Tonka
“The untold story behind the West's strangest legend!”
Synopsis
Young Indian brave White Bull captures and tames a wild stallion and names him Tonka. But when White Bull's cruel cousin claims Tonka for his own and mistreats the horse, White Bull sets him free. Tonka finally finds a home with Capt. Keogh and the 7th Calvary, and in 1876, rides into the Battle of Little Big Horn with General Armstrong Custer, becoming its only survivor.
Top Cast
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Sal Mineo
White Bull
Philip Carey
Captain Myles Keogh
Jerome Courtland
Lieutenant Henry Nowlan
H.M. Wynant
Yellow Bull
Joy Page
Prairie Flower
Britt Lomond
General George Armstrong Custer
Rafael Campos
Strong Bear
Herbert Rudley
Captain Benteen
Sydney Smith
General Alfred Howe Terry
John War Eagle
Chief Sitting Bull
Gregg Martell
Corporal Korn
Slim Pickens
Ace
Robert "Buzz" Henry
Lieutenant Crittenden (as Robert Buzz Henry)
Jim Alderman
Cavalryman (uncredited)
Alma Armstrong
Minor Role (uncredited)
Larry Baxter
Cavalryman (uncredited)
George Bernier
Ace's Man (uncredited)
Charles Biles
Cavalryman (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 25, 1958
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Lewis R. Foster
- Screenplay & Story
- Lewis R. Foster, Lillie Hayward
- Original Score
- Oliver Wallace
- Original Title
- Tonka
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 38m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Lewis R. Foster
Lewis R. Foster, Lillie Hayward, David Appel
Oliver Wallace
Loyal Griggs
Ellsworth Hoagland
James C. Pratt
Department Leadership Roster
Lewis R. Foster
Director
Lewis R. Foster
Screenplay
Lillie Hayward
Screenplay
Loyal Griggs
Director of Photography
Ellsworth Hoagland
Editor
Oliver Wallace
Original Music Composer
James C. Pratt
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Tonka.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Tonka.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Tonka
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Tonka about?
Young Indian brave White Bull captures and tames a wild stallion and names him Tonka. But when White Bull's cruel cousin claims Tonka for his own and mistreats the horse, White Bull sets him free. Tonka finally finds a home with Capt. Keogh and the 7th Calvary, and in 1876, rides into the Battle of Little Big Horn with General Armstrong Custer, becoming its only survivor.
Who directed Tonka?
Tonka was directed by Lewis R. Foster.
Who stars in Tonka?
The principal cast of Tonka includes Sal Mineo, Philip Carey, Jerome Courtland, H.M. Wynant, Joy Page.
When was Tonka released and how long is it?
Tonka was released in 1958 with a total runtime of 1h 38m.
Who composed the musical score for Tonka?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Tonka was composed by Oliver Wallace.
Is Tonka based on a book or true story?
Tonka is adapted from the following source material: Book: "David Appel".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Tonka?
Tonka holds official age classifications: GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).