The Dark Wind (1991)

Director:

Errol Morris

Writers (WGA):

Tony Hillerman (novel)
Neal Jimenez (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 May 1992 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery

Plot:

An Indian police officer is mixed up in murder and drug smuggling on the reservation. |

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Police | Drug Smuggling | Rookie Cop | Neo Noir

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Lance Baker	...	Mr. Archer
Betty C. Barlow	...	Old Navajo Woman #2
Gary Basaraba	...	Larry
Billy Beck	...	Motel Clerk
Arlene Bowman	...	Edna Nezzie
Guy Boyd	...	Agent Johnson
Charlie Carpenter	...	Pilot
Blake Clark	...	Ben Gaines
Julia Collins	...	Old Navajo Woman #1
Kee Collins	...	Old Navajo Man #1
Gary Farmer	...	Cowboy Albert Dashee
Patrick Jensen	...	Albino Boy
John Karlen	...	Jake West
Neil Kayquoptewa	...	Lomatewa
James Koots	...	Taylor

Runtime:

USA:111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Navajo | Hopi

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate no. 21293)

Filming Locations:

Hopi Indian Reservation, Arizona, USA

Company:

Carolco Pictures

Trivia:

Director Errol Morris, better known for his documentary work, did not finish the film due to "artistic differences" with Robert Redford.

Movie Connections:

References "The Simpsons" (1989)

Soundtrack:

Louisiana Hush Puppy

Just pretend it has nothing to do with the book.

Film adaptations of novels are a mixed bag at best, and The Dark Wind, allegedly based on Tony Hillerman's novel of the same name, isn't one of the best. The screenwriters took several unnecessary liberties with the storyline and characters, including stealing details from other Hillerman novels and dropping Captain Largo entirely in favor of Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn. Fans of Hillerman's novels won't like the portrayal of Jim Chee as an awkward, barely-competent rookie, either.

It's hard to tell whether Lou Diamond Phillips is just failing to portray Jim Chee as he's intended to be, or whether he just didn't bother to read the book and find out. Having replaced Captain Largo's character with Fred Ward as Joe Leaphorn, the script doesn't take advantage of either character's personality, but at least they didn't turn him into one of those generic shouting police captains we see so much of in the movies.

Despite all of this, it's a fairly likeable movie. The film was shot on location in and around the Navajo reservation in Arizona and New Mexico. The scenery is magnificent, and judging from the names in the cast and crew, the producers took advantage of local talent to fill in some of the smaller roles, which adds a good bit of authenticity. If you close one eye and pretend it has nothing to do with a Tony Hillerman novel, you'll probably enjoy it.