SYNOPSICS
White Feather (1955) is a English movie. Robert D. Webb has directed this movie. Robert Wagner,Jeffrey Hunter,John Lund,Debra Paget are the starring of this movie. It was released in 1955. White Feather (1955) is considered one of the best History,Western movie in India and around the world.
The year is 1877. Against the backdrop of the challenging peace treaty negotiations between the Washington government and the proud Native-American tribes, the young civilian surveyor, Josh Tanner, arrives in the turbulent state of Wyoming. To pave the way for settlers to move in the territory, Colonel Lindsay is in charge of the peace mission; however, even though most tribes are receptive, Little Dog, the war-hungry son of the Cheyenne leader, Chief Broken Hand, threatens to put in jeopardy the delicate negotiations. And, as if that weren't enough, Tanner falls in love with Appearing Day, the beautiful sister of Little Dog, and fiancée of the battle-scarred tribesman, American Horse. Now, the two Cheyenne warriors prefer to die fighting. Is all hope lost?
Same Actors
Same Director
White Feather (1955) Reviews
"White Feather" follows "Broken Arrow" in being another good Western that was favorably disposed to the Indian cause
The film is a respectful telling of the 1877 campaign in Wyoming to contain the Indians by persuading them to leave the plains, sign the treaty of peace, and move to a new land in the south Wagner who affirms to colonel John Lund in charge of Fort Laramie that he has no feeling about Indians, makes Indians friends, particularly with two young warriors Little Dog and American Horse... Complications arise when Chief Broken Hand's daughter Appearing Day (Debra Paget) engaged to American Horse falls in love with Tanner (Wagner) and he with her Tanner's friendship with Little Dog grows slowly but surely It is one of the most enduring traits of the film, having just the right amount of momentum, frustration and humor... Jeffrey Hunter steals the show with a great performance of the proud warrior Little Dog whose pen does not fit Cheyenne warriors' hand as well as the arrow Little Dog's blood ran hot at the council, gets angry and chooseswith his pal American Horse to meet the troops in battle Eduard Franz is superb as the venerable Indian chief, Broken Hand, who called the council to tell them that on this day, they have agreed to take the offer of the white man and leave this country Hugh O'Brian is well chosen as Hunter's best friend, American Horse Noah Beery does one of his better work as the obedient cavalry lieutenant Debra Paget reprises her role as the radiant Indian girl Appearing Day who would be happy in a white man's world We all remember her role as the delicate Indian healer girl Sonseeahray in Delmer Daves' memorable Western "Broken Arrow." Robert D. Webb captures splendid panoramic shots that site expansive stretches of green fields and blue skies Webb does provide a handful of transcendent moments, the most spellbinding of which is Tanner's participation in honoring his brave friend
Just About Brilliant
If you can forgive the obvious--the white actors playing natives and the "Me want cookies" delivery of lines by the Indians--you've got a movie so good that you may find yourself doing what I did as Robert Wagner (about as handsome a young man as a gal could ever hope for) tries to control his emotions as he tries to care for the lifeless body of Jeffrey Hunter. It's as loving a moment in a western as you may ever see, and as tragic--nearly as painful to watch as John Wayne getting the door closed on him at the end of The Searchers. I watched this scene and let out an audible "awwww." My daughter heard me and thought I was talking to myself. Wagner, who starts the movie as a lightweight actor in over his head, gains stature in a quiet and unobtrusive manner. You grow to like him, not through heroics but from calm intelligence. Wagner underplays his Josh Tanner; you respect his grit and compassion, even as you wonder how a guy could be that boyish. I was just looking for a good, old-fashioned western when I taped White Feather off Fox Movies a few months ago. What I got was a heart- felt, eye-brimmingly sad, and astonishingly beautiful (to look at) film about the last days of the Plains Indians as a group of free peoples. Made in 1954, White Feather was clearly designed to compete with the mind-suck of television by offering a very wide screen image. Director Robert Webb and his cinematographer take time to make you suck in air from the exotic Durango, Mexico locations (standing in for Wyoming). As the many nations head toward their shared misery of their reservation ghettos, they pass by the viewer, so close you can see the agonized stoicism of the womens' faces. The wide angle captures the bigness of the diaspora in reverse. The cinematography adds to the near-epic story by making us witness a tragedy writ large. White Feather is sparingly violent, literate, and superbly acted film, and I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants something more than a Saturday Matinée shootemup.
