Simply Perfect

From my favorite movies..

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Back in 2003, when CinemaScope celebrated its fortieth anniversary, some of the films chosen to mark this occasion were rather odd. Few people would argue with River of No Return but where was King of the Khyber Rifles or Drum Beat or Moonfleet or Sitting Bull? Films which really utilized the full width of the screen for dramatic effect. Producer W.R. Frank's aim was obviously to make a spectacle that took the fullest advantage of CinemaScope's wild, wide spaces. And in this aim, he has surprisingly but admirably succeeded. You wouldn't think there'd be much left to re-ignite the excitement of Custer's stand at the Little Big Horn after so many other screen treatments, but producer Frank has spent so much money on this version, critical faculties are swamped by the sheer weight of manpower. Not since Griffith's Birth of a Nation have we seen battles so spectacularly staged in natural terrain. It's odd that the scope of the anamorphic screen to re-present such encounters was rarely exploited. Admittedly, all the money has been lavished on the last couple of reels, but what's wrong with an unforgettable climax? Aside from the staging of the action however, production credits are pretty mundane and conventional. The producer has not spared us a title song for both front and end credits (in fact the music score throughout is delightfully pedestrian), the photography (due to the early CinemaScope lens) is rather grainy, and the cast hardly aspires to the top drawer. Dale Robertson is as stolid as usual, Mary Murphy is given few opportunities to transcend her conventional role, whilst J. Carrol Naish, repeating his characterization from Annie Get Your Gun, makes a boring, half-hearted Sitting Bull. Fortunately, the support lineup includes old favorites like John Litel and Tom Brown Henry (as a briefly effective villain). In addition to the distracting grain, the lighting in the CinemaScope print tends to be rather dark. Obvious day for night photography is also no help. Nor is the noticeable difference in the lighting between the main and second unit. (Fortunately, none of these defects are apparent in the pan-and-scan TV print utilized on DVD by Platinum Disc). And whilst the action is great stuff, as stated above, I didn't like the use of such obvious stuntmen in the fight between Robertson and Cody.

I give them credit for trying to be politically correct. There intent was noble, portraying the Indian as a victim of the American Military and indeed American Policy. That being said, I must admit that the acting in general was terrible, the dialogue was stilted and the historical accuracy was missing. I often laughed at Hollowood's early attempts to portray Native Americans with actors who did not have an ounce of Indian blood in them. J. Carroll Nash, a truly fine actor was Irish and sounded like an Indian from Brooklyn. Mr. Cody, who claimed to be an Indian was only married to one. He was Italian.It was difficult to be sympathetic to the lead character, Major Parrish only because the actor who portrayed him, Dale Robertson, was so bad. A for intent, F for execution.

Unless you are a big fan of the Italian actor Iron Eyes Cody, this one doesn't have much to offer. The subplot with Dale Robertson being rejected by his fiancée because he is demoted was irritating, that he takes her back after her new fiancée is killed is puerile. The historical blunders are pretty well covered in other reviews. The battle scene was sad, the same Indian was shot off his horse many times. The final shot of Custer, lying there with an obvious box under his shirt to hold up the arrow, was laughable. When they decided to have Sitting Bull arrive at the fort to save Robertson from a firing squad, they drove the final cinematic nail in this film's coffin.

The best thing that can be said about this film is that it had good intentions. What makes of it almost a camp movie is the unreal, primitive, simplistic way that Sitting Bull, the battle of Little Big Horn, and all events related to it are presented. There are no qualms here about changing historical facts and the unreal attitudes of Major Bob Parrish (Dale Robertson) and also of Sitting Bull are very hard to accept. It was much more complex than that, as it can be seen on the most accurate film made so far about it "Son of The Morning Star". The fact that it was made on a big budget, Cinemascope, and has good battle scenes makes it easier to see. It also had the technical advice of "Iron Eyes Cody" who sure knew a lot about it, but probably kept most of it to himself.