‘Instructor’s name’
Hollywood Indians- A Man Called Horse
‘A Man Called Horse’, is a movie directed by Elliot Silverstein, made in the year 1970. It is based on the novel of the same title published in the year 1968, by Dorothy Marie Johnson. The story of the film is about an English man named John Morgan, portrayed by Richard Harris, who goes on a hunting trip in the interior West of the USA. He is captured by a Native American tribe headed by Yellow Hand and he is made a slave/horse to a woman named Buffalo Cow Head. Morgan’s various attempts to escape foils and he is resigned to the fact of living with the Sioux tribe.
He meets another captive by the Batise, who pretends to be an idiot and by this ensures his survival. Since this captive talks English, Morgan learns the ways of the tribe through him and gradually starts to admire the civilization and pride of the people who captured him. Though he plans at escaping from the tribe at some point or the other, he is increasingly drawn towards the Sioux culture. He saves a few children and also kills a couple of opposition members in a war between rival tribes, and gains the respect of the other tribe members.
He seeks to marry a member of the tribe (Running Deer) and for this he has to prove his worth by undergoing an ancient ceremony. It is called the Sun Vow initiation, whereby Morgan hangs from the roof of a teepee with strings attached to his chest. After passing through the rite of passage, h is accepted as a member of the clan. Later, he plays a prominent part in countering the attack of a rival camp thanks to his military prowess, and takes up the leadership of the tribe, as Yellow Hand is killed in the battle.
Richard Harris is an Englishman and he portrays British character on the screen, but the rest of the actors are from various nationalities. Corinna Tsopei who portrays Running Deer is Greek, Manu Topou who plays the part of the tribe chief is Fijian and Judith Anderson who plays Buffalo Cow Head is an American actress. Only Eddie Little Sky of the main cast is a Native American and Iron Eyes Cody is an Italian by birth though he has portrayed a lot of Native Indian characters on the screen. The other Warriors characters of the movie are performed by Native Americans. But the casting of the movie cannot be held against it as long as the actors portray their character efficiently. We do not expect real Greeks to be casted as mythical Gods, nor do we expect real Romans to be playing Caesar and Brutus. So, why should this movie be criticized for, not casting Native Americans?
This film is a trendsetter of its period in the way it portrayed Native Indians. Till then, most of the movies (of the mud and rags school) depicted the Native Indians to be barbaric and mostly portrayed them in villainous characters. This movie refreshingly concentrated on their culture and lifestyle. Though the film did not accurately capture the rituals and ceremonies of the Native Indians, it did offer a fresh perspective on their history. For example, it in its own way explained to the White American audience how endurance of pain is one of the primary elements of the Native Indian culture, which they perceive both as a spiritual and insightful experience.
In conclusion it could be said that this movie was intended both for the native and Non Native Americans. For Non Native Americans it offered a new angle on the life of the race which they considered historically hostile and primitive, and for Native Americans the movie is a celebration of their identity.
Works Cited:
Stuart Galbraith. A Man Called Horse. Blu-ray reviews. May 29, 2011. Web. Accessed on June 19, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/48752/man-called-horse/
