FAQ

Rachel Zachary (Audrey Hepburn), the adopted daughter of Matilda Zachary (Lillian Gish) and sister to Ben (Burt Lancaster), Cash (Audie Murphy), and Andy (Doug McClure) Zachary, becomes the center of controversy on the Texas frontier when a stranger calling himself "the vengeance of God" accuses her of being a Kiowa Indian, stolen as an infant from the Kiowas by the Zachary's father. When local ranchers turn on the family and the Kiowas show up to claim Rachel as their own, Ben, as the eldest, must choose a course of action that will ultimately tear the family apart.

The Unforgiven is also a 1957 novel by American novelist Alan LeMay. The book was adapted for the screen by American screenwriter Ben Maddow.

No. Both Rachel and her brothers knew that she was adopted, but they had no idea that she was Kiowa. Only Mathilda knew.

Giupago, which translates as "Lone Wolf" in the Kiowa language. Interestingly, Lone Wolf is also the translated name of a real Kiowa chief, Lone Wolf the Elder [1820-1879].

When the ranchers are trying to figure out whether there is any truth to Abe Kelsey's (Joseph Wiseman) accusations, Zeb Rrawlins (Charles Bickford) points out that her face is dark but adds that it could have been from the sun. By examining the rest of her body, those parts that were hidden from the sun, they could determine whether or not the rest of her skin was equally as dark.

Running low on bullets, Ben begins to melt down Andy's toy soliders for the lead to make more bullets. Suddenly, a herd of cattle, driven by the Kiowa, begin to trample the sod roof on the Zacharys' cabin. Rachel hides in the root cellar while Ben and Andy set fire to the roof in order to chase off the cows. As the roof begins caving in, Ben kisses Rachel and turns to face the Kiowa. Suddenly gunshots are heard, and Cash rides up, killing numerous Indians on his way and turning the tide. Meanwhile, Lost Bird (Carlos Rivas) slips into the root cellar to claim his sister, but Rachel kills him with Andy's gun. In the final scene, Rachel, Ben, Cash, and Andy stand together outside the cabin, watching as a flock of geese soar through the sky.