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Sitting Bull is a classic Western film released in 1954 that chronicles the life and times of the legendary Sioux chief, Sitting Bull. The movie is directed by Sidney Salkow and produced by Leonard Goldstein. It stars Dale Robertson as the titular Sitting Bull, Mary Murphy as the beautiful half-Cherokee woman, Kathy, who falls in love with Sitting Bull, and J. Carrol Naish as the shrewd Indian agent, James McLaughlin.

The movie opens with a dramatic retelling of the Battle of Little Bighorn, in which Sitting Bull and his Sioux warriors defeat General George Custer and his cavalry. The victory solidifies Sitting Bull's position as one of the most powerful and respected Indian leaders in North America. However, Sitting Bull's newfound fame and success also make him a target for the U.S. government, which wants to relocate him and his people to a reservation.

Sitting Bull and his people are initially reluctant to leave their ancestral lands, but as food and resources become scarce, they are eventually forced to accept the government's offer. However, the relocation proves to be a disaster, as the government fails to provide the promised food and supplies. Sitting Bull becomes frustrated with the government's broken promises and decides to lead his people back to their homeland.

The movie's central conflict arises when Sitting Bull's efforts to protect his people from the government's greed and corruption come into direct conflict with James McLaughlin's mission to control and subjugate the Sioux. McLaughlin sees Sitting Bull as a threat to his authority and uses his cunning and deceit to undermine Sitting Bull's leadership.

As the tension between Sitting Bull and McLaughlin escalates, Kathy finds herself caught in the middle. She is torn between her love for Sitting Bull and her loyalty to the U.S. government. Her attempts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict are complicated by her own mixed heritage and the prejudices of those around her.

Throughout the movie, Dale Robertson gives a powerful performance as Sitting Bull, capturing the charisma, wisdom, and strength of the legendary Sioux chief. His portrayal is especially effective in the film's quieter moments, where he showcases Sitting Bull's humanity and vulnerability. Mary Murphy delivers a nuanced performance as Kathy, the heart of the movie. Her character's struggle to reconcile her love for Sitting Bull with her loyalty to the government provides a compelling emotional center for the film.

J. Carrol Naish also gives an excellent performance as the manipulative and ambitious Indian agent, James McLaughlin. His character's actions are often despicable, but Naish brings a complexity to the role that makes McLaughlin more than just a one-dimensional villain.

Visually, Sitting Bull is a beautiful film, featuring stunning landscape shots and colorful costumes that evoke the period setting. The movie's action scenes are well-executed, with the Battle of Little Bighorn sequence being a standout moment.

Overall, Sitting Bull is a well-crafted Western with a strong script, excellent performances, and impressive production values. The film offers a nuanced portrayal of the conflict between the U.S. government and the Native American tribes in the late 19th century, and a sympathetic depiction of the legendary Sioux chief. Sitting Bull is a classic and enduring example of the Western genre, and remains an entertaining and thought-provoking film today.

Sitting Bull is a 1964 western with a runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7.