The Last Hunt (1956)

Director:

Richard Brooks

Writers:

Richard Brooks (writer)
Milton Lott (novel)

Release Date:

31 August 1956 (West Germany)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

See the Stampede of 3000 Angry Buffalo!!!

Plot:

Set in the early 1880s, this is the story of one of the last buffalo hunts in the Northwest. Sandy McKinzie is tired of hunting buffalo...

Plot Keywords:

Buffalo | Hunting | Native American | Feud | Buddy

Cast

Robert Taylor	...	Charlie Gilson
Stewart Granger	...	Sandy McKenzie
Lloyd Nolan	...	Woodfoot
Debra Paget	...	Indian girl
Russ Tamblyn	...	Jimmy O'Brien
Constance Ford	...	Peg
Joe De Santis	...	Ed Black
Ainslie Pryor	...	Buffalo hunter #1
Ralph Moody	...	Indian agent
Fred Graham	...	Bartender
Ed Lonehill	...	Spotted Hand

Runtime:

108 min | Germany:99 min | 104 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Badlands National Park, Interior, South Dakota, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

US government marksmen actually shot and killed buffalo during production as part of a scheduled herd-thinning.

Quotes:

Jimmy: Mr. Woodfoot, how come Charley hates Indians so much?
Woodfoot: Now that's a good question, my boy. It's kinda funny, you know? Charley beats his horse, just like an Indian. Charley's free with his women, just like an Indian. Charley even blows his nose on his fingers, just like an Indian. I just don't get it.

A mature, realistic view of the bitter end of the 'Old West.'

Have no illusions, this IS a morality story. Granger is the troubled ex-buffalo hunter, tempted back to the plains one more time by kill-crazed Taylor. Granger can see the end is near, and feels deeply for the cost of the hunt-on the herds, the Indians and the land itself. Taylor, on the other hand admittedly equates killing buffalo, or Indians to 'being with a woman.' While Granger's role of the tortured hunter is superb, it's Taylor who steals the show, as the demented, immoral 'everyman' out for the fast buck and the goodtimes. There's not a lot of bang-bang here, but the story moves along quickly, and we are treated to a fine character performance by Nolan. The theme of this story is just as poignant today, as in the 1800s-man's relationship to the land and what's on it, and racism. Considering when this was made, the Censors must have been wringing their hankies during the scenes in the 'bawdy house', Taylor's relationship with the squaw, and much of the dialogue. Although downbeat, this is truly a great western picture.