This is it folks! This is the movie Buddy Holly saw that gave him the inspiration for the song "That'll Be The Day".
Returning 3 years after the American Civil War, John Wayne plays Confederate Ethan Edwards who sets out to rescue his nieces, 10 year old Debbie, played by Lana Wood and later in the film by Natalie Wood (no relation) and Lucy her teenage sister played by Pippa Scott, captured by Commanche indians who had earlier massacred the girls' family. In this gritty tale of a man obsessed not only to avenge the murder of the girls' Mother, Father and Brother, taciturn Wayne is almost insane with rage when driven to bring his nieces back to civilisation. Jeffrey Hunter stars as Martin Pawley, the "brother" of the two girls whose own parents were slaughtered by indians and after being rescued by Ethan was raised by the girls' parents as one of their own. Determined to join Ethan in his quest, Martin is given a hard time by Wayne during the search. In the first unsuccessful outing to rescue the captive children Ethan is asked by Texas Ranger Capt. Rev. Samuel Clayton played by Ward Bond if he's prepared to end the search for his niece and replies