Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson

Buffalo Bill and the Indians is an American satire from director Robert Altman 's 1976, filmed by the play Indians ( Original Title: Indians ) by Arthur L. Kopit.

Action

America in 1880. William F. Cody, known as Buffalo Bill enters into show business. He staged a Wild West show with many artists, performers and animals. The highlight of the show is to be the retelling of the Battle of the Little Big Horn, which took place four years before the show premiered. Cody, who did not participate in the battle itself wants to put the then fallen General George Armstrong Custer monument: Custer is supposed to be the real hero and winner. The Sioux chief Sitting Bull is equally active for the show. Although he did not participate in the battle, but sets the alleged exploits of Custers in the right light.

Reviews

For the filmdienst the film is " an ironic satire of show business, which dismantled the myths of western and debunked the legend of the heroes of American history as a lie. The film loses a bit of its intricate dramaturgy and enervating lengths ".

The time -reviewed in its issue of July 9, 1976: " " Altman goes as in, Nashville ' with cynicism, intelligence and malice because the american dream ' so thoroughly dismantle as no director before: The legendary Wild West hero Buffalo Bill ( Paul Newman), Mr. America in person, turns out to be hollow show business invention, his past as a conglomeration of blatant lies and cowardly self-deception. in return, Altman rehabilitated the 'true' Americans, the Indians, personified in the unusual character of the Sioux - chief sitting Bull "

Background

  • The film, set in Wyoming, was shot in the Canadian province of Alberta. To recreate Cody's open-air theater, had to be bulldozed bulldozed a field.
  • In the credits of the original version more than 500 performers are called.

Awards

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