A fine addition to the liberal Western collection.
White Feather is out of Panoramic Productions, it's directed by Robert D. Webb and stars Robert Wagner, Debra Paget, John Lund, Eduard Franz & Jeffrey Hunter. It's adapted from a John Prebble story by Delmer Daves & Leo Townsend. It was filmed in Durango, Mexico, with Lucien Ballard on cinematography duties (CinemaScope/Technicolor) and Hugo Friedhofer provides the score. Plot centres around the peace mission from the US cavalry to the Cheyenne Indians in Wyoming during the 1870s, but problems arose because a few of the Cheyenne refused to leave their hunting grounds. One of the few 1950s Westerns to show sympathy towards the Indian plight, White Feather is a well intentioned and well executed movie. It suffers a little from familiarity with Broken Arrow (1950), where Delmer Daves had directed James Stewart and Debra Paget thru a similar script to the one that's now in front of Wagner and Paget; and lets face it-Wagner is no Jimmy Stewart- and Robert Webb is no Delmer Daves-but there's more than enough good here to lift it above many other liberal Westerns. Away from the endearing and emotive story (and it is as the Cheyenne are forced out of Wyoming by the Federals), the film also boasts high points for the Western fan to gorge upon. It's gorgeously shot in CinemaScope by Ballard, a first class lens-man in the genre, and Friedhofer's score is pulsating, evocative and in tune with the tone of the tale. Also of note is that these Native Americans aren't caricatures or pantomime Indians. They may be being played by white actors (Hunter & Franz do especially good work), but they feel real and come out as the human beings they were. In fact the whole movie looks convincing. There's some missteps along the way; such as Wagner over acting and having a voice that's sounds out of place in the Wild West, while the romantic angle (Paget is so beautiful here who could not fall in love with her?) does at times threaten to clog up the narrative. But these things don't hurt the film. On the flip side there's the smooth pacing of the piece, it's only when the tense and exciting climax has arrived that you realise how well the slow burn first half was handled. And Webb may well be a second unit director in all but name here, but his construction of the scenes with hundreds of extras is top notch work. A fine and under seen Western that is based on actual events and doesn't over egg its pudding. 7/10
Decent Indian/Cavalry Western about the difficult negotiations between the Cheyenne and the USA
Good Western , considered one of the first Hollywood films to side with the Indians . 1887 Wyoming , this is the story of a complex peace carried out by the Natives : Sioux , Arapahoes , BlackFoot and the US government . But a tribe resists the complete pacification : The Cheyenne . As a twisted and troublesome relationship takes place between the American cavalry commanded by Col. Lindsay from Fort Laramie : John Lund and the Cheyenne Indians led by Broken Hand ; while crooks settlers and mean traders thwart peace . A civilian surveyor : Robert Wagner attempts to make up , as he sets out to find true peace among feuding White men and Indians . Later on , he befriends a Cheyenne chief , Broken Hand: Eduard Franz , and his son Little Dog : Jeffrey Hunter and subsequently falls for his daughter Appearing Day : Debra Paget. But things go wrong when appears the jealous suitor : Hugh O'Brian, causing a merciless vengeance.The fate of the West lay in their hands , beyond any Indian adventure ever filmed , for this was the hour of decision and the last and deadly period of the Indian wars . The picture is acclaimed along with "Broken Arrow" like the first to deal the Indian people with justice and understanding .The movie set during the 1870s is plenty of emotion , drama , romance , go riding , fights , and spectacular outdoors . The film contains enjoyable depiction about Indian habits as it was actually .A young Robert Wagner gives an acceptable acting as a surveyor whose mission is threatened when falls for the chief's daughter. She is played by the gorgeous Debra Paget interpretating a similar role to Broken Arrow. Both of whom are supported by Jeffrey Hunter who played along with Robert Wagner in "The true story of Jesse James" and "A Kiss before Dying .Furthermore , an agreeable