A very different and interesting western. The subject is the creation of a Sioux Indian reservation. The Indians concerned had lived in the Black Hills of South Dakota. While they are trying to survive on the new reservation, they need to buy some cattle because they can't "eat grass." The movie concerns the opposition of the ranchers who had previously owned/used the reservation areas, who poison the water, commit murder, etc. Another interesting plot line is the young Indian girl whose father was white and sent money to the tribe for years to take care of the girl. When the Indians find a trail drive that will sell them the cattle,they run into heavy opposition from the whites. Only the Indian agent and the sheriff, and the cattle driver, try to help the Indians. This is an aspect of western history that is not widely known or discussed. It is worth trying to gain an understanding of the beginnings of the reservations, and of the Indians themselves.

Being a fan of William Bishop since seeing the rare Thunderhoof directed by Phil Karlson, I found this rare western directed by Ray Nazarro. Bishop is confronted to the anti Indians David Brian, and Brian is real nasty in this character, especially in the sequence when Bishop treats him as an old man. And Brian keeps on repeating "old man?" while knocking out Bishop to prove he's still savagely strong : really violent sequence. And the ending is real worth too, with Brian's ultimate savagery. William Bishop has appeared in two other Nazarro's westerns worth a look, Top Gun (with Sterling Hayden) and The Phantom Stagecoach.