At the end of the 19th century, the Wyoming Oil Company is drilling for oil near Windriver City at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. General agent Mike Allison promises to give the Indians a share of the oil deposit as the drilling is done in the Indian′s reservation. But Allison betrays is partners – not only the Indians but also his fellow white men – and stops at nothing to realize his own plans. Thus, five Indian chiefs who had gotten shares of the oil company for life die under mysterious circumstances. Then, Shave Head, the young chief of the Shoshone tribe asks his brother Chris Howard, a half-caste, for help. Chris becomes a deputy sheriff and tries to track down the murderers as well as investigate the dark deeds of the oil company. At the same time, a commission of inquiry is on their way to the reservation that had been called in by the engineer Lee Garrett. Allison tries everything to fight off the investigation, sets up intrigues, and even sets the oil camp on fire in the end. He slanders the Indians to undermine their credibility with the commision. Although the Indians try to fight off the wrong allegations they cannot assert their right against the Wyoming Oil Company. Many people die in the course of the events, including Chris.
The contents of this entry were funded with the support of the DEFA-Stiftung.
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