WHEN THE LEGENDS DIE
US, 1972, 100 minutes, Colour.
Richard Widmark, Frederic Forrest, Luana Anders.
Directed by Stuart Miller.
When The Legends Die illustrates two of America's film interests of the early seventies. The first is the interest in the rodeo which produced several interesting films, the best of which was Sam Peckinpah's Junior Bonner with Steve Mc Queen. Others included - The Honkers with James Coburn, and J. W. Coop directed by and starring Cliff Robertson.
The other interest that this film illustrated is the plight of the American Indian. There was Soldier Blue and Little Big Man taking, us back into American history. There was also The Last Warrior and Tell Them Willie Boy was Here, to offer audiences questions about the fate of the Indian. This film fits in here and is quite successful.
The film follows the career of a boy from the Reservation school making his way in the white world, exploited and spoilt, and then going back to do something worthwhile for his people. He is obviously a symbolic representative of his people. The white world is represented in Red, a rodeo rider who likes, but exploits, the boy. Richard Widmark is good as the ageing Red. Frederic Forrest is convincing as the Indian, Tom Black Bull. Forrest was later to be seen in The Don is Dead and The Conversation.
1. Discuss the meaning of the name in the film? The contrast between the old ways and the new; Tom Black Bull's need to learn the new ways? How was this illustrated?
2. What were your first impressions of the Indian boy? His place in his own world? Your emotional response to him being brought into civilisation?
3. What did Tom hope to learn at the orphanage? Would he have been happier back at the Reservation? Comment on the presentation of institutional life; the impact of the change of cultures on the Indian boy. How was this shown?
4. What were your first impressions of Red? How did he represent what the white man had done for the Indian? Comment on his home and style, taking on Tom and driving him home. Did he really like Tom? What was the quality of the relationship between them?
5. How was rodeo life presented - vividly, its style and impact? Tom's response to it, his honesty?
6. Why did Tom develop a killer instinct? Why did he leave Red, feel misunderstood? Did his desire for friendship and popularity drive him on?
7. Describe the influence of the nurse and his relationship with her?
8. Why did Tom finally return to the orphanage and want to go back to the Reservation and train young men? Was this an admission of defeat in his way of life, or had he won something worthwhile for his life?
