Yellowstone Kelly is a 1959 American Western film based upon a novel by Heck Allen (using his pen name Clay Fisher, which shows in the film credits) with a screenplay by Burt Kennedy starring Clint Walker as Luther Sage "Yellowstone" Kelly, and directed by Gordon Douglas. The film was originally supposed to be directed by John Ford with John Wayne in the Clint Walker role but Ford and Wayne opted to make The Horse Soldiers instead.

Plot

Trapper Yellowstone Kelly and his partner Anse Harper come upon the sick Arapaho Wahleeah. Wahleeah is a captive of Sioux Chief Gall and is desired by both Gall and his nephew Sayapi. Kelly keeps Wahleeah to cure her and promises to return her to Gall when spring comes. However Sayapi vows to take Wahleeah back and kill Kelly. As winter ends Wahleeah has recovered and wishes to return to her people and not be returned to Gall or Sayapi. She finds herself falling in love with Kelly, But Sayapi attacks Kelly's cabin while he is away trapping, injuring Harper and taking Wahleeah. When Kelly returns he finds his cabin burning and Harper alive but succumbing to his wounds. But, before his death, he tells Kelly that Sayapi has taken Wahleeah and confesses that he was preparing to return her to her people. Kelly tracks down Sayapi's band and engages in a gun fight that kills Sayapi and his braves. Kelly intends to return Wahleeah to her people to honor Harper's dying wish, but along the way they come across a Cavalry troop that has been attacked by Gall. Gall and his warriors return to attack the troop. Before the attack, Gall confronts Kelly, telling him he can leave in peace if he gives up Wahleeah; but the troops must remain to be slaughtered. Kelly will not give up Wahleeah if it means the deaths of the soldiers. Gall's warriors mount the first attack, killing many of the troops. All seems lost as Gall prepares for his second attack, when Wahleeah rides out to Gall in an attempt to save Kelly. Wahleeah is injured when her horse overturns. Kelly and Gall race to her side. Gall realizes that Wahleeah has chosen Kelly and lets the two of them go, but says he will still kill the soldiers. Kelly tells Gall to end the battle so others don't have to feel loss as they do. Gall agrees and leaves with his warriors. Some time later Kelly and Wahleeah are seen taking Kelly's fur pelts to a riverboat for delivery.