Run Of The Arrow (1957)

At the end of the war between the states, a bitter Confederate (Rod Steiger) refuses to accept defeat and heads out West which is still not part of the Union. His hatred for the U.S. causes him to join the Sioux tribe and he vows to fight the white man as a true Sioux. But can he ever truly renounce the "tribe" he came from? Produced, written and directed by Samuel Fuller and one of his strongest films. A tough and brutal western, it's one of the most provocative and thought provoking oaters of the 1950s. Made in 1957 at the height of civil rights violations in the South, one can't help but think that Fuller was addressing the South's resistance to change as represented by Steiger's character. The film was obviously a huge influence in Costner's inferior DANCES WITH WOLVES but Fuller's film seems less manipulative and unsentimental. It's one of Steiger's best performances but with one exception, the entire cast is very good. The one exception is Ralph Meeker who overplays his Indian hating cavalry Lieutenant. Sarita Montiel is dubbed by Angie Dickinson, whose speaking voice is unmistakable. With Brian Keith, Charles Bronson, Frank DeKova, Olive Carey and Jay C. Flippen.