Ida McBride decides to drill for oil on her ranch, against her son Tom's wishes. A contentious crew of wildcatters arrives, including a stalwart drilling magnate, his tool-pusher and a young roughneck associate, who endeavor to save the ranching empire by trying to bring in a methane gas well.
Frontiersman Hawkeye and his blood brother Chingachgook attempt to rescue the daughter of a chief who was captured by raiders from a rival tribe in this adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's "Leatherstocking Tale" of 1841.
A brunette Lana Turner stars in this live song and dance performance of "A Great Lady Has An Interview" to celebrate MGM's 30th anniversary on "The Ed Sullivan Show". The song was previously performed by Judy Garland in the 1945 musical film "Ziegfeld Follies".