The McMasters is a 1970 American Western film directed by Alf Kjellin and starring Burl Ives, Brock Peters, David Carradine, Nancy Kwan, and Jack Palance.
Benjie (Peters), an African-American freedman and Union soldier, returns home after the Civil War only to find that the local white population is hostile towards him in spite of his service. Benjie's former owner, Neal McMasters (Ives), grants him half-ownership of his ranch the Bar M, which angers the local whites, including a group of racist ranchers led by Kolby (Palance). Kolby and his men try to drive Benjie off his land through intimidation and violence. Amidst this conflict, Benjie forms an alliance with an American Indian named White Feather (Carradine), who also faces discrimination. Together, they attempt to stand their ground and defend their right to the land.
Tropes:
- An Arm and a Leg: Kolby is missing an arm as a result of his service in the war.
- Brownface: The two major Native American characters are played by the Caucasian David Carradine and the Asian Nancy Kwan.
- Burn the Witch!: Not a witch, but after seting fire to the ranch house, Kolby has Benjie tied to a post and attempts to burn him on a pyre.
- Call to Agriculture: Benjie returns from the war determined to start his own spread. After being made half-owner of the Bar M ranch, his determination not to be driven off 'his' land drives much of the plot.
- The Cavalry: Benjie and McMasters are saved from Kolby and his thugs by the arrival of White Feather and his fellow Indians, and Spencer and the non-racist citizens of Ironside.
- Determined Homesteader: Benjie and McMasters resist all attempts by Kolby to first buy them out, and then to drive them off their land with violence.
- The Dragon: Being missing an arm, the Big Bad Kolby leaves most of his dirty work to his right-hand Russell.
- Hand Gagging: When Benjie sneaks up to Robin in the blacked out ranch house, he puts his hand over her mouth to prevent her from making noise until she realises it is him and not one of Kolby's thugs.
- Laughing Mad: After discovering that his wife Robin has been raped by Russell, Benjie is captured, beaten up and then forced to dance for his racist captors. Partway through his dance, he starts laughing. His laugh grows more and more manic until he busts loose and starts inflicting his wrath on his captors.
- Non-Protagonist Resolver: Kolby is killed by White Feather and his braves while the protagonist Benjie lies helpless on the ground.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: The Big Bad Kolby is an unrepentant former slave owner made more more bitter by the loss of an arm during the war and who throws the n-word around casually. However, he pales in comparison to his right-hand man Russell who cannot open his mouth without insulting blacks or Indians. He tries to hang some Indians for rustling, despite having no proof, arguing that all Indians are thieves, and after raping Robin, he comments that beneath the snell she is almost like a white woman.
- Preacher Man: John Carradine plays the town's preacher, who is one of the non-racist citizens and pleads for peace between the warring factions.
- Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil: It is Russell's rape of his wife Robin that sends Benjie over the edge and drives him Laughing Mad.
- Self-Offense: When Benjie escapes from Kolby's thugs in the ranch house, he smashes the lantern and plunges the house into darkness. In the darkness, Kolby's men jump who they think in Benjie and beat him to death, only to discover he was one of their own.
- Still Wearing the Old Colors: Benjie arrives back in Ironisde still wearing his Union uniform, which stirs up some of the locals. However,he abandons it after acquiring some new work clothes. The Big Bad Kolby, however, wears a Confederate greatcoat for the entire movie.