IMDb RATING
6.3/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
In 1866 Wyoming, a frontier scout tries to prevent a war between the Sioux and the U.S. after the Army builds a road and a fort on territory previously ceded to the Sioux by treaty.In 1866 Wyoming, a frontier scout tries to prevent a war between the Sioux and the U.S. after the Army builds a road and a fort on territory previously ceded to the Sioux by treaty.In 1866 Wyoming, a frontier scout tries to prevent a war between the Sioux and the U.S. after the Army builds a road and a fort on territory previously ceded to the Sioux by treaty.
Russ Conway
- Maj. Horton
- (as Russell Conway)
Chief American Horse
- Indian
- (uncredited)
Sheila Darcy
- Woman
- (uncredited)
Abner George
- Man
- (uncredited)
James A. Hermstad
- Man
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJack Oakie's character Sol Beckworth is based on James Beckwourth, a mountain man, fur trapper, army scout and explorer. A companion of Jim Bridger, "Liver Eater" Johnson, Portuguese Philips, Del Gu and Frenchy La Blatte, he lived among the Crow tribe and married the daughter of a Crow chief and became a respected warrior and leader of the Crow nation. He was born around 1800 and was the son of a slave mother and her owner, Sir Jennings Beckwourth. His father acknowledged his paternity and treated him as a son. He granted James his freedom in 1824. He started as a blacksmith's apprentice, but headed west to work for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. He is credited with discovering and mapping Beckwourth Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. For all his exploits and deeds, he became one of the Old West's legendary figures. He died October 29, 1866, in Denver, CO.
- GoofsWhen Dancy is shot and killed by an arrow, padding can clearly be seen beneath his shirt.
- Quotes
Dan Castello: I have to keep moving. Got iron in my blood. If I sit still, I rust.
- Alternate versionsAccording to Wikipedia, Tomahawk was originally released in the UK under the title "Battle of Powder River". The reference for this is given as Monthly Film Bulletin, 18 (204), London, January 1, 1951, p. 217 and google searches return images of movie posters in that name. The title is erroneous, however, as the real Battle of Powder River took place just over the border, in Montana, in 1876, ten years after the events depicted in Tomahawk.
Featured review
Out Of The Picture
Tomahawk is a good B western with some A list cast players in the credits. The lead character in it is famous mountain man Jim Bridger who in 1868 when this story is supposed to be taking place was 64 years old and according to Wikipedia was suffering from arthritis and rheumatism at that time and was retiring from army scouting, trapping, and all other frontier activities. But what we have is 40 year old Van Heflin in the part. Knowing what I know it does make the film just a trifle ludicrous.
But no more than a whole lot of other Hollywood product which had famous frontier characters in all kinds of situations and plots that were historically and physically impossible. In fact there is some truth in some of the story line in Tomahawk. Bridger in fact did find a scout an alternate trail to the Bozeman trail which did run through Sioux country and it was called the Bridger trail. Red Cloud did go on the war path at this time when an army fort was built on land ceded to him by treaty. It's just that Bridger was out of the picture in real life at the time of this story.
Heflin makes a stoic and impassive Bridger who is on army business and business of his own. He arrives at the fort commanded by Colonel Preston Foster with sidekick Jack Oakie and Susan Cabot, an Indian maiden. He's there to scout for the army though his sympathies are well known to be with the Sioux. But Heflin is also hunting an army man, known to have been involved in the infamous Sand Creek Massacre of 1864.
Along the way Heflin does help rescue Yvonne DeCarlo and her partner Tom Tully who were traveling in a medicine show wagon when they were attacked. A bit of a romance does develop, though it is definitely in second place to the action, if not the accuracy.
Tomahawk though a B film is definitely in line with such post World War II westerns as Fort Apache, Broken Arrow, and Pony Soldier which had a sympathetic Indian point of view. It's got good production values and moves at a decent clip. But don't write any term papers based on it.
But no more than a whole lot of other Hollywood product which had famous frontier characters in all kinds of situations and plots that were historically and physically impossible. In fact there is some truth in some of the story line in Tomahawk. Bridger in fact did find a scout an alternate trail to the Bozeman trail which did run through Sioux country and it was called the Bridger trail. Red Cloud did go on the war path at this time when an army fort was built on land ceded to him by treaty. It's just that Bridger was out of the picture in real life at the time of this story.
Heflin makes a stoic and impassive Bridger who is on army business and business of his own. He arrives at the fort commanded by Colonel Preston Foster with sidekick Jack Oakie and Susan Cabot, an Indian maiden. He's there to scout for the army though his sympathies are well known to be with the Sioux. But Heflin is also hunting an army man, known to have been involved in the infamous Sand Creek Massacre of 1864.
Along the way Heflin does help rescue Yvonne DeCarlo and her partner Tom Tully who were traveling in a medicine show wagon when they were attacked. A bit of a romance does develop, though it is definitely in second place to the action, if not the accuracy.
Tomahawk though a B film is definitely in line with such post World War II westerns as Fort Apache, Broken Arrow, and Pony Soldier which had a sympathetic Indian point of view. It's got good production values and moves at a decent clip. But don't write any term papers based on it.
helpful•119
- bkoganbing
- Apr 20, 2009
- How long is Tomahawk?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Tomahawk - Aufstand der Sioux
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $750,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 22 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content