Against a Crooked Sky (1975)

Thanks for the memories!

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Boring

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

The eldest daughter of a pioneer family is kidnapped by a mysterious Indian tribe and the eldest son pursues. In order to win back his sister's freedom, he must sacrifice his own life by passing the test of "Crooked Sky" and shield his sister from an executioner's arrow. Along the way, he recruits a broken down, drunk prospector to help him track down the unknown tribe and rescue his sister. Starts out awfully pretentious.The print I saw on Roku was blurry.The story could never be told today in this political correct world. How low we have sunk in 30 years.

Three terrifying (Native American) Indians arrive on-screen, like three (of four) horsemen from the Apocalypse. They move in on teenager Stewart Petersen (as Sam Sutter) and kidnap his beautiful older sister, while their parents are away. When nobody can identify the mysterious trio, young Petersen decides to go out on his own to find sister Jewel Blanch (as Charlotte). He is inspired by her Biblical belief that she would die to save him, and wants to return the sentiment. Petersen asks boozy Richard Boone (as Russian) to go along, promising him gold may be found. They also take Mr. Boone's protective pooch "Bar Killer" and acquire a muted Indian guide (Henry Wilcoxon) from the lost tribe...It's difficult to make complete sense of this story. The clearest theme presented is the young woman's thesis about how family members should be willing to die for each other. For those who like reasons for "savage Injuns," we could say the opening event may be a payback for the later revelation about Boone impregnating a young squaw. Also, the opening scene could be "Chief" Geoffrey Land (as Temkai) admiring blonde Blanch's naked body, and targeting her for that reason - maybe only he raped her, or maybe it was consensual. The fact that Petersen almost drowned when he first visited Boone could be explained by bad currents that day. Petersen could be "scrawny" compared to Boone, etc…***** Against a Crooked Sky (12/75) Earl Bellamy ~ Stewart Petersen, Richard Boone, Henry Wilcoxon, Clint Ritchie

This is an excellent movie. The Sutters, a pioneer family, has its farm raided by a mysterious tribe of Indians. Charlotte Sutter, the eldest daughter, is kidnapped by the tribe and taken to their camp. Sam, her brother, goes after her and enlists a drunk prospector to help him in his search. Russian, the drunk prospector, is dead set against it. On their way to the Indian camp, Russian continuously tells Sam that they should turn back. Sam tells him that if he wants to turn back he can but he'll go on alone. The scenery is beautiful. Part of the movie was filmed in Arches National Park in Utah.Temkai, the leader of the band that kidnapped Charlotte, has taken her for his wife. One of the Indians asks Charlotte what she hasand she says it's her Bible. She tells her new friend about Jesus Christ and how he died to save others. When Sam and Russian reach the Indian camp, they're told by one of the Indians thatCharlotte's due to be killed at dawn at Crooked Sky and that theonly way to save to save her is to run a race against Temkai. If he loses, Charlotte dies. Sam agrees to run the race againstRussian's expressed wishes. Half way up Crooked Sky, he sees an arrow kill a woman he thinks is his sister. He won the race and his sister and his sister's released. Since being kidnapped, she's become a mother. She says that it was her friend who died atCrooked Sky and the last we see of Temkai is him on his horse in the bushes watching Charlotte being reunited with her family.

This was a great movie. Set in the old west, a teenage girl gets kidnapped by indians from a mysterious tribe. Her brother stops at nothing to find her and bring her home. Once he does find her, he must pass a horrifying test called "crooked sky". This movie has a lot going on in it. It's about love and friendship. It's really a great movie and well worth watching.