) is against the treaty. Co-written by Delmer Daves (who directed some of the best westerns of the 1950s) and directed by Robert D. Webb (BENEATH THE 12 MILE REEF), this intelligent western should be better known. Its characters are not painted black and white stereotypes but the intricacies of the white settlers and the Native Americans relationship is shown fairly if somewhat simplified. Curiously, the film features an interesting subplot featuring a "soiled" young woman (Virginia Leith, A KISS BEFORE DYING), possibly a rape victim (this being the 50s, the film dances around the subject) and her abusive father (Emile Meyer). But unfortunately the film doesn't develop this story line fully. The great Lucien Ballard (THE WILD BUNCH) does a superb job utilizing the CinemaScope frame with Mexico handsomely standing in for Wyoming. A nice underscore by Hugo Friedhofer helps, too. With John Lund, Hugh O'Brian, Milburn Stone and Noah Beery Jr.