The Cheyenne agree to leave their hunting grounds so that white settlers can move in to search for gold.

Tanner, Col. Lindsay and a troop of soldiers go to the Cheyenne camp where Chief Broken Hand has agreed to sign a peace treaty.

After the signing, a warrior rides up and throws down a knife with a white feather attached, a declaration of war by American Horse and Little Dog against all the soldiers.

Lt. Ferguson takes troops to bring in Little Dog and American Horse but is told to not fire any shots.

The film was based on the magazine story My Great Aunt Appearing Day by John Prebble which concerns a Native American woman who marries a British major.

[6] Film rights were purchased by Panoramic Productions, a company under Leonard Goldstein, who had a ten picture deal with 20th Century Fox.

It was the last of Panoramic's ten picture deal (replacing another intended project, Hawk of the Desert) before they left to set up at United Artists, and their first in CinemaScope.

The lead cast originally announced in June 1954 were all Fox contractees – Robert Wagner, Jeffrey Hunter, Terry Moore, Dale Robertson and Rita Moreno.