A Man Called Horse (1970)

Director:

Elliot Silverstein

Writers:

Jack DeWitt (writer)
Dorothy M. Johnson (story)

Release Date:

May 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Western | Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

A man called "Horse" becomes an Indian warrior in the most electrifying ritual ever seen!

Plot:

In 1825 an English aristocrat is captured by Indians. He lives with them and begins to understand/accept their lifestyles...

Plot Keywords:

Aristocrat | Marriage | Nudity | Sioux | Bear Attack

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Richard Harris	...	John Morgan
Judith Anderson	...	Buffalo Cow Head (as Dame Judith Anderson)
Jean Gascon	...	Batise
Manu Tupou	...	Yellow Hand
Corinna Tsopei	...	Running Deer
Dub Taylor	...	Joe
James Gammon	...	Ed
William Jordan	...	Bent
Eddie Little Sky	...	Black Eagle
Michael Baseleon	...	Longfoot
Lina Marín	...	Thorn Rose
Tamara Garina	...	Elk Woman
Terry Leonard	...	Striking Bear
Iron Eyes Cody	...	Medicine man
Tom Tyon	...	Medicine man

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and nudity.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Sioux

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:M (original rating) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1970) | Sweden:15 | USA:R (re-rating) (2003) | Australia:PG | UK:AA (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Custer State Park - 13329 U.S. Highway 16A, Custer, South Dakota, USA

Company:

Cinema Center Films

Quotes:

John Morgan: It just occurred to me... I've traveled halfway around the world, at great expense, simply to kill a different kind of bird.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Big Stan (2007)

Spectacular and Powerful Classic Western

In 1825, the Sioux, leaded by Yellow Hand (Manu Tupou), capture the English nobleman John Morgan (Richard Harris), while hunting in the United States of America. John is brutally treated like an animal by the Indian, and is given to help Buffalo Cow Head (Judith Anderson), the mother of Yellow Hand, as if he were a horse. Without understanding the language and behavior of the Sioux, he is helped by Batise (Jean Gascon), a white man made prisoner and mutilated by the Indians five years ago. Batise translates and explains the Sioux's culture for John, plotting to escape some day back to the civilization with him. After an undefined long time later, John loses his snobbish behavior and is reasonably integrated to the Sioux. One day, he kills two enemies Shoshones, who were spying and stalking the Sioux, and gains the respect of the Sioux and love of the sister of Yellow Hand, Running Deer (Corinna Tsopei). John marries Running Deer and integrates to their culture, and after a tragic attack of the Shoshones to the Sioux tribe, he becomes their leader. "A Man Called Horse" is a spectacular and powerful classic western of the 70's. The first time I saw this movie, I was a teenager and left the theater completely astonished with such a different story in that time and the violence of the scenes. Two days ago, I bought the VHS and yesterday I saw it again, and it is still a very impressive film, with magnificent performances of the cast, highlighting Richard Harris and Judith Anderson. The production is very careful, being mostly spoken in Sioux, and depicting in a realistic way, the life, the behavior, the common laws and the moral practices of the Sioux. I believe that "A Man Called Horse", with the Sioux, "Soldier Blue", with the Cheyenne and "Little Big Man", all of them from 1970, were among the first movies to show the lives of prisoners of the North American Indians in their tribes. The amazing scene of John Morgan suspended by his chest in an Indian ceremony is unforgettable and very impressive. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Um Homem Chamado Cavalo" ("Spectacular Classic Western")