Of all of Sam Fuller’s major films, this film is his most neglected. It’s the most political and ambiitous of his westerns and all his films. It’s similar to THE SEARCHERS, a Confederate Vet. refuses to assimilate with the victorious Union but O’Meara takes the exact opposite approach as Ethan Edwards. He casts aside his American identity and assimilates with the Sioux, he marries into them and no longer considers himself American. The film is a direct and searing question of American identity post-Civil War and the open question as to what being an American means. As Fuller says, THE END OF THIS PICTURE WILL BE WRITTEN BY YOU!