In 1871, professional gambler John Devlin elopes with Sandra "Sandy" Poli, daughter of Marko Poli, an immigrant who has risen to railroad tycoon. Sandy, knowing that the railroad is to be extended into Dakota, plans to use their $20,000 nest egg to buy land options to sell to the railroad at a profit. On the stage trip to Ft. Abercrombie, their fellow passengers are Jim Bender and Bigtree Collins, who practically own the town of Fargo and Devlin is aware that they are prepared to protect the little empire... trying to drive out the farmers by burning their property, destroying their wheat, and blaming the devastation on the Indians. Continuing their journey north on the river aboard the "River Bird', Sandy and John meet Captain Bounce, an irascible old seafarer. Two of Bendender's henchmen, Slagin and Carp, board the boat and relieve John of his $20,000 at gunpoint. Captain Bounce, chasing the robber's dinghy..
Unfortunately the movie Dakota is not yet available on HBO Max.
| Writing | Carl Foreman | Story |
| Writing | Lawrence Hazard | Screenplay |
| Directing | Joseph Kane | Director |
| Sound | Walter Scharf | Music |
| Camera | Jack A. Marta | Director of Photography |
| Editing | Fred Allen | Editor |
| Art | Gano Chittenden | Art Direction |
| Art | James Redd | Set Decoration |
| Art | John McCarthy Jr. | Set Decoration |
| Costume & Make-Up | Adele Palmer | Costume Design |
| Art | Russell Kimball | Art Direction |
| Writing | Howard Estabrook | Adaptation |
| Production | Joseph Kane | Associate Producer |
| Sound | Walter Scharf | Music Director |
| Costume & Make-Up | Bob Mark | Makeup Artist |
| Sound | Walter Scharf | Music Score Producer |
| Costume & Make-Up | Peggy Gray | Hairstylist |
| Crew | Larry Ceballos | Choreographer |
