Runtime: 135 minutes
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Eastwood, Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke, John Vernon, Bill McKinney
From: Warner Bros.
This was viewed last night on TCM; as it had been many years for me, it was time to finally revisit this Revisionist Western which wasn't too radical but still wasn't the type of film you saw in decades past.
The plot (based on a novel by Forrest Carter... more on that at the end of the review) is simple enough: Eastwood plays a farmer in Missouri during the Civil War who is minding his own business, plowing the fields... when his house is burned down by Jayhawkers-militant guerillas who were so pro-Union, they were happy to destroy anything connected to individuals that were not pro-Union themselves-inspiring the natural reaction of Eastwood getting pissed and wanting revenge. First, he joins up with Confederate guerillas; one day, that goes horribly awry. After that, he wishes to go it alone but he meets up with a motley crew of different people, including Native Americans. Their relationship is reciprocated as they all help each other, especially during the finale.
It is an interesting movie which takes its time telling the story, yet is never dull as there are plenty of confrontations with not so friendly people, who are typically gunned down. There is lovely cinematography from Bruce Surtees throughout; the scenic and sometimes colorful locations are a definite asset. There are also some nice usage of color... the opening credits having footage tainted blue is a harbinger for later moments in the film. A nice cast (for once it wasn't John Vernon that was the main or even a side villain... rather, it is Bill McKinney-best known for wanting Ned Beatty to squeal like a pig in Deliverance-who fills that role), Eastwood's gal at the time Sondra Locke of course showing up-thankfully she was a talented lady-and some levity being provided by Chief Dan George who still manages to deliver some of the movie's best moments of dialogue.
This was a happy revisit... even after realizing a fact that was unbeknownst to me until last night. It's based on a novel by Forrest Carter, a man with supposed Cherokee blood running through his veins... which was the pen name of Asa Earl Carter, a segregationist and a member of the KKK! The reader can go to Wikipedia to read the whole sordid tale-including how Asa claimed in public he was Forrest instead of Asa-but the movie and apparently everything he wrote was a 180 from his bigoted views. For certain, the film portrays Native Americans rather favorably. Henceforth, do not let this sordid detail dissuade you from giving this movie a shot.
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