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White Feather

Screenplay, based on a John Prebble story about the Cheyenne Indians circa 1877 when they were being pushed out of Wyoming by the Federals, is grippingly unfolded in colorful CinemaScope.

Screenplay, based on a John Prebble story about the Cheyenne Indians circa 1877 when they were being pushed out of Wyoming by the Federals, is grippingly unfolded in colorful CinemaScope.

Plot depicts Robert Wagner as Josh Tanner, a surveyor who is with the vanguard of the government party (US Cavalry and all) about to sweep west from Fort Cheyenne. They are stalled until the Cheyennes agree to move from their hunting grounds to some southern area. Scripters apparently slipped up when they pointed up that gold had been found.

Film builds to climax when the big chief’s son and his young fighter pal challenge (via the arrow with white feather attached) the whole cavalry contingent to pitched battle. It is only through the successful intervention of Tanner and Indian girl Appearing Day (Debra Paget) that a needless slaughter is averted.

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Produced by the late Leonard Goldstein and directed by Robert D. Webb, the characters are all well portrayed by Wagner, Paget and Jeffrey Hunter, last as the chief’s son. Eduard Franz is superb as the venerable Indian chief, Broken Hand, while Hugh O’Brian is well chosen as Hunter’s warrior pal, American Horse. Noah Beery does one of his better thespian jobs as a cavalry lieutenant.

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White Feather

  • Production: Panoramic/20th Century-Fox. Director Robert D. Webb; Producer Leonard Goldstein; Screenplay Delmer Daves, Leo Townsend; Camera Lucien Ballad; Editor George Gittens; Music Hugo Friedhofer
  • Crew: (Color) Widescreen. Extract of a review from 1955. Running time: 102 MIN.
  • With: Robert Wagner John Lund Debra Paget Jeffrey Hunter Eduard Franz Noah Beery

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Update: 2024-07-30