The Great Sioux Uprising

The Great Sioux Uprising
The Great Sioux Uprising
	Film poster by Reynold Brown
Directed by	Lloyd Bacon
Written by	Melvin Levy
Story by	J. Robert Bren; Glady Atwater
Produced by	Albert J. Cohen
Starring	Jeff Chandler; Faith Domergue; Lyle Bettger
Cinematography	Maury Gertsman
Edited by	Edward Curtiss
Color process	Technicolor
Production; company	Universal Pictures
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release dates	June 23, 1953 (Chicago, Illinois); July 17, 1953 (United States);
Running time	80 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$1.35 million (US)

The Great Sioux Uprising is a 1953 American Technicolor western film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Jeff Chandler, Faith Domergue and Lyle Bettger. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures.

Plot

During the Civil War, in Wyoming, horse dealers Joan Britton (Faith Domergue) and Stephen Cook (Lyle Bettger) are competing to supply the Union Army with horses. A Cherokee, Stan Watie, is in the area to stir up the Sioux against the Union just as Cook decides to steal a herd of Sioux horses. Ex-army doctor Jonathan Westgate (Jeff Chandler) opposes Cook's unscrupulous methods as well as being Cook's rival for the affections of Joan. It seems Westgate is the only one able to prevent a new Indian war.

Cast

Jeff Chandler as Capt. Jonathan Westgate
Faith Domergue as Joan Britton
Lyle Bettger as Stephen Cook
Peter Whitney as Ahab Jones
Stacy Harris as Uriah
Walter Sande as Joe Baird
Stephen Chase as Maj. McKay
Glenn Strange as Gen. Stan Watie
Ray Bennett as Sgt. Manners
John War Eagle as Chief Red Cloud
Charles Arnt as Gist
Julia Montoya as Heyoka
Dewey Drapeau as Teo-Ka-Ha
Boyd 'Red' Morgan as Ray
Lane Bradford as Lee
Jack Ingram as Sam
Clem Fuller as Jake
Virginia Mullen as Madge Baird

Production

In 1952 Jeff Chandler signed a new contract with Universal which doubled his salary. The Great Sioux Uprising was the first film under the new agreement.^[2] Alexis Smith and Stephen McNally were meant to co star with Chandler.^[3] Eventually Smith was replaced by Faith Domergue.^[4] McNally's wife then fell ill and he asked to withdraw from the film; he was replaced by Lyle Bettger.^[5] Filming took place in Portland and Pendleton, Oregon.^[6]

References

^ 'The Top Box Office Hits of 1953', Variety, January 13, 1954
^ "FILM UNIT OPPOSES FOREIGN VENTURES: A.F.L. Council Opens Campaign to Halt Cheaper Production Abroad by U. S. Studios". New York Times. July 10, 1952. p. 27.
^ "U.-I. SELECTS CAST FOR NEW PICTURE: Alexis Smith, Stephen McNally and Jeff Chandler to Star in 'Sioux Uprising'". New York Times. July 26, 1952. p. 9.
^ THOMAS M. PRYOR (Sep 10, 1952). "ROGERS JR. AGREES TO DO SECOND FILM: Will Star at Warners in 'Boy From Oklahoma' – Wyman Set for New Role at Columbia". New York Times. p. 34.
^ THOMAS M. PRYOR (Sep 22, 1952). "MARTA TOREN FLIES TO ROME FOR FILM: She Will Co-Star With Italian Actor in 'Life of Puccini,' to Be Produced in Color". New York Times. p. 19.
^ "The Great Sioux Uprising (1953)". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved May 4, 2018.