This stark tale was attacked by some for being a reactionary return to the depiction of native Americans as bloodthirsty savages, and mocked by others for its attempts to combine violent action with diatribes about racial prejudice. Yet Robert Aldrich's powerful western also has many champions, who see it as both a bold Vietnam allegory and an attempt to restore a semblance of historical accuracy to events coloured by decades of horse-opera exploitation and liberal revisionism. Burt Lancaster is superb as the scout saddened by conflict, and Alan Sharp's script and Joseph Biroc's cinematography are first class.

After fierce war chief Ulzana and a small war party jump the reservation bent on murder and terror, an inexperienced young lieutenant is assigned to track him down.