This lesser known Redford film has been recently, exploitively unearthed in the wake of co-star Blake's real-life arrest and trial for murder. Blake plays a Peyote Indian in 1909 who kills in self defense and is tracked all over the desert by a small posse led by sheriff Redford. Notable as the return to directing by a man who was blacklisted for 18 years prior, it has strong social commentary and the characters really represent aspects of a more contemporary society (namely the one that went on a Communist witch-hunt in the 1950's!) The film, though the plot line is fairly straightforward, isn't always easy to understand because many of the characters' traits and motivations are blurry. No one in the entire film, except possibly Lipton, is a sympathetic character. Everyone is either violent or stupid or manipulative or a combination of the three. There is some degree of suspense and tension in the film, but it doesn't really come off as wholly successful. Redford is an anti-hero, this time on the side of the law after previously playing a fugitive himself in "The Chase". Blake is a highly troubled soul who can't fit in to either the world of the reservations or white man. As his love interest, Ross is hilarious. With her anachronistic hair and slathered on redface make-up, she is the least likely Indian imaginable unless they had put Mamie Van Doren in the role. Why they bothered to cast her and give her second billing is a mystery anyway because one can not see her face in this movie!!!!!! Her hair in CONSTANTLY over half her face, she is photographed through brush and tall grass, behind hanging clothing, with wet hair all over her forehead and eyes, head hanging down, etc...to the point of hilarity. Clark's character is very enigmatic...sharing a lust/hate relationship with Redford. They strike some interesting notes, but their story isn't fleshed out properly. This is worth checking out for the occasional tension, the cat and mouse aspects of the chase and for it's camp value concerning the Indian characters, but the overall impact is not what was intended.