support cast , such as : Eduard Franz as Indian chief , Hugh O'Brian as the angry fiance whose ire causes a relentless revenge , Noah Beery Jr as Lt. Ferguson , Emile Meyer , Milburn Stone and Iron Eyes Cody who played a number of Indian roles ; however , being Italian origin . Evocative and imaginative musical score by Hugo Friedhofer who also composed Broken arrow. It displays a colorful and evocative cinematography by Lucien Ballard , Peckinpah's ordinary cameraman, being shot on location in Fort Laramie , Wyoming , actual Fort at centre of events and activities portrayed and in Durango , Mexico . The motion picture was well directed by by Robert D Webb. He was a fine craftsman and expert professional who produced and directed all kinds of genres as Cinema as TV episodes. He began working as an assistant director and second unit director in titles as Ramona, Lloyd of London , Seventh heaven , Maryland or Just around the corner. Being his his film debut :The Caribbean mystery ; from now on , he made several cinematic genres . As he realized Westerns such as : The proud ones , The Jackals ; Adventures: Pirates of Tortuga , Seven cites of gold , The way to the gold ; Film Noir : The Cape town affair , The Spiders , The Caribbean mystery ; Warlike : The glory brigade , 7 Women from hell ; and Sci-Fi : On the three hold of space . Although he also made some documentary , shorts, and Telefilms and TV episodes , such as: Temple Houston , Daniel Boone . Rating : 7 .Enjoyable Indian fare that will appeal to Western fans .
Featherweight Western
Fox's WHITE FEATHER (1955) is a pallid reworking of their seminal 1950 James Stewart western "Broken Arrow". Pallid indeed, thanks in no small measure to the leaden performance of Robert Wagner in the leading role and the wearisome screenplay by the ubiquitous and usually more talented Delmer Daves who, by the way, had directed "Broken Arrow". "Broken Arrow" expertly dealt with the plight of the Apache Indian and one man's efforts to make peace with them. The premise with "White Feather" is exactly the same except instead of the Apache this time it concerns the Cheyenne. Wagner's narration at the picture's opening informs us reassuringly, just like Jimmie Stewart did in the earlier film, that this is a true story and when the Indian speaks he will speak in our language etc. etc. Also Fox starlet Debra Paget, who played an Apache squaw in "Broken Arrow" (and was killed in that picture remember) turns up here as a Cheyenne squaw. She virtually plays the same role and, would you believe, is dressed in the same outfit. I guess she must have had a vision of a future studio call sheet and saved the costume! HUH? The only discernible difference in her role here is her name is not Sonseerahray but Appearing Day. Perhaps she should have been called Appearing EVERY Day! Limply directed by the bland Robert Webb there is not one actor in this sorry affair (except maybe likable John Lund who isn't in it very much anyway) capable of lifting the thing above the banality bar. Webb has no idea of pacing and not once is the movie intruded upon with anything that resembles style. The Fox bland brigade - Robert Wagner, Jeffery Hunter, Debra Paget, Hugh O'Brian and Virginia Leith parade through this trite vehicle bemused and with a look of wonderment on their faces. Probably wondering when the day's shoot will be finished so they can go home. We, on the other hand, are home and also have a bemused look on our faces as we wonder what the hell we're doing watching this rubbish. After all that however - I'll have to give this vacuous effort at least a two star rating for the gorgeous Cinemascope/Colour cinematography by Lucian Ballard and the excellent score by the great Hugo Friedhofer who incidentally also composed the music for "Broken Arrow" and here makes exceptional use of his love theme from the earlier picture as his Main Theme. But ultimately, I'm afraid, "White Feather" is a production straight from the bottom drawer and gets my vote as one of the most pedestrian westerns ever produced. I really cannot understand Fox Home Entertainment putting out poor movies like "White feather", "The True Story Of Jesse James", "The Proud Ones", "Fort Courageous" etc. while left languishing in their vaults are fine westerns such as "Rio Conchos", "From Hell To Texas" and "Two Flags West". Go Figure!