The film, which was directed by Walter Hill , is based on a screenplay by John Milius. Gatewood convinced Apache leader Geronimo to surrender in The film loosely follows the events leading up to the surrender of Geronimo in A respected healer, Geronimo and his fellow Apache reluctantly agree to settle on a reservation established by the American government in accordance with the Indian Removal Act.
The tribe does its best to assimilate, but many Apache struggle to abandon their traditional way of life while the government fails to honor its promise to keep American settlers from encroaching on tribal lands. Geronimo finally commits himself to armed resistance when soldiers of the U. Cavalry accompanied by Indian fighter Al Sieber slaughter a band of Apache after discovering them practicing their " heathen " faith in secret.
Geronimo forms a ragtag militia, who humiliate the army by evading capture time and time again while carrying out well-planned guerilla attacks. The plot centers upon Lieutenant Charles B. Gatewood , a West Point graduate charged with capturing Geronimo with the assistance of Sieber and Britton Davis , an ambitious but inexperienced cavalryman. Gatewood is torn between his grudging respect for Geronimo and his duty to his country.
His superior, Brigadier General George Crook , has nothing but admiration for Geronimo and contempt for the self-serving actions of his government. Geronimo eventually surrenders to Crook but later escapes, this time persuading more than half the reservation to join him. Crook later resigns in disgrace and is replaced by Nelson A. The new commander orders that the remaining Apache be punished as a message to Geronimo's followers. He also decides that Gatewood and his fellow officers should be removed from the field and replaced with men loyal to him.
General Miles, realizing that in spite of his tactics he too is not any closer to capturing Geronimo, approaches Gatewood with an offer: use his relationship with Geronimo to find the warrior and convince him to surrender. He orders Gatewood to offer Geronimo a sentence of two years' imprisonment in Florida with the offer of fresh land in Arizona and two mules for every warrior who surrenders. Gatewood retorts to Miles that they both know the government has no intention of honoring this agreement.
