PWNYCNY What I expected to be just another potboiler western turned out to be a well acted movie with a strong and compelling story. The story deals with issues of loyalty, compassion, ethics, and morality. The main character, a physician played by Robert Francis, has choices to make. Whatever he does, he will make enemies. He is challenged to stay true to his convictions. His only friend is a woman, played by Donna Reed, who provides him moral support. The movie dramatizes the issues that defined the war against the Native Americans. To the US Army, all Native Americans were the enemy, including those who were at peace. When rifles are stolen, the US Army panics and in the process riles up not one but two tribes, who, united, and whose warriors are armed with rifles, comprise a formidable foe that could defeat the Army. Under these conditions the doctor is forced to make certain decisions that could go against his values as a medical professional. But to stay true to his beliefs could put him at risk for being branded a traitor. It makes for strong drama. To find out how it gets resolved, watch the movie.

alexandre michel liberman (tmwest) The beginning of this film makes you feel you are seeing one of the great westerns. What a good story, there is a fort, a butcher of a doctor, who after being responsible for the death of an officer is replaced by a young man (Robert Francis). There are the Kiowas which are dying of malaria in a reservation, a flirting woman (Donna Reed), a beautiful white woman (May Wynn) who lives among the natives. And then it all goes downhill. It is like all of the sudden they had to rush to finish the film and the last scene is very hard to believe. Phil Karlson, who directed was quite efficient in action movies like "Mask of the Avenger"(1951) and "The Texas Rangers" (1951), two films I greatly enjoyed. Donna Reed is not easy at all in her role, playing completely against type. Phil Carey is very good as the captain who hates the doctor (Francis).

Spikeopath Dr. Allen Seward (Robert Francis) is assigned to a western cavalry post, due to his predecessors failings he finds that he is instantly disliked, and even worse, not trusted. Things worsen when during a confrontation at an Indian Reservation, Seward attempts to help an ill Indian infant and befriends the tribe doctor. As the war with the Indians escalates, so does the hatred from the camp towards Seward, with the men even refusing his medical treatment, but with the support of the lovely Laurie MacKaye, and a bond formed with Manyi-ten, an Indian Bride, Seeward may just be the solution to end this troubled conflict?They Rode West is nothing special in the pantheon of inspiring and intelligent Westerns, what it isn't is one of those boorish standard Cavalry Vs Indians shoot them ups. Playing out with a lot of heart and a purpose of intent, it's a film that has a nice colour sheen, has some real solid acting and doesn't outstay its welcome. Notable for being the first of only four films that a 25 year old Robert Francis would make before being tragically killed in an aeroplane crash, They Rode West will not excite those in search of wall to wall gunfights, it will however be of interest to those who like a story of humane conflict via verbal beliefs. Of the other notables in the cast, Donna Reed adds the required touch of prettiness as Laurie MacKaye and Philip Carey does a nice line as the grumpy commander, Captain Blake. Direction from Phil Karlson is as steady as you would expect for this type of production, to leave me only left to say that it's a recommended film to see the first work of an interesting actor in the making, and of course for a bit of nous in the story. 6/10

toonnnnn What a shame that this young actor died so tragically after making his film breakthrough,I guess its a cruel irony we will never know how good he would have really been.In this western he is a dedicated doctor who helps friend and foe alike,this is a basic western but worth watching once.The action scenes are good,and it shows that the US army was split into two as to the treatment of indians.5/10