Adapted from a novel by W.R. Burnett (which hadn't yet been published when the film was released),
Arrowhead
is a tough, uncompromising western dealing with the delicate issue of White-Indian relations. Charlton Heston is at his most truculent as Indian agent Ed Bannon, who though raised by Apaches has a very low opinion of the tribe's trustworthiness. Bannon's warnings about Indian treachery would seem to be borne out by a series of bloody raids upon the cavalry, but the officers in charge refuse to believe him. It turns out that the man behind the Apache attacks is Toriano (Jack Palance), the chief's college-educated son, who has rejected the ways of the White Man and intends to reclaim his birthright. The film boils down to a
mano y mano
battle between Bannon and Toriano, personal enemies from way back. Hardly politically correct,
is worth seeing if only for the multitextured performance by Jack Palance.