Revolt at Fort Laramie

John Dehner gets a rare top billing in this interesting western. He's the commanding officer at the fort, just as Fort Sumter surrenders. The enlisted men, with mixed loyalties are ragging each other on with reprises of "Dixie" and "John Brown's Body", and he faces them down. He tells them they're soldiers of the US Army, and they'll behave that way. Then orders come from Washington to discharge every man of uncertain allegiance, so he resigns, planning to lead he other Southerners to Texas to enlist. He leaves his daughter, Frances helm, with the new, young C.O., Greg Palmer, saying that national loyalties may differ, but love conquers all. Then he heads out into hostile Indian territory.

Lesley Selander directs this one without much fuss. He focuses on the sense of honor and loyalty of the professional soldier instead, and Dehner's aristocratic presence makes this one to watch. Keep an eye out for Harry Dean Stanton, still uncredited in his third movie role.