Chuka (VHS, 1991)

A gunfighter, Chuka (Rod Taylor) shares some of his food with Hanu (Marco Antonio), chief of the starving Arapahoe Indian tribe. A bit later, when they pass near a broken down stagecoach, Hanu repays Chuka the favor, sparing the travelers' lives. Veronica Kleitz (Luciana Paluzzi), a Mexican aristocrat's widow who Chuka once loved, is one of those whose life is spared. Veronica & Chuka's romance was ill-fated only because she was forced to reject him because of their unequal social status. Chuka leads the stranded travelers to a nearby fort run by Col. Stuart Valois (Sir John Mills) and his company of dimwits. Valois suffers from trauma of the slaughter of his entire regiment while he was their British commander in India and quite drunk.

After the Arapahoes surround the fort, capturing and killing a scouting party, Chuka rescues Trent (James Whitmore), the only survivor. Chuka and Trent rush to warn Valois that an Arapahoe attack is coming. Chuka advises Valois to make the first move against the Indians. But, Valois scoffs at the thought, in denial that his company's in-fighting, considering mutiny, and are bedding Indian women!

Chuka & Veronica are reunited on the eve of the attack. Before it begins, an Indian women bedded inside the fort, stabs her military lover, then sets the fort ablaze. Doing so enables the Arapahoes to scale the walls, invade the fort and kill Valois with the rest of his company.

After a cavalry troop arrives at the smoldering fort, they find in the ruins a grave: Veronica's, marked by a cross with an empty gun holster. Chuka's nowhere to be found.

Gordon Douglas directed this action-packed western. The supporting cast includes: Ernest Borgnine (Sgt. Otto Hansbach); Angela Dorian (Helena Chavez); Louis Hayward (Major Benson); Michael Cole (Private Spivey); Hugh Reilly (Capt. Carrol); Barry O'Hara (Slim) & Joseph Sirola (Baldwin).

I'm sure that my review doesn't do this fine western, with nearly an all star cast, justice~