Tomahawk (film)


Tomahawk is a 1951 American Technicolor Western film directed by George Sherman and starring Van Heflin and Yvonne De Carlo.
The film is loosely based on events that took place in Wyoming in 1866 to 1868 around Fort Phil Kearny on the Bozeman Trail such as the Fetterman Fight and Wagon Box Fight. In the UK, the film was released as The Battle of Powder River.

Premise

In 1866, gold is discovered and the U.S. Army build a road and fort on territory ceded to the Sioux by an earlier treaty. Frontier scout Jim Bridger, whose companion, a Cheyenne girl, is the daughter of Chief Black Kettle and sister to Bridger's deceased wife, tries to prevent an all out war with Sioux leader Red Cloud and his braves.

Cast

The film was based on a story by Daniel Jarrett. Film rights were bought by Universal in 1947; they assigned Leonard Goldstein to produce and George Sherman to direct.|author=In August 1948 Universal announced the film would be one of their Technicolor productions for the following year, along with Calamity Jane and Sam Bass, Sierra, Streets of Cairo, Bloomer Girl and Bagdad.
In May 1949 Stephen McNally was announced for the lead and Edna Anhalt was going to write the script. McNally dropped out and was replaced by Van Heflin in March 1950 and Anhalt is not credited on the final film. In April Yvonne de Carlo was cast opposite Heflin. De Carlo liked that her part was more of a straight dramatic role.
Shooting began in May 1950. The film was shot partly on location in South Dakota.

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called it a "well made, exciting movie."
In June 1952 Van Heflin and George Sherman were reported as working on a followup to the movie.