Good concept, poorly executed.

best movie i've ever seen.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

It's good to see John Hodiak face off against Robert Taylor and winning, although I would have thought that Taylor being the bigger star would have won. Although Hodiak is a good actor he wouldn't go on to anything significant except a premature death. He's probably most remembered for his part in Alfred Hitchcock's 'Lifeboat', but that was in the early part of his career. You don't have that much time at the top.As for the film itself it's a bit pedestrian. It lacks a good script and storyline. The characters are one-dimensional, but the performances by both Taylor and Hodiak are good. The direction is not that good, but if you haven't got a good script then there isn't much you can do.

The black and white cinematography does nothing for this dreary, very dull movie.In Mel Brooks's "Blazing Saddles," of 1974, it was stated that never in the history of motion pictures has the cavalry ever come late. Even being on time can't help save this mess of a film with choppy dialogue, and a story-line that could almost bring one to tears due to the complete lack of cohesion.Despite a wonderful cast, the film is largely done in by the writing. Diablito, the Apache renegade runs rampart causing death and destruction wherever he goes. Robert Taylor, as a guide joins the army in searching for this devil.At the fort, Don Taylor, an army man, is carrying on with the married Jean Hagen. Taylor, who was Susan Hayward's first husband in the memorable "I'll Cry Tomorrow," could have begun crying when this misery of a film came out. Arlene Dahl loves John Hodiak, but then Taylor comes on the scene.The film is cliché ridden. You will not be disappointed by the disappointed experienced by the women at film's end. You will just wonder why Sam Wood ever made such a film.

Robert Taylor was always the most amazing looking man in a western. He sat a horse like no one else in movies ever did or has since. This is a truly good western about an Indian scout, Ward Kinsman, played by Taylor. He is pursued by the army to scout a journey to find the sister of Ann Duverall (Arlene Dahl)who has been kidnapped by a renegade Apache. At first he says no, but is attracted to Dahl, and alienates her from her romantic Army Captain, Ben Lorrison, played by John Hodiak, who co-stared with Taylor on several occasions, including the Bribe. The other romances are center stage with a young Don Taylor pursuing the wife of an enlisted man who is an wife beater. Jean Hagen plays the wife with great apprehension, knowing she is love with Don Taylor but staying because it is her religion. None of the romance can however outshine the great outdoors, the Indian fights, the bravery of the soldiers, and Robert Taylor, who when he starts the film, is unshaven, dirty and just as real as I am sure Luke Short wrote the part. A wonderful western with all the elements of gritty realism of the book. A must see.

This is pretty standard cavalry outpost versus the Apaches fare, but it's well acted and directed, moves along at a good clip and boasts an intelligent script that develops its stock characters effectively. Robert Taylor is at his best in this kind of stalwart but human role. And the rest of the cast delivers strongly. (Arlene Dahl has great chemistry with both Taylor and John Hodiak, rivals for her affections.)This was director Sam Wood's last film. The many action scenes are well staged and exciting, although color would have enhanced them. This is an example of big-budget Hollywood westerns from the late 40's and early 50's (many better known than this, e.g., "Red River) which--for some reason--were filmed in black and white.