Rocky Mountain is a 1950 American Western film directed by William Keighley and starring Errol Flynn. It also stars Patrice Wymore, who would later marry Flynn; his third wife.
It's 1865, and Robert E. Lee, in a last-ditch bid to turn the tide of The American Civil War, wants the West. He sends Captain Lafe Barstow and a small band of men into California to to meet with outlaw Cole Smith, who allegedly commands 500 men, in order to persuade him to bring them into the war on the side of the South. But another war roils in the West and marauding Shoshones may prove even fiercer foes than the Union Army.
Tropes:
- Army of Thieves and Whores: The Confederate soldiers are under secret orders from General Robert E. Lee to meet with outlaw Cole Smith, who allegedly commands 500 bandits, in order to persuade him to bring them into the war on the side of the South.
- Army Scout: Lt. Rickey's Union patrol has three Shoshone scouts with it.
- The Cavalry Arrives Late: A fierce battle occurs between the Indians and the greatly outnumbered Confederate soldiers. During the fight, the Union cavalry reaches Johanna's hiding place, and she tells Rickey what has happened. The cavalry rides to the rescue, but they are too late; all the men have been killed.
- Due to the Dead: Lt. Rickey and the Union cavalry ride to the rescue, but they are too late; all the Confederate soldiers have been killed. In their honor, Rickey raises the rebel flag on top of Rocky Mountain and the troops salute it.
- During the War: In California during the Civil War, a Confederate patrol and a Union troop must set their differences aside in order to survive a Shoshone attack.
- Embarrassing First Name: Capt. Lafe Barstow asks Jimmy Wheat why the initial on his sign-up papers was 'B'. Jimmy explains that his actual first name is 'Buck': meaning that his real name is actually 'Buck Wheat'. Barstow then makes a joke about him being named after a pancake.
- Enemy Mine: In California during the Civil War, a Confederate patrol and a Union troop must set their differences aside in order to survive a Shoshone attack.
- Extremely Short Timespan: Approx. 36 hours.
- Injun Country: On their secret mission, Barstow and his men find themselves trapped in Shoshone territory, surrounded by hostile Indians.
- In the Back: After taking an arrow in the back from the Shoshone chief Man Dog, Captain Barstow manages to draw his revolver and shoot Man Dog down with a Last Breath Bullet, before a second arrow in the back finishes him off.
- Last Breath Bullet: After taking an arrow In the Back from the Shoshone chief Man Dog, Captain Barstow manages to draw his revolver and shoot Man Dog down, before a second arrow in the back finishes him off.
- Last Stand: Barstow decides to use all his men to lure the Indians away from the mountain while Johanna, Craigie and the Union trooper escape. The greatly outnumbered Rebels ride into a box canyon and turn to fight, charging the Shoshone. During the battle, Rickey returns with a troop of Union cavalry, and Johanna tells Rickey what has happened. The cavalry attempt to save Barstow's men but are too late; all the Southerners have been killed.
- The Mole: Craigie talks with the Shoshone scouts and learns that they are really a chief, Man Dog, and his sons: secretly spying on the Union Army. He warns Barstow that they will escape and return with their tribe.
- Pistol-Whipping: In their final battle against the Shoshones, the Confederates are reduced to using their rifles as clubs after they run out of ammunition.
- The Place
- The Squad: Captain Lafe Barstow leads a seven man squad on a secret mission for General Robert E. Lee.Capt. Lafe Barstow: Six rattle-headed kids and an old man: Kip Waterson, the baby-faced heir to a plantation; Pierre Duchesne, from French Louisiana; Pat Dennison, an old man, really, but a hard, reckless fighter who never gave ground while he lived; Kay Rawlins from the Mississippi steamboats, a rough unfriendly man as the Indians now found out; Jimmy Wheat, a little redneck cropper who could fight like a wildcat with hydrophobia, but who carried a useless little dog for 2,000 miles; Jonas Weatherby, the Texan, a seasoned plainsman at 18; Plank, our other real plainsman, hard and bitter, with chain gang scars on his legs at 22.
- Team Pet: Jimmy Wheat carries his little dog Spot along with him for 2,000 miles on a secret mission in California. When they ride off to face the Shoshones, Jimmy leaves Spot with Johanna, but shortly after the men ride away, Spot wriggles free and runs after his friend.
- We Named The Dog Indiana: Capt. Lafe Barstow asks Jimmy Wheat why the initial on his sign-up papers was 'B'. Jimmy explains that his actual first name is 'Buck'. He then explains that his uncle had a pair of wagon mules and promised to give his father whichever one he named the child after, and his father chose the one named Buck. Barstow remarks that he probably wishes his father had chosen the other one, but Jimmy says no, because the other one was named Sally.
