Ford must've been out of his comfort zone directing Temple as a child, but he makes up for how goddamn dopey she is with uncommonly gorgeous - even by his high standards - camerawork, featuring the old silent film technique of tinting nighttime scenes. There's a calm professionalism to the whole thing, a nice pacing that smacks of his later cavalry series, and some wonderful little character moments, like the teary-eyed boxing lesson and the AWOL dance ("No. You idiot.")

Nicely done John Ford film, for several reasons: the documentary-like shots of the Indian people in the streets and at the train station, the obvious fascination he has with military life, dwelling on drills and wake-up calls, and using a child as his typical hero--loner, sees beyond the more temporal concerns of others, and brings people together. Not as well done as some of his later work, but an interesting intro to some of his themes.