Classic Films

He wasn't searching for her to save her. He was following her to kill her because she was, in his words, ( not mine), "been with a buck." That was the depth of his hate, fueled by past massacres. Likewise, the Commanche chief was also avenging the past massacre of his own family. The Duke, who almost always played the hero, was the villain in this film. He was also avenging the death of his brother's wife. She had been in love with him, but married his brother when the Duke went off to war.

The movie was loosely based on the life of Cynthia Ann Parker, who was abducted as a child. Her uncle unsuccessfully searched for her for years. She was "rescued" in her thirties but wanted to stay with the Commanche. Her son was Quanah Parker, the last great chief of the Commanches.