A Civil War story with an unusual perspective – from the Native American point of view. As the number of live horses in both the Union and Confederate cavalries dwindles, the soldiers look to the tribes for new mounts. Jeff Chandler plays a former field surgeon who retired as the result of a crippling hand wound that shook his confidence in his operating abilities, if not his actual skill. He tries to purchase the horses fairly and nobly, but underhanded profiteers and entrepreneurs provoke encounters that culminate in the finale.
While no composers are listed in the credits of The Great Sioux Uprising, the music heard in the film was composed by, among others, Universal Studios musicians Henry Mancini and Herman Stein.
production details
USA / Universal / 79 minutes / 1953
Director: Lloyd Bacon
Producer: Albert J. Cohen
Director of Photography: Maury Gertsman
Editing: Edward Curtiss
Script: Gladys Atwater, J. Robert Bren, Melvin Levy
Art Direction: Alexander Golitzen, Alfred Sweeney
cast
Jeff Chandler as Jonathan Westgate
Faith Domergue as Joan Britton
John War Eagle as Red Cloud
Lyle Bettger as Stephen Cook
Peter Whitney as Ahab Jones
Stacy Harris as Uriah
Walter Sande as Joe Baird
Stephen Chase as Maj. McKay
Glenn Strange as Stand Watie
Charles Arnt as Gist
Julia Montoya as Heyoka
Ray Bennett as Sgt. Manners
Dewey Drapeau as Teo-Ka-Ha
Boyd ‘Red’ Morgan as Ray
Lane Bradford as Lee
Jack Ingram as Sam
Clem Fuller as Jake