Three years after the end of the Apache Wars, peacemaking chief Cochise dies. His elder son Chief Taza (Rock Hudson) shares his ideas, but brother Naiche (Bart Roberts) yearns for war...and for Taza's betrothed, Oona (Barbara Rush). Naiche loses no time in starting trouble which, thanks to a bigoted cavalry officer, ends with the proud Chiricahua on a reservation, where they are soon joined by the captured renegade Geronimo, who is all it takes to start a war.