United States

Before they can settle the West, they have to settle their score.
Set in the turbulent days following the U.S. Civil War, Buck and the Preacher features SIDNEY POITIER and HARRY BELAFONTE. Buck (SIDNEY POITIER) is a former Union cavalryman turned guide for ex-slaves planning to move to the West. HARRY BELAFONTE is the phoney Preacher with something less than the fear of God motivating his involvement with Buck. As Buck forms his plans, he is obstructed at every turn by whites who are desperate to keep the freed slaves just where they are - as a cheap source of labour. Co-starring are RUBY DEE, Poitier's woman, and CAMERON MITCHELL as the leader of a band of Night Riders trying to force the black travellers to return to their Southern fields. The film marks Poitier's first venture in the director's chair.