Pillars of the Sky

Western, USA, 1956, 95 min.



The story of a people's faith and the courage of a man they called Godless!
In Oregon country, in 1868, First Sgt. Emmett Bell, chief of the Cavalry's Indian police force, rides into the mission of his friend, Dr. Joseph Holden, accompanied by several of the Nez Perce scouts who serve under him. Several of the region's chiefs, whom Dr. Holden has baptized as Christians, inform him that Kamiakin, the warlike chief of the Palouse Indians, has summoned them to council to discuss the movement of Army troops and cannons into their lands. Deeply concerned, Emmett heads for the encampment of the U.S. Cavalry, bursts into the office of the new commanding officer, Col. Edson Stedlow, and barks, "What's the idea?" Also present is Capt. Tom Gaxton, whose wife Calla fell in love with Emmett when both men fought together during the Civil War. Stedlow explains that because a clause in the treaty allows the Army to build a road through the reservation, his command of young soldiers has been ordered to do so. Stedlow informs an outraged Emmett that he will serve only as a scout on the building expedition, then has the sergeant arrested for drinking on duty. The colonel remarks to Stedlow that although Emmett is rowdy and insubordinate, he is valuable to the Army because there is a deep mutual respect between him and the Indians. Later, Emmett's scout Timothy, a Nez Perce, reports that Kamiakin, enraged that the Army has constructed a bridge over the Snake River into Indian lands, has called for total annihilation of the troops. Emmett leads Stedlow to the mission, where they meet with chiefs Elijah of the Spokane, Isaiah of the Coeur d'Alene, Simon of the Umatilla, Isaac of the Wallawalla, and Kamiakin of the Palouse. After the colonel refuses to remove his troops, Kamiakin urges the chiefs to fight. Timothy argues that the Indians, having become too bound up with the white man, must learn to live with him in peace, but Kamiakin replies scornfully that his tribe will not be "swallowed up in the belly of a different people." While both sides prepare for war, Emmett and his scouts steal into Kamiakin's camp and rescue two women who were earlier captured by Kamiakin: Calla Gaxton and Mrs. Anne Avery, whose husband and son were killed during an ambush. Calla declares her love for Emmett, and although he resists her at first, he soon succumbs to her charms. Emmett's party encounters Stedlow and his troops, who have crossed into the reservation and are now surrounded. The colonel boasts that his column will defeat any attack, but as Indian snipers begin to pick off the men, and soldiers are found hacked to pieces, he finally realizes the hopelessness of their situation. Emmett and Holden try to secure safe passage for the women, but chief Zachariah responds violently to this request, and soon the column is attacked by a huge force of Indians. Many warriors are killed, but Stedlow's troops are decimated, and only a small group of white survivors reaches the top of the hill. The colonel is stunned and sorry, but Emmett declares that, considering his orders, he did the best he could. As they await a nighttime attack, Emmett drinks whiskey with his friend, Sgt. Lloyd Carracart, whose serious injury has not dampened his devil-may-care Irish temperament. Tom and Calla each accept the blame for their unhappy marriage, but when Calla goes to Emmett, she realizes that it is her husband, not Emmett, who truly loves her. Holden determines that Kamiakin's forces are massing at the foot of the hill, thereby leaving a section of the surrounding land unguarded. While the party quietly makes its way down the hill in an attempt to escape to Holden's mission, Carracart, who expects to die soon, remains behind to tend the fires. The party does reach the mission, but Tom is injured, and Calla rushes to his side. Kamiakin's warriors arrive at daybreak, and the mission is set on fire. Realizing that the situation is desperate, Holden rides out to the Indians' position and raises his arm in peace. Kamiakin kills him just before Emmett and Timothy arrive. Enraged, Emmett accuses the chiefs and their followers of being little better than animals. Kamiakin aims his gun at Emmett, but Isaiah, deeply ashamed at Kamiakin's cowardly actions, shoots the Palouse chief down. Everyone walks slowly back to the mission, where the Christian chiefs ask Emmett to take Holden's place. Emmett opens the Bible and prays that they might all be comforted.
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Režie: George Marshall
Herci: Jeff Chandler, Dorothy Maloneová, Ward Bond, Keith Andes, Lee Marvin, více...

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