While there are some Native Americans in the cast of this independent Western, the accent of the chief planning an attack on a wagon train is suspiciously far from realistic. In fact, it is so out of time with the times (as is Ellen Drew's as the daughter of the chief, that it becomes downright laughable. This is the story of Davy Crockett's nephew (who apparently had the same name) trying to maintain peace in the pass, and utilizing his peaceful native sidekick Philip Reed (a native raised by missionaries after his own tribe was driven out by the attacking tribe led by Robert Barrat) to spy on the tribe waiting to attack. Barrat sounds like he should be guiding traffic on Fifth Avenue rather than planning to attack wagon trains.

It's ironic that the Native Americans who are actually in the cast don't really get to speak that much, most likely because the actions of the offending actors would be revealed. When the chief speaks in his own native tongue, it is obviously another actor dubbing him. The production values are good enough, and there's plenty of action, and of course Montgomery is a perfect hero, but so many elements just reak of Hollywood phoniness in making these B movie quickies. Being made in 1950, I nearly expected during the scene when the natives attacked the Wagon train in a continuously moving circle for Betty Hutton to pop out and start singing "There's No Business Like Show Business". This could have used any name for the so-called Davy Crockett character so his being the name of the lead character is truly pointless.

In case you're wondering about how in 1848 Davy Crockett could be leading wagon trains west after being killed at the Alamo, this is not THE Davy Crockett, but a descendant of same. Even Hollywood with its penchant for taking the names of real frontier characters and weaving wholly fictional plots around them couldn't really mess with this one.

This Crockett film features George Montgomery as a Davy Crockett and he's a scout for the army and civilian wagon trains going west and he's got two sidekicks, Noah Beery, Jr. and Philip Reed. They're doing both working for the army and guiding a wagon train west among the passengers are a half Indian woman played by Ellen Drew and a mute driver.

But he's like Bernardo in the Zorro series, it's a pose so he can hear all kinds of useful information to take back to Drew's father who is Robert Barrat the chief of the Kiowas who are looking to make another Indian confederation in the tradition of Pontiac and Tecumseh.

Drew's working for her dad too until she gets a little romancing from Reed who is also an Indian. But he's in the Ed Ames tradition, he may wear the Indian costume, but he's been educated in the white man schools and has some manners about him.

My guess is that Drew liked an Indian with a vocabulary that was more than 'how' and an occasional grunt. Back in the day that is the picture Hollywood gave us of the Indian. Anyway it was unusual for the sidekick to be getting the woman or even showing an interest in one in Hollywood westerns.

The silliness of the plot is ameliorated by enough action to satisfy any B western fan. And Philip Reed did strike a blow for sidekicks every where in getting the girl in a western. Albeit he was not a traditional sidekick.

And Disney's outings are vastly superior, they might not be masterpieces but they are better made, looking like more effort was put into them, and more memorable. 'Davy Crockett, Indian Scout' is watchable for curiosity's sake but is the sort of one sees once and easily forgets about after.

There are a few good things about 'Davy Crockett, Indian Scout'. The photography is quite nice, the black and white looks good and crisp and it is the only thing about the production values that looks like effort was put into it. George Montgomery has a ruggedly handsome charm and commands the screen admirably enough. The climactic Indian attack is very well done, with some rousing tension, as well as the build-up, the most exciting 'Davy Crockett, Indian Scout' ever comes close to getting.

However, the rest of the production values don't really impress. The costume and production design lack any kind of authenticity and instead look like cheap recycling. The edited stock footage from 'Kit Carson' is far from inspired and actually feels lazy. The music score rarely rises above okay and lacks the rousing or memorability factors.

Everything about 'Davy Crockett, Indian Scout' feels tired. The script is of the "just there at best" kind, with the worst parts clunking badly and any important information is treated in throwaway style. The story shines in the climactic moments but mostly limps along routinely (with the odd far-fetched moment),with most of the action being run-of-the-mill, the conflict being at best anaemic and the direction lacking any kind of distinction.

Montgomery aside, the acting is not much to write home about. A lot of people are going to feel cheated too, due to the title misleading those to think it's about the hero himself when it isn't but a relative with not as striking a personality.

In summary, watchable for curiosity's sake but pales hugely in comparison to the later Disney Davy Crockett films. 3/10 Bethany Cox