WINTERHAWK

US, 1975, 98 minutes, Colour.
Leif Erikson, Woody Strode, L.Q.Jones, Dawn Wells, Michael Dante, Denver Pyle, Elisha Cook, Arthur Hunnicut, Sacheen Littlefeather.
Directed by Charles B. Pierce.

Winterhawk is a poetic and romantic tribute to tho nobility of the American Indian, showing the differences between red man and white man in a ballad form with clear didactic tones.

It is beautifully photographed and is very much the work of its director, Charles B. Pierce. Pierce had used similar techniques for his presentation of depression days in Bootleggers as well as the re-creation of fear in Texarkana, 1946 in 'The Town that Dreaded Sunset'. The film tends to romanticise the past but in at least an effective counter-balance to the supremacy of the cowboy and his brutality against the Indian.

1. The film as an appropriate tribute to the American Indians? The significance of the dedication? The nobility of the Indians? The moralizing purpose of the film and its success? For American audience nonAmericans?

2. The film as a seventies' view of the Indians? The emphasis on the nobility? The contrast to the earlier American cinema tradition?

3. The technical aspects of the film: wide screen, colour, the emphasis on natural beauty, the passing of the seasons and their symbolic use, the mountains and the streams the animals? The focus on the animals and their symbolism? The editing? The music? The significance of the songs and the lyrics?

4. The contribution of Clayanna and her narrative? The audience's knowledge of the plot and enjoyment of seeing it unfold? Themes of race, love transcending race and hatred and vengeance? How optimistic the themes?

5. Audience involvement in the structure and the use of Western conventions: the smallpox situation, the crisis for the Indians, the desire to trade, the inevitable violence, the capture and the pursuit? Betrayals, final confrontations? The ending and the innocent victim bringing peace?

6. The presentation of Winterhawk himself as a noble hero? The way he was filmed, on horseback? His stature? His role among the Blackfeet? The importance of the song and its indicating his qualities? Did he live out these qualities in his behaviour as regards the Indians, his son? Relationship with Guthrie, Clayanna and Cotton? His code of violence and vengeance?

7. The portrayal of the Blackfeet: the smallpox situation as caused by the white men, the anthropological background of funeral rites? The emphasis on Indian dignity, style of life, the Braves? Winterhawk's father and his status, death?

8. The race themes with the contrast of justice, religion, behaviour and codes, love?

9. The people at the trading post and the happiness of the picnic and dancing? The creation of atmosphere by the dwelling and style of the picnic? The importance of Finlay and his inability to help? Guthrie and Scoby and their betrayal? Evil men and the consequences of evil?

10. The inevitability of vengeance, violence? Winterhawk’s decision to kidnap Clayanna and Cotton? The inevitability of Guthrie and Finlay and the group pursuing them? The structure of the pursuit and one group eluding the other? The endurance, the hardship? The inevitability of death of the pursuers, for example the washing sequence and the happiness transferring to death? The pursuers an bounty hunters - did they merit their deaths?

11. The character of Guthrie, relationship with the Blackfeet? His wit? The horror of the rape sequences and audience emotional response? Atmosphere of revenge for Gates and Scoby and their callousness?

12. Finlay and his presence in the pursuit? The various members of the group, for example Big Red, the death of the old man, Arkansas and the shooting? The burning? Little Smith? How well did the film build up their characterizations, the fraternity between the son, the effect of their deaths?

13. The contrast of Gates and Scoby and their ugliness? Gates as in control, Scoby as a follower? Their being caught out at the trading post? The ugliness of their deaths? Gates as an offering to Winterhawk? Finlay left to die? Did this atone for their evil?

14. The characterization of Clayanna, a girl in the west, endurance and suffering, the motivation from her narrative, concern for Cotton, his survival in the hardships of winter? The Indians surviving? Their experience and understanding of Winterhawk?

15. The build-up to the final fight, the drama of it, the violence and the skill? The impact of Cotton's being hurt? Clayanna’s decision to stay?

16. The optimistic ending of peace and dignity and the futility of war and violence? A successful message film?