After a cavalry group is massacred by the Cheyenne, only two survivors remain: Honus, a naive private devoted to his duty, and Cresta, a young woman who had lived with the Cheyenne two years and whose sympathies lie more with them than with the US government. Together, they must try to reach the cavalry's main base camp. As they travel onward, Honus is torn between his growing affection for Cresta.
Direction
Nelson stages the finale like a horror film disguised as history.
Acting
Bergen's Cresta weaponizes survival femininity against Strauss's rigid innocence.
Editing
The massacre sequence cuts between beauty and butchery — unforgivable and unforgettable.
Director
Ralph Nelson
Candice Bergen
Kathy Maribel Lee, 'Cresta'
Peter Strauss
Honus Gent
Donald Pleasence
Isaac Q. Cumber
John Anderson
Col. Iverson
Jorge Rivero
Spotted Wolf
Dana Elcar
Capt. Battles
Martin West
Lt. Spingarn
James Hampton
Pvt. Menzies
Mort Mills
Sgt. O'Hearn
Jorge Russek
Running Fox
Aurora Clavel
Indian Woman
Ralph Nelson
Agent Long
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released during Vietnam, the film's cavalry-atrocity parallels were unmistakable — and deeply controversial.
The Sand Creek massacre depicted was so historically accurate that Cheyenne consultants participated — then walked off during filming of the violence.
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