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

Starring:Paul Newman, Joel Grey, Kevin McCarthy, Harvey Keitel, Allan F. Nicholls, Geraldine Chaplin, John Considine, Robert DoQui, Mike E. Kaplan, Bert Remsen, Bonnie Leaders, Noelle Rogers, Evelyn Lear, Denver Pyle, Frank Kaquitts, Will Sampson, Ken Krossa, Fred N. Larsen, Jerri Duce, Joy Duce
Director: Robert Altman
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Robert Altman was often ahead of his time--once at the cost of being behind himself. Buffalo Bill and the Indians, a snorting exposé of the U.S. predilection for buying into heroic myths, opened on July 4, 1976. Clearly the film was positioned as the ultimate bicentennial event, Altman-style. But Altman had already delivered that a year earlier: the splendiferous, deeply disenchanted yet exhilarating Nashville. Both Nashville and Buffalo Bill are films about America-as-show business, hucksterism, and the rare miracle of performance. But everything Altman got so thrillingly right in Nashville, which teems with life and mystery and widescreen dynamism, came out flatfooted and obvious in Buffalo Bill, a cramped, smirky inside joke that ends up being on the joker.

Amazon.com

Robert Altman was often ahead of his time--once at the cost of being behind himself. Buffalo Bill and the Indians, a snorting exposé of the U.S. predilection for buying into heroic myths, opened on July 4, 1976. Clearly the film was positioned as the ultimate bicentennial event, Altman-style. But Altman had already delivered that a year earlier: the splendiferous, deeply disenchanted yet exhilarating Nashville. Both Nashville and Buffalo Bill are films about America-as-show business, hucksterism, and the rare miracle of performance. But everything Altman got so thrillingly right in Nashville, which teems with life and mystery and widescreen dynamism, came out flatfooted and obvious in Buffalo Bill, a cramped, smirky inside joke that ends up being on the joker.

Description

From director Robert Altman (M*A*S*H, The Player) comes an uproarious, high-spirited look at "Buffalo Bill" Cody, the legendary Western adventurer. With a fine cast that includes Paul Newman, Harvey Keitel, Burt Lancaster, Joel Grey and Geraldine Chaplin, Buffalo Bill and the Indians is a hilarious yet poignant comedy that shows the Old West as you've never seen it before! Although Buffalo Bill (Newman) has fought Indians and Civil War battles, nothing can prepare him for his newest challenge: show business! His "Wild West Show" is hugely popular, but when he signs a former enemy, Sioux Chief Sitting Bull (Frank Kaquitts), for a featured role, a hysterical clash of cultures reverberates far beyond the boundaries of their sprawling outdoor theater. And the complications only multiply when the troupe discovers it must put on a special command performancefor none other than the President of the United States!

Customer Reviews:

YOU CAN DO BETTER, ALTMAN-WISE . . ........2007-04-21

When Altman is good he's great. Like in McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Shortcuts, The Player and, oh yes, MASH. The Amazon review for BB et al should be read before ordering this. Like, flat-footed and obvious, I think they say. Beyond Altman, an akin movie of this time would be Little Big Man, which is sensational, not stupid.

interesting.......2007-02-16

I was filmed in my home town and a very good friend of mine was a extra in the movie and we looked at it to see if we could pick her out. Unfortunatly we did not find her. o-well

Intriguing Idea But A Bit Shallow.......2006-12-01

Paul Newman stars as Buffalo Bill, the showman of the wild west, with his circus act of performers. Robert Altman is famous for movings that expose how easily people fall for myths and stories, and this is no exception. Bill and his crew are all larger than life, believing in the stories written about themselves. They decide to put Geronimo into their act, thinking that they can stir up their audience into a blood lust against the "evil Indians".

To their surprise, people actually respect the native Americans, and even the president comes out to meet Geronimo for himself. In the end it's only Geronimo that speaks honestly, and he is ignored. He leaves the white men to their problems.

There are a number of famous actors and actresses here - Joel Grey, Harvey Keitel, Burt Lancaster, Geraldine Chaplin. Undoubtedly all signed on to make a movie that had social significance, especially with it coming out in 1976 - America's 200th year of independence. However, they are in essence satiring people who in fact were "heroes" in many ways. Buffalo Bill did in fact do some impressive things in his life. By all accounts Geronimo liked him and enjoyed being with him. For many of the city slickers, these shows were their only glimpse into what the wild west was all about, even in a general portrayal.

Also, the native americans are treated as being supernatural Gods. They get across rivers that are uncrossable, they set up lodgings where they should not be able to. There isn't any relating to them as people, as a culture. I would really have liked to see more of the cross-cultural issues - the different ways in which they related to women, to minorities, to performing in public.

Terrific Newman Performance in Lesser Known Altman Flick.......2006-07-02

Robert Altman's expertise at framing and then exposing the three dimensions of show business, of presentation and performance, place and status, ala Nashville, Gosford Park, A Praire Home Companion, The Player, The Company and Kansas City (to name a few), gets the interesting, ironical and historical treatment here.
In Paul Newman's Buffalo Bill Cody, legend of the wild west, and extraordinary showman, Altman gives the American man of myth, then chips away at him, all while the rival and counterpart Sitting Bull grows and deepens in merely standing still. Newman's performance is terrific, his eyes never betraying the truth of his limitations, though his histriotics along with those of his minions in his large show, work very well at entertaining and maintaining. Joel Grey, Kevin McCarthy and Harvey Keitel all stand out as Newman's producing partner, press agent and flunky respectively. Their sycophancy echoes the Emperors New Clothes, and is set against Sitting Bull and his right hand man Halsey, who agree to join the wild west history show in order to tell the truth of the matter, ever stoic and unimpressed by the show.
With humor and his trademark layering of sound, dialogue and wit Altman gives us the lesson of what is real and unreal, fraudulent and true, the stuff of history books and shows, and the heart of the matters.

"Truth is Whatever Gets the Most Applause!".......2006-02-07

Altman has made some very good movies, and some very bad ones, often right next to each other. Viewing this film right after the highs of "Nashville" will surely lead to a serious Altman letdown. Historically, of course, coming out during the Bicentennial and right after that great film, expectations that were very high were mostly dashed, and this film quickly joined other Altman stinkers in the "not good" Altman film repository, right next to "H.E.A.L.T.H."

But time has been very kind to this Altman sleeper. I found Newman's performance exhilarating and comic, and Joel Grey hilarious and knowing. Like many of Altman's films, this one is about the mythmaking of contemporary pop history, and the "necessary illusions" required by the audience to buy into and celebrate these myths. Although the particular target here is western pop history, Altman's aims are much broader: the legacy of Native America abuse, the need of the audience to create and celebrate "hero myths," and the schematic critique of star-worshipping history, written by the "winners." Frank Kaquitts plays the critical role of truth-teller, and is understated and very funny as Sitting Bull, who joins Buffalo Bill's troupe with his interpreter, attempting to add some reality to Cody's wildly distorted (and wildly popular) western shows.

While the script of Altman and Alan Rudolph has some typical Altman flaws, fat, and excess, the benefit of time and careful reflection has served this little gem well.

Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson [Region 2]

Average customer rating:

YOU CAN DO BETTER, ALTMAN-WISE . . .
interesting
Intriguing Idea But A Bit Shallow
Terrific Newman Performance in Lesser Known Altman Flick
"Truth is Whatever Gets the Most Applause!"

Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson [Region 2]
Starring: Paul Newman , Joel Grey , Kevin McCarthy , Harvey Keitel , and Allan F. Nicholls
Director: Robert Altman
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Vincent & Theo (Ws Sub)
Buffalo Bill
Tanner '88 - Criterion Collection
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3 Women - Criterion Collection

ASIN: B00005M22U

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

YOU CAN DO BETTER, ALTMAN-WISE . . ........2007-04-21

interesting.......2007-02-16

I was filmed in my home town and a very good friend of mine was a extra in the movie and we looked at it to see if we could pick her out. Unfortunatly we did not find her. o-well

Intriguing Idea But A Bit Shallow.......2006-12-01

Terrific Newman Performance in Lesser Known Altman Flick.......2006-07-02

"Truth is Whatever Gets the Most Applause!".......2006-02-07

Average customer rating:

YOU CAN DO BETTER, ALTMAN-WISE . . .
interesting
Intriguing Idea But A Bit Shallow
Terrific Newman Performance in Lesser Known Altman Flick
"Truth is Whatever Gets the Most Applause!"

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Vincent & Theo (Ws Sub)
Buffalo Bill
Tanner '88 - Criterion Collection
Secret Honor - Criterion Collection
3 Women - Criterion Collection

ASIN: B000296FAS

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

YOU CAN DO BETTER, ALTMAN-WISE . . ........2007-04-21

interesting.......2007-02-16

I was filmed in my home town and a very good friend of mine was a extra in the movie and we looked at it to see if we could pick her out. Unfortunatly we did not find her. o-well

Intriguing Idea But A Bit Shallow.......2006-12-01

Terrific Newman Performance in Lesser Known Altman Flick.......2006-07-02

"Truth is Whatever Gets the Most Applause!".......2006-02-07

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