this film be a hidden gem in western film lore and have fine work by joel mccrea in the title role . the movie have great color and scenery and a fine cast and a great battle scene and and genuinely poignant moment . the random slaughter of buffalo be the spark that set off a powder keg that explode with indian go on the warpath to drive the white invader from their hunting ground . the thrill clash of red and blue at war bonnet gorge be perhaps the best ever film by any major studio on any level . the fight symbolize the struggle of two culture and a way of life that the indian fight desperately to preserve . the soldier and indian be a blur in a savage mixture of military conflict that forever break the resistance of the plain indian to westward expansion . maureen ohara be pretty a mrs. cody and thomas mitchell do well in his role a ned buntline .