Overrated

Good concept, poorly executed.

There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

When the Blue Coats of the US Army arrive in Oregon Red Cloud, the local Indian chief declares all white people persona non grata. Three trappers, Jed Cooper, Gus and Mungo find themselves relieved of their rifles and the skins they spent a year collecting; debate whether to head north to find work in Canada or head to the nearest army camp to demand compensation. They choose the latter option but end up getting work as scouts. At the fort Cooper meets Corinna Marston, a woman whose husband is the colonel in command of another fort in Indian territory; he believes the man is bound to be dead by now but still heads out to find him. That fort had been attacked but the colonel and some of his men had survived; Cooper brings them back to the fort but soon begins to regret it. Col. Marston immediately takes command and sets about planning a counter attack despite the fort only having a hundred raw recruits. The level headed captain who had commanded the post believes it is unwise but the Colonel is determined to win a great victory to restore his honour after losing fifteen hundred men at Shiloh.This was an enjoyable western with an unconventional protagonist; Victor Mature's did a fine job as Cooper; a crude illiterate man who gets drunk and pursues the colonel's wife... hardly the upstanding hero one expects in such films. Robert Preston's Col. Marston has the heroic look but he is the one who could get everybody killed through his desire for glory. When the fighting comes it is far from glorious; instead it is dirty and brutal, although not graphic, director Anthony Mann did a fine job there. In some ways the romantic storyline seems a bit tacked on but it does serve to show Cooper's lack of concern for 'civilised ways'. The film was shot in stunning scenery; although the slopes of Mt. Popocatépetl in Mexico stand in for Oregon!

Very enjoyable 50's Western. I have it in my collection and recommend it to Western fans.Mostly Victor Mature's movie and quite well done in my estimation.He's a trapper who joins a frontier post as a scout. Red Cloud caught three of them on their land and took their possessions. They all joined as scouts after their loss.Victor has set his eye's on the Colonel's wife and lives life on the post without much regards to regulations.Action done quite convincingly but no great depth or much feeling to other characters.50's Westerns are my favorites and this slides easily to a satisfaction. A Western of this kind is in the pages of the past and perhaps never to be made much again. One to enjoy. Gave it a 7 rating. Likely 6.8 worthy but films like these become more precious over time.For film-noir fans..."The Big Steal" "They Live By Night" "Side Street" are most wonderful movies to be enjoyed. Bought and viewed. Noir seems to resemble Westerns in a way. Some long ago and never forever.

Robert Preston, not Preston Forster (alias Foster) does a fine job along with Victor Mature and James Whitemore in this "B" western filmed in color. It's fun to see the legendary Anne Bancroft in one of her first movies, before she returned to the stage in The Miracle Worker. Contrary to other opinions, if you are a real movie lover, The Last Frontier is well worth your time.

While this picture may be minor Anthony Mann, it's a very off-beat, well acted, western. Mature is the anti-thesis of Mann's uber-hero, the driven, edgy loner played to perfection by Jimmy Stewart. Mann plays to Mature's strengths by casting him as the uncivilized, passion driven scout given to bouts of raucous drunkenness. Robert Preston is very good as the obsessed, kill-crazy Colonel whose wife (Anne Bancroft) Mature covets He also slugs her! Wow! Savage Mature!