After a deadly battle between Apache warriors and cavalry soldiers, the leader of the Indian tribe "Nanchez" (Rodolfo Acosta) is taken prisoner and escorted back to the fort pending his removal to a reservation. Also captured are a few braves along with several women and children. However, it's only after the soldiers have rounded all of them up that they discover that one of their prisoners is a white woman-and she has a young half-Apache boy with her. To that effect, it is later learned that her name is "Cora Sutliff" (Barbara Stanwyck) and after being captured by the Apaches several years earlier was forced to become the wife of Nanchez-and the small child named "Quito" (Terry Lawrence) is a result of this relationship. Complicating matters is the fact that was married prior to being abducted and not knowing what else to do the Army decides to send her and her son back to her husband "Fred Sutliff" (John Dehner) on the next stagecoach to Tuscon. And to make sure she gets there safely a soldier by the name of "Sergeant Clovis Hook" (Joel McCrea) is assigned as her escort. What they don't know is that Nanchez has escaped from custody and after reuniting with several warriors has followed in pursuit-and he has every intention of reclaiming his son in the process. Now rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was a fairly decent Western that focused heavily on the issue of racism which was rapidly becoming quite contentious during this particular time. Admittedly, there are some scenes involving Quito which were a bit too cutesy but other than that I enjoyed this film and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.
