Moviecut—Run of the Arrow

Run of the Arrow

Raw-edged western drama, concerning a Southern vet that has turned his back on his country, to live with Sioux Indians. It would appear that decades later, "Dances With Wolves" would borrow liberally from this story-line. Steiger speaks with an interesting Irish brogue, that does not seem out of place. Good supporting cast, with Brian Keith, and the always under-rated but superb Meeker as the baddie. Considering when it was made, this is a grim, realistic peek at the old west.

This oater is a rather gory affair of a bitter ex-rebel's quest to put the Civil War behind him. The Confederate soldier heads west and decides that life among the Plains Indians is preferable to being a citizen of the United States after the war. Rod Steiger was probably the best actor to play the unreconstructed southerner in this grim cavalry-Indian western. The unhappy southerner finds companionship with an Indian maiden in his adopted tribe and harbors as much hatred for the soldiers as do the Indians. The film starts slowly but finds its own groove and delivers fine action sequences although some scenes are not for the squeamish. Brian Keith, Ralph Meeker, Charles Bronson and Frank de Kova are good in supporting roles. Pretty Mexican actress Sarita Montiel pairs up with O'Meara's but her overall effect is diminished by the obvious dubbing of her voice.

"Run of the Arrow" has an ex-Civil War soldier taking an Indian wife (Sarita Montiel) and here the Indians are less idealized Steiger, deserter from the Southern cause, is a highly credible character, tough and able to effect a compromise with the Sioux until he finds one aspect of the culture he can't stomach, let alone assimilate—that of skinning a captive alive He still, however, rides out of the picture with his Indian wife alongside Whether she will assimilate what she finds in a different culture remains unanswered The film remains a bloody little Western in the accustomed Fuller vein of unpleasantness...