The Unforgiven is a 1960 American Western film directed by John Huston, and starring Burt Lancaster and Audrey Hepburn. Filmed in Durango, Mexico, the supporting cast features Audie Murphy, Charles Bickford, Lillian Gish, John Saxon, Joseph Wiseman, Doug McClure, and Albert Salmi. The story is based on the novel The Unforgiven (1957) by Alan Le May. Uncommonly for its time, the film spotlights the issue of racism in the Old West against Native Americans and people who were believed to have Native American blood. The film is also known for the problems that occurred during production.
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Plot
The Zacharys are a thriving and respected family on the Texas frontier. Will Zachary was killed by Kiowa Indians, leaving his oldest son Ben as head of the family. Ben and his mother, Mattilda, are very protective of Rachel, who was adopted as an infant; she is doted on by the whole family, including her other brothers, Cash and Andy. The family is supported by their neighbor and Ben's business partner, Zeb Rawlins; Zeb's shy son Charlie wants to marry Rachel, which concerns Ben.
During preparations for a cattle drive to Wichita, Kansas, the family is unsettled by the appearance of Abe Kelsey, who claims that Rachel is Indian by birth. Believing this to be a lie, Ben and Cash engage in a gunfight with Kelsey, killing his horse. Kelsey then steals Rachel's beloved white stallion. Later, a group of Kiowa led by Lost Bird appears and offers Ben horses in exchange for handing over Rachel. Lost Bird claims that she is actually his sister, and that an old white man told him so.
