Run of the Arrow

1957
Approved
1h 26m

IMDb RATING

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Rod Steiger, Ralph Meeker, and Sara Montiel in Run of the Arrow (1957)

After the South loses the war, Confederate veteran O'Meara goes West, joins the Sioux, takes a wife and refuses to be an American but he must choose a side when the Sioux go to war against t... Read allAfter the South loses the war, Confederate veteran O'Meara goes West, joins the Sioux, takes a wife and refuses to be an American but he must choose a side when the Sioux go to war against the U.S. Army.After the South loses the war, Confederate veteran O'Meara goes West, joins the Sioux, takes a wife and refuses to be an American but he must choose a side when the Sioux go to war against the U.S. Army.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

2.5K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Top cast29

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Rod Steiger

O'Meara

Sara Montiel

Yellow Moccasin
(as Sarita Montiel)

Brian Keith

Capt. Clark

Ralph Meeker

Lt. Driscoll

Jay C. Flippen

Walking Coyote

Charles Bronson

Blue Buffalo

Olive Carey

Mrs. O'Meara

H.M. Wynant

Crazy Wolf

Neyle Morrow

Lt. Stockwell

Frank DeKova

Red Cloud
(as Frank De Kova)

Tim McCoy

Gen. Allen
(as Colonel Tim McCoy)

Stuart Randall

Col. Taylor

Frank Warner

Banjo Playing Singer

Billy Miller

Silent Tongue

Chuck Hayward

Corporal

Chuck Roberson

Sergeant

Emile Avery

Gen. Ulysses S. Grant
(uncredited)

Frank Baker

Gen. Robert E. Lee
(uncredited)

Director
- Samuel Fuller
Writer
- Samuel Fuller
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Trivia
At the time of its release, many critics commented favorably on director Samuel Fuller's artistic decision to concentrate on the feet of the participants in the "run of the arrow" rather than showing them in their entirety. In an interview, Fuller said there was a very simple reason for his decision: star Rod Steiger had badly sprained his ankle just before the scene was to be shot and wasn't able to walk, let alone run, so Fuller got one of the Indian extras who was built somewhat like Steiger to run in his place, which is why he shot only feet instead of close-ups or medium shots.

Goofs
The bulk of the film is in a very arid desert area, not the landscape in Sioux territory.

Quotes
Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter: [Sick with fever, approaches the tribe] I wish... I wish to speak to your chief Blue Buffalo...
Blue Buffalo: [Rising from the ground where he was squatting] I'm Blue Buffalo!
Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter: I've lived the Run of the Arrow!
Blue Buffalo: [Blue buffalo has a warrior check O'Meara's feet and addresses Crazy Wolf] Is this the man that out ran you?
Crazy Wolf: Yes.
Blue Buffalo: [Addressing O'Meara] You are the first to outlive the Run. You will never die by the hand of a Sioux for this. Give him back his horse and everything else that belongs to him. I don't understand. you speak Sioux like Sioux not like a white man.
Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter: My teacher was Walking Coyote.
Blue Buffalo: That poor renegade.
[as Blue Buffalo says this ,O'Meara collapses and faints]
Crazy Wolf: [Crazy Wolf checks on him] He's sick with the fever!
Blue Buffalo: [Addressing the village] Our law prevents us from killing any man who lives the Run. But we have no law to help him live. The choice is yours. Who among you will help him thru the night?
Yellow Moccasin: I will. I will help him thru the night.

Crazy credits
The movie closes with the following statement: "The end of this story can only be written by you."

Connections
Featured in The Typewriter, the Rifle & the Movie Camera (1996)

User reviews37

Review

Featured review

6/10

conflicted

Confederate soldier Rod O'Meara (Rod Steiger) is bitter following Lee's surrender at Appomattox. He almost takes a shot at Grant. He travels west to escape the Union. He is befriended by a Sioux named Walking Coyote who is returning to his tribe after working for the Americans. The two are captured by Crazy Wolf who leads a band of young warriors. Walking Coyote demands a Run of the Arrow. Crazy Wolf is forced to oblige and O'Meara manages to survive with help from Yellow Moccasin. He is the first man to survive the trial. He joins the tribe and marries Yellow Moccasin. He is assigned to scout for the Americans as they built a new fort. Conflict soon arises and O'Meara is forced to choose a side.

Filmmaker Samuel Fuller is known for low budget B-movies which sometimes gained critical praise. O'Meara may not be an appealing protagonist but he has a point to make. It is a look at the world through the loser's side, both the Confederates and the Sioux. Both groups are in the last days of independence. It's a conflicted film about a conflicted world with conflicted characters. The movie is trying to say something but like O'Meara, the movie is unsure of its own point of view. This is interesting but it leaves me conflicted.