Eagle’s Wing

Eagle’s Wing

Year: 1979

Runtime: 111 mins

Language: English

Director: Anthony Harvey

WesternDrama

A gritty portrait of the pre‑mythic West shows an aging Native American and a reckless North‑American trapper racing across antebellum Mexico to capture the legendary stallion Eagle’s Wing. Along the dusty trail they clash with marauding stagecoach travelers and confront garrisoned Mexican soldiers, revealing the brutal reality of frontier life.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Eagle’s Wing (1979)

Trace every key event in Eagle’s Wing (1979) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Rival chief killed; stallion escapes

The war party attacks the group of rival Native Americans and kills their leader, who owns a magnificent white Arabian stallion. White Bull attempts to seize the horse, but the stallion bolts away with the dead chief beneath it. The event sets the stage for a fierce pursuit of the horse.

Plains near the rival war camp
2

Pike and Henry await traders; ambushed by war party

Pike and Henry, two fur traders, wait in vain for a rendezvous with their trading partners. The war party catches up and ambushes them, killing Henry and driving off the traders' horses. Pike is left to survive with only a mule.

Desert trading route
3

Pike discovers funeral; frees white stallion

Traveling alone, Pike stumbles upon the funeral of the dead chief. He seizes the magnificent white stallion from the ritual setup, saving it from the execution rite. He abandons his mule to press forward with the horse.

Funeral site of the dead chief
4

Ritual death as stallion is seized

During the moment Pike takes control of the stallion, the Medicine Man conducting the ritual is accidentally killed. The chaos helps Pike secure the horse but draws the tribe's attention. The loss of the ritual leader further complicates the tribe's plans.

Ritual site near the funeral
5

Stagecoach raid and loot

The war party locates the stagecoach and raids it, killing the driver and guard while one passenger dies. White Bull then ransacks the coach, gathering jewels and valuables. He abducts a white girl and leaves the other survivors stranded in the desert.

Stagecoach route
6

Priest escapes to alert the hacienda

A priest among the survivors slips away with a coach horse to ride toward the hacienda and raise the alarm. The breaking news triggers a wider pursuit across the region. The stagecoach tragedy becomes a catalyst for the four-way chase.

Desert road toward the hacienda
7

Four-way chase forms

White Bull heads toward the native village with the stallion, treasure, and girl. Pike pursues the stallion, determined to reclaim it. A hacienda posse rides out to recover the coach passengers and the girl, while the Medicine Man's tribe seeks vengeance for their chief.

Desert and routes toward village and hacienda
8

Pike pursues the stallion

Pike presses through the harsh terrain, keeping the stallion in sight and staying focused on reclaiming the horse. His single-minded pursuit underscores his survival instinct and resolve. The chase tests his endurance and cunning.

Desert wastelands
9

Hacienda posse joins the pursuit

The hacienda sends out a posse to recover the stage passengers and the girl. Their presence complicates the chase as multiple parties converge on the same prize. The rescue effort adds urgency and pressure to the pursuit.

Hacienda frontier
10

Medicine Man's tribe pursues revenge

Members of the Medicine Man's tribe join the chase to avenge their chief's death. They aim to defeat White Bull and reclaim the honor of their people. Their pursuit heightens the danger for all sides.

Desert and canyons
11

Climax across the desert

The chase culminates in a tense pursuit across the desert, as each faction sweeps toward its own goal. The exchanges and confrontations heighten the stakes surrounding the stallion and the girl. The ending remains open as alliances shift and outcomes hang in the balance.

Desert crossroads
12

Endgame: White Bull rides off; Pike defeated

In the final moment, White Bull rides away with the stallion, leaving Pike utterly defeated and watching him depart. The girl remains behind Pike, still waiting to be rescued. The ending emphasizes the horse's magnetism and the tragedy of Pike's failure.

Desert outskirts

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:26

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Eagle’s Wing Summary

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Eagle’s Wing Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Eagle’s Wing

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