Good Educational Film
Retha Sawyer | Warren, AR United States | 12/12/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"First of all, I don't know why some reviewers say this film has Kevin Costner & Graham Greene; it stars James Whitmore, Sam Elliot, & Ned Romero as Chief Joseph. This is an accurate, historical telling of the removal of the Nez Perce tribe to reservation land in 1877. When this peaceful tribe attempts to resist the forced removal by travelling to Canada, they are pursued & eventually captured by the military, led by General Otis Howard--a former friend of Joseph(well-played by James Whitmore). This movie is by no means of Oscar-winning calabre. It's a semi-documentary story of a significant event in American History. It is slow at times. The acting is adequate but by no means just wonderful. As a history teacher, I like this movie & it's story--a good story at that. Also, it was made for TV in 1975--it is dated. Movies today on TV are more violent with all sorts of cursing; this movie does not overdo the violence or cursing at all. It's "good & clean" family fare. I highly recommend it for its true story and respectable portrayal of Native Americans."
Remember the time in which it was produced
Retha Sawyer | 06/11/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I find it interesting that those who do not live in the area in which this movie takes place, (attention Ireland, I am Irish, but that doesn't mean I can begin to write about your country with any real understanding!)feel the need to bash it so badly. Try to recall that it wasn't all that long ago that we would never have even attempted to look at the Native American side of this issue. If you're looking for Oscar work here, let's get serious. This is a story that needed to be told, of a chief whose tactics are taught at West Point. Yes, it could have been better produced, but it wasn't exactly politically correct at that time, we were still in our infancy as recognizing Native American culture and as a 40 year old anthropology student, I can tell you, there is still much to learn. This movie was made almost 30 years ago and if you look at most movies from that time, they all seem a bit hokey and the Native Americans (and most ethnic groups, including the Irish)are badly portrayed. So stop trying to see the flaws and recognize one of the first films America has made that made the Native Americans out as heroes, not drunken idiots. I recommend this film, show it to your kids and celebrate some American History."
Shame on US
BlackSilver | Midwest, USA | 08/02/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Even the most callous of us must be shamed by this true story."
American History
dad of 6 | so cal | 11/28/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Great job telling the story of the American Indians and how they were treated. It deals with Gen. Howard going beyond his own personal convictions to "follow orders" As a U.S. history teacher it vividly shows my students the struggle of the Indians, as well as the struggle of those who wanted them to be left alone."