Run of the Arrow

Run of the Arrow is a 1957 American Western film written, directed, and produced by Samuel Fuller and starring Rod Steiger, Sara Montiel, Brian Keith, Ralph Meeker, Jay C. Flippen, and Charles Bronson. Set at the end of the American Civil War, the movie was filmed in Technicolor.

Plot
On the last day of the Civil War, Confederate soldier O'Meara shoots Driscoll, a Union lieutenant. After seeing that Driscoll is not dead, O'Meara takes him to nearby Appomattox and learns that General Lee is in the process of surrendering to General Grant. O'Meara almost shoots Grant, but is stopped by the doctor in charge of saving Driscoll. The doctor removed the bullet from Driscoll's body and gives it to O'Meara.

Returning to his home in Virginia, O'Meara rejects the pleas of his mother to put aside his hatred and settle down, as she notes the losses that the family and community have suffered in the war. O'Meara, however, refuses to accept the authority of the United States government and proclaims himself a man without a country. He heads west, hoping to join with the Sioux nation in their own wars against the American army.

O'Meara finds travel in strange territory difficult until meeting Walking Coyote, an aging Oglala scout who speaks English and is heading back to his home tribe to die. The two travel together, with Walking Coyote teaching O'Meara the Sioux language and customs. They, however, are captured by a band of Sioux warriors led by Crazy Wolf, who is about to execute the pair when Walking Coyote invokes the right to the "run of the arrow", a ritual that could save their lives if they can endure a run marked by arrows flying in their path.

During the run, Walking Coyote dies, but O'Meara is saved by a group of Sioux women, including Yellow Moccasin, who helps him to present himself to the tribe's chief, Blue Buffalo, and claim his right to his life for surviving the run. Blue Buffalo gives O'Meara safe haven as he recovers, in part because of their mutual hatred of the Americans. Having fallen in love, O'Meara asks permission to be married with Yellow Moccasin, proclaiming, "In my heart, my nation is Sioux." When O'Meara points out the similarities between his Christian God and the Indians' Great Spirit, Blue Buffalo agrees and O'Meara becomes an active member of the tribe. The couple adopts a mute orphan boy, Silent Tongue, as their own son.

When the Sioux leader Red Cloud negotiates an agreement with Army General Allen for the troops to build Fort Lincoln within a prescribed area, O'Meara becomes a guide and translator for the soldiers under the command of Captain Clark. Clark's second in command is Lieutenant Driscoll, who now shows a hatred of the Indians. O'Meara's own hostility to the "Yankees" is lessened, however, when, during the journey to the fort's site, a soldier gives his own life rescuing Silent Tongue from perishing in quicksand.

At the fort's site, the soldiers are attacked by Crazy Wolf, who kills Captain Clark and wants to start a war. O'Meara disarms Crazy Wolf, but offers him the "run of the arrow" to spare his life. Driscoll, however, violates the ritual and shoots Crazy Wolf. Wounded, Crazy Wolf is taken back to his tribe by O'Meara. Taking command, Driscoll has his men move the fort's site to a location that is more strategic, but violates the terms of the agreement with the Sioux. Blue Buffalo prepares to attack the fort, but agrees to let O'Meara attempt to intercede with the soldiers. Driscoll takes O'Meara prisoner and prepares to hang him, when the Indians attack in a battle that kills many of the army troops and destroys the fort. Driscoll is captured and is about to be skinned alive for his violation of the run of the arrow when O'Meara, in an act of mercy, shoots him with the old bullet.

Yellow Moccasin says that, as O'Meara could not bear for Driscoll to be skinned alive, he is not a true Sioux - underlined by his referring to the Sioux warriors as "they" instead of "we". Realizing that he is still a man without a country, O'Meara guides the surviving soldiers to Fort Laramie, accompanied by Yellow Moccasin and Silent Tongue.

Cast

 * Rod Steiger as O'Meara
 * Sara Montiel as Yellow Moccasin (as Sarita Montiel)
 * Brian Keith as Capt. Clark
 * Ralph Meeker as Lt. Driscoll
 * Jay C. Flippen as Walking Coyote
 * Charles Bronson as Blue Buffalo
 * Olive Carey as Mrs. O'Meara
 * H.M. Wynant as Crazy Wolf
 * Neyle Morrow as Lt. Stockwell
 * Frank DeKova as Red Cloud (as Frank De Kova)
 * Tim McCoy as Gen. Allen (as Colonel Tim McCoy)
 * Stuart Randall as Col. Taylor

Production notes
Run of the Arrow was one of the first films to use blood squibs to simulate realistic bullet impacts. The movie was filmed at Snow Canyon and Pine Valley Lake in St. George, Utah, which is far from actual Sioux territory.

Originally produced by RKO Radio Pictures, the studio ended its distribution activities before the movie was released. Universal Pictures handled the distribution.

Sara Montiel's voice is dubbed by Angie Dickinson.

At the time of its release, critics commented favorably on director Samuel Fuller's decision to concentrate on feet in the "run of the arrow" scene rather than showing the actors in full. Fuller later explained that Steiger had badly sprained his ankle just before the scene was to be shot and was unable to walk, so he had one of the Indian extras run in Steiger's place.

The movie is currently available through the Warner Archive Collection.

After Dances With Wolves was released in 1990, several knowledgeable critics, including Jeremy Arnold in the Los Angeles Times and Angela Aleiss in her essay for the Library of Congress' National Film Registry, noted that the plot was almost identical to this picture.