7th Cavalry (film)

Plot

Captain Tom Benson (Randolph Scott) has been granted a furlough to bring his bride-to-be Martha back to Fort Abraham Lincoln and his Regiment, the 7th Cavalry. Benson is mystified when he sees the fort apparently deserted with the colors not flying. Exploring the vacant post he is met by the hysterical Charlotte Reynolds (Jeanette Nolan) whose husband replaced Benson as commander of his "C" Company and was killed at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Only a small group of misfits and guardhouse prisoners led by an old sergeant remain who have held a wake by drinking themselves into oblivion.

Once the commands of Major Marcus Reno (Frank Wilcox) and Captain Frederick Benteen (Michael Pate) have returned, they and the widows hold Benson in contempt, not only for not being at the battle in command of his men, but what they perceived as George Custers liking for him, Bensons non-West Point background, and his career as a gambler until commissioned into the Regiment.

Marthas father Colonel Kellogg (Russell Hicks) comes to the post to conduct a Board of Inquiry into Custers actions that Benson sees as a smear against a man he admires who can not defend himself.

Held in contempt by his Regiment, when the President of the United States orders the recovery of the slain officers and the burial of the cavalrymen who fell in the battle, Benson takes his misfits and military prisoners into Indian territory to perform the task.

The Indians have made the land sacred ground and do not want to see the enemies they respected taken away from their burial site. A standoff develops as the cavalry insist on leaving the battleground with the dead officers bodies. As the situation becomes tense a cavalryman is shot dead with an arrow whilst trying to escape. Then Custers second horse (Dandy) appears - having been ridden out by a messenger who is unhorsed by an Indian scout away from the action - and is mistaken for Custers dead horse (Vic) by the Indians. The bugler blows the call to charge and the horse gallops towards the cavalrys position. The Indians are said to believe that Custers spirit has returned and allow the cavalry to leave the field. Back at the camp Captain Benson is reconciled with his father-in-law.

Cast

Similar Movies

The Great Sioux Massacre (1965). Bugles in the Afternoon (1952). Randolph Scott appears in 7th Cavalry and A Lawless Street. They Died with Their Boots On (1941). She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949).

Bibliography