Revolt at Fort Laramie 1957
Directed by
William Phillips
Made by
Bel-Air Productions
Revolt at Fort Laramie Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Revolt at Fort Laramie (1957). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Jean Salignac is part of the undermanned garrison at Fort Laramie, a Wyoming Territory outpost stubbornly trying to keep the peace with the Sioux Nation led by Chief Red Cloud. As part of a treaty, the United States government pays Red Cloud in gold to sustain the peace and support his people, but Red Cloud devises a bold plan to steal the gold and use that act of non-payment as a pretext to go to war. The tension surrounding this arrangement sits alongside the looming shadow of the American Civil War, testing loyalties inside the fort.
Inside the garrison, loyalties are split. A faction of soldiers led by Sgt. Darrach leans toward the Confederacy, while another group under Serrell supports the Union. The news of the Battle of Fort Sumter reaches the fort, and the Confederate-leaning officers grow more determined: they not only want to desert the army but also try to seize the gold shipment due to be paid to Red Cloud in Texas. The clash between allegiances creates a dangerous undercurrent that threatens the entire mission at Fort Laramie.
Amid this mounting tension, a Southern warning comes to the attention of Capt. James ‘Jamie’ Tenslip and Lt. Chick Waller. A lone voice warns of a planned mutiny, but that warning is silenced in a brutal way, his screams blending into the soldiers’ chorus as they sing Dixie. The ominous signal of betrayal hangs over the fort as Tenslip and Waller try to make sense of the conflicting loyalties.
Major Maj. Seth Bradner faces a stark sense of urgency as the threat of internal collapse grows. He decides that the best path is to resign his commission and hand command of the fort over to Tenslip, hoping to stabilise matters with a steady, civilian-minded leadership. With Bradner’s departure, the Southern soldiers depart in civilian clothes, a move that Red Cloud misreads as another sign of surrender rather than a change of allegiance. Red Cloud surrounds them, pressing in as if to finish the mutineers off, testing whether any part of the garrison will stand firm.
Word of the peril spreads back to the fort, and Tenslip, along with a group of volunteers, rides out to aid the beleaguered group. They manage to drive Red Cloud away at the edge of a tense confrontation, but the cost is heavy: Major Bradner is killed during the engagement. The remaining Southern loyalists press on toward home, while Tenslip leads his troops back to the fortress, the fragile peace of Fort Laramie once again hanging in the balance as the siege resolves into a hard-won, hard-fought return to order.
Revolt at Fort Laramie Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Revolt at Fort Laramie (1957) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Fort Laramie aims to keep peace with Red Cloud
The undermanned garrison at Fort Laramie in 1861 works to keep the peace with the Sioux led by Chief Red Cloud. They rely on diplomacy and a fragile balance of power to prevent conflict while tensions simmer in the background.
Treaty payment includes gold to Red Cloud
As part of the treaty, the U.S. government pays Red Cloud in gold to maintain peace. The arrangement depends on timely payment and trust, creating pressure points if the money is ever in doubt.
Red Cloud plots to steal the gold to provoke war
Red Cloud comes up with the idea to steal the gold shipment and use the resulting non-payment as a pretext to go to war. The plan casts a shadow over the fort as everyone contemplates the potential consequences.
Garrison splits under Civil War loyalties
The garrison is divided along Union and Confederate loyalties as the nation lurches toward civil war. A third of the men, led by Sgt Darrach, support the Confederacy while the rest back the Union. The internal rift threatens the fort's stability.
News of Fort Sumter triggers mutiny fears
Word of the Battle of Fort Sumter reaches the fort, heightening anxieties about loyalty. The Confederate faction considers leaving with the gold shipment, potentially heading to Texas. Peace at the fort hangs in the balance.
Warning of mutiny and betrayal met with murder
One of the Southerners warns Capt. Tenslip and Lt. Waller about the mutiny plan, and he is murdered for betraying the cause. His screams are muffled by the men singing Dixie, illustrating how dangerous dissent has become.
Bradner anticipates Southern loyalties and plans
Major Bradner, a Virginian, fears that Southern sympathizers may act against the fort. He contemplates how to preserve order and the mission while the loyalty issue intensifies. The looming threat shapes the decisions that follow.
Bradner assigns Tenslip to safeguard the gold with mixed troops
Bradner sends Captain Tenslip to fetch the latest gold shipment using a mixed force of Southern and Northern troops. Tenslip worries that the Southern soldiers may try to steal it. The operation sets the stage for a tense confrontation with Red Cloud.
Gold retrieved and placed in safe
The expedition is attacked by Red Cloud, but they manage to recover the gold and bring it back to the fort. Bradner places the gold into a safe to safeguard it from further disruption. The incident shows how precarious the fort's control over its valuables remains.
Bradner resigns and loyalists prepare to depart
The next day, Bradner informs that any soldier with Southern sympathies may resign and return home to fight for the Confederacy. He resigns his commission and hands command over to Tenslip. The fort's leadership is upended as loyalties shift.
Southern soldiers depart in civvies; Red Cloud attacks
The Southern loyalists leave the fort in civilian clothes, attempting to blend in. Red Cloud attacks, refusing to believe they are no longer soldiers, and surrounds them on the brink of catastrophe. The situation devolves into a perilous standoff.
Rescue mission ends in Bradner's death
Tenslip leads volunteers to aid the retreating Southerners and drives Red Cloud away. Bradner is killed in the ensuing battle, and the surviving Southern loyalists press on toward home. Tenslip returns to the fort at the head of his troops.
Revolt at Fort Laramie Characters
Explore all characters from Revolt at Fort Laramie (1957). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Maj. Seth Bradner (John Dehner)
A Virginian major torn between his Southern sympathies and his duty to the fort. He ultimately resigns his commission, passing command to Tenslip, in a move that reflects the clash between personal allegiance and military responsibility. His death in the ensuing battle marks a brutal end to his leadership and the fragile peace he hoped to maintain.
Capt. James 'Jamie' Tenslip (Gregg Palmer)
A capable captain who assumes command after Bradner’s resignation. He faces the immediate threat of mutiny and strives to rally volunteers to defend the fort. Tenslip embodies tactical resolve and courage, guiding the defense as Red Cloud presses the siege and the fort’s future hangs in the balance.
Lt. Chick Waller (Robert Knapp)
An officer navigating a divided garrison, wary of mutiny while striving to uphold orders. His position places him at the crossroads of alliance and restraint as the threat accelerates toward confrontation. He embodies the tension between professional obligation and personal risk.
Sgt. Darrach (Robert Keys)
A Southern loyalist within the garrison who conspires with others to seize the forthcoming gold shipment and support the Confederate cause. His actions highlight the danger of internal betrayal and the pull of mutiny in a fragile peace. His role underscores the corrupting lure of wealth and factional power.
Sgt. Serrell (William Phillips)
A Union-leaning sergeant who aligns with the anti-secession faction. He represents the voice of the broader Union allegiance within the fort and works to preserve cohesion amidst growing internal conflict. His stance reinforces the complexity of loyalty in a divided outpost.
Red Cloud (Eddie Little Sky)
Sioux Nation leader who negotiates through the treaty while testing the US-garrison relationship. His decision to push for war by leveraging the gold payment creates a direct challenge to the fort’s peace. He is a shrewd, formidable force whose actions drive the central conflict.
Revolt at Fort Laramie Settings
Learn where and when Revolt at Fort Laramie (1957) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
1861
The story unfolds in the early Civil War era, a year marked by mounting regional divisions as the Union and Confederate factions vie for control. Tensions at the fort mirror the national divide, with loyalties tested and decisions carrying heavy consequences. The presence of a gold payment to Red Cloud adds a volatile layer to the already fragile peace.
Location
Fort Laramie, Wyoming Territory
Fort Laramie is a remote frontier garrison in the Wyoming Territory where the U.S. Army keeps peace with the Sioux. The fort’s undersupplied conditions heighten tensions among troops and with Red Cloud’s people. It serves as the flashpoint for treaty promises, shifting loyalties, and precarious negotiations amid looming conflict.
Revolt at Fort Laramie Themes
Discover the main themes in Revolt at Fort Laramie (1957). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
⚖️
Loyalty
The garrison is split between Confederate sympathizers and Union loyalists, forcing officers to choose sides under pressure. Personal loyalties conflict with duty to command and country. The outcome hinges on who remains faithful to their orders versus who pursues personal or factional goals.
🛡️
Duty
Duty to the fort, to comrades, and to a fragile peace drives many decisions. Leadership is tested as mutiny looms and the line between protection and betrayal blurs. The defense of the fort becomes a measure of steadfastness under extreme strain.
💰
Greed
Gold payments to Red Cloud catalyze the plot, turning diplomacy into leverage and temptation into action. The lure of wealth exposes fault lines within the garrison and fuels plans to seize advantage. The pursuit of gold heightens risk and violence, shaping the fate of many characters.
Revolt at Fort Laramie Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Revolt at Fort Laramie (1957). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the waning months of the Civil War, the remote outpost of Fort Laramie clings to a fragile peace on the edge of the Wyoming Territory. The fort’s battered walls overlook sweeping plains where the thunder of distant battles mixes with the low rumble of a treaty that promises gold to the Sioux Nation in exchange for quiet. The atmosphere is thick with dust, gun‑metal, and an uneasy anticipation that the war’s end may bring new, unforeseen conflicts.
The garrison is a microcosm of the nation itself. Jean Salignac arrives as a weary soldier, caught between the conflicting loyalties that divide his comrades. On one side, Sgt. Darrach leads a group whose sympathies lean toward the Confederacy, while Serrell heads the Union‑leaning faction, each side eyeing the others with suspicion. Command falls to Maj. Seth Bradner, a man trying to hold the line against the rising tide of dissent, supported by the pragmatic Capt. James “Jamie” Tenslip and his steady second, Lt. Chick Waller. Across the prairie, Chief Red Cloud watches the frontier from his own perspective, his people bound to the fort by a fragile agreement that could shatter at any moment.
The tension inside the walls is palpable, a simmering discord that threatens to erupt into open conflict. Rumors of mutiny drift through the camp like a cold wind, while the promise of gold payment to the Sioux hangs over every conversation, a reminder that the external peace is as brittle as the internal one. The men and women of Fort Laramie find themselves haunted by the echo of distant battles and the looming possibility that an outside raid could force an uneasy truce between rival factions.
Against this backdrop of stark wilderness and mounting pressure, the film balances gritty frontier realism with an undercurrent of dread and hope. The audience is left to wonder whether the soldiers, divided by ideology, can set aside their differences when a common threat arrives at the doorstep, and what the cost of that potential unity might be.
Movies with Similar Twists and Themes
Uncover films that echo the narrative beats, emotional arcs, or dramatic twists of the one you're exploring. These recommendations are handpicked based on story depth, thematic resonance, and spoiler-worthy moments — perfect for fans who crave more of the same intrigue.
Featured on this page
What's After the Movie?
Not sure whether to stay after the credits? Find out!
Explore Our Movie Platform
New Movie Releases (2026)
Famous Movie Actors
Top Film Production Studios
Movie Plot Summaries & Endings
Major Movie Awards & Winners
Best Concert Films & Music Documentaries
Movie Collections and Curated Lists
© 2026 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.