THE LAST WARRIOR

US, 1970, 105 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Quinn, Tony Bill, Victor Jory, Claude Akins, Shelley Winters.
Directed by Carol Reed.

The Last Warrior was given very bad reviews. Critics thought it was a trivial kind of film and did not stand up well against the rehabilitation of the American Indian films that were prominent in 1970, such as Tell Them Willie Boy is Here, Soldier Blue and Little Big Man. This film is certainly not as good as the others, but it has been somewhat underrated and is worth seeing and discussing, especially on its topic of the modern Indