The Black Dakotas
| The Black Dakotas | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Ray Nazarro |
| Produced by | Wallace MacDonald |
| Written by | Ray Buffum |
| Screenplay by | DeVallon Scott |
| Starring |
Gary Merrill Wanda Hendrix John Bromfield |
| Music by | Mischa Bakaleinikoff |
| Cinematography | Ellis W. Carter |
| Edited by | Aaron Stell |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
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Release date
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2 September 1954 |
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Running time
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65 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Black Dakotas is a Columbia Pictures Technicolor Western spy film set during the War Between the States. Directed by Ray Nazarro and filmed at the Iverson Movie Ranch, the film stars Gary Merrill as a cold blooded secret agent using the war for his own ends. The film features The Lone Ranger television series Jay Silverheels and Clayton Moore in separate roles as well as Richard Webb of Captain Midnight.
Over footage from The Man from Colorado, opening titles inform the audience that during the Civil War the Confederate States of America sent agitators to the American West to incite Indian tribes against the Federal Government to draw troops away from battles in the East.
In 1864 a stagecoach containing two passengers is attacked by an armed band who kill the driver and stop the stage. One of the passengers, Zachary Paige offers the armed but polite band his money but is surprised when they inform him that they are not interested in his money but know his identity as a diplomatic emissary of President Abraham Lincoln sent to the Dakota Territory to negoitate a treaty with the Sioux than includes payment of $130,000 in gold to the tribe. The band take his credentials and Paige is further surprised when his travelling companion, Brock Marsh tells him he is a secret agent of the Confederacy who will impersonate Paige in his diplomacy but will use the opportunity to break the promises and lure the Sioux into attacking the white settlements. The leader of the band John Lawrence informs Paige he will be held until after Marsh completes his mission then released. As Lawrence goes away Marsh further explains his mission in a courteous manner, then shoots and kills Paige to protect the mission to the surprise of Lawrence and his band.
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Wikipedia