Main Cast: Rod Steiger, Sarita Montiel, Brian Keith, Ralph Meeker, Jay C. Flippen
Release Year: 1957
Country: US
Run Time: 85 minutes
Plot
Several film historians, notably the late William K. Everson, have noted the striking resemblances between Run of the Arrow and the 1990 Oscar-winner Dances with Wolves. Rod Steiger stars as O'Meara, an Irish-brogued Confederate soldier with an intense dislike for Yankees. Unable to accept the South's defeat, O'Meara heads westward after the Civil War, to start life anew amongst the Sioux Indians. Surving a ritual rite of passage called the Run of the Arrow, O'Meara is accepted into the tribe, and shortly afterward marries Sioux woman Yellow Moccasin (played by Spanish actress Sarita Montiel, whose voice was dubbed by Angie Dickinson). The true test of O'Meara's fidelity to the Sioux comes when his adopted people come into conflict with a Cavalry troop, headed by Northerner Captain Clark (Brian Keith). The cast includes such western "regulars" as Charles Bronson, Olive Carey (the widow of Harry Carey) and Colonel Tom McCoy (a recognized Indian-lore expert). Produced by RKO Radio, Run of the Arrow was released by Universal-International. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Charles Bronson - Blue Buffalo; Olive Carey - Mrs. O'Meara; H.M. Wynant - Crazy Wolf; Neyle Morrow - Lt. Stockwell; Frank de Kova - Red Cloud; Stuart Randall - Col. Taylor; Frank Warner - Ballad Singer; Billy Miller - Silent Tongue; Chuck Hayward - Corporal; Chuck Roberson - Sergeant; Frank Baker - Gen. Robert E. Lee; Angie Dickinson - Dubbed Sarita Montiel; Tim McCoy - Gen. Allan; Don Orlando - Vinci; Carleton Young - Doctor; Emile Avery - Gen. Ulysses S. Grant; Ray Stevens - Uncredited
However when the US Army build a fort on Sioux lands O'Meara must make a difficult decision when fighting starts.
Production notes
Run of the Arrow was the first film to use blood squibs to simulate realistic bullet impacts. The movie was filmed at St. George, Utah.
Originally produced by RKO Pictures, the studio went bankrupt before it was released. Universal bought Run of the Arrow from RKO and distributed it as a Universal picture.
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 their full entirety. Fuller later stated in an interview that there was a simple reason for his decision: Rod Steiger had badly sprained his ankle just before the scene was to be shot and wasn't able to walk, let alone run. Instead Fuller got one of the Indian extras to run in Steiger's place, which is why the scene is only shot with feet instead of close-ups or medium shots.
