The only thing this movie lacks is color! That is why I buy every John Wayne (especially) colorized movie I can find, because it makes the “mere great much better”.

Oh, I forgot, I DO have it in color (vhs set of John Wayne movies)!!!

What a joy!

One unusual feature of this old black-and-white flick is the singing of old folk songs by the men of the U.S. Cavalry. There is also a display of various cavalry skills. For instance, the mounted men must jump over a 6-foot fence.

Lt. Colonel Yorke (John Wayne) has his son in the cavalry unit, but pledges to treat him equally to everyone else. Yorke’s son had failed West Point, and now wants to redeem himself in the U.S. Cavalry. His mother (Maureen O’Hara) comes, and tries to have him removed from the unit. The other soldiers think that the son is privileged, and this leads to a fistfight.

The U.S. Cavalry is fighting against the Apache Indians. Yorke is limited by the fact that he is forbidden to cross into Mexico to pursue the Apaches. The Mexicans have the opposite problem. This becomes obvious when Yorke meets with his Mexican counterpart on an isle in the middle of the Rio Grande.

In time, there is a savage Apache attack, and some children are kidnapped and taken across the border into Mexico. Yorke decides to disobey the directive and to cross the Rio Grande in pursuit of the kidnappers and their hostages. Will his unexpected move catch the Apaches by surprise? Will he succeed in freeing the hostages? During the operation, he takes an arrow in the chest. Will he live?

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara are great on screen together. Even though this movie is in black and white, it is still worth viewing. I enjoy the story, the songs and the drama. In my opinion this is one of John Wayne’s better movies, and I have seen them all. I would recommend this movie to any one who enjoys John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, the old west, a great action movie, and a bowl of popcorn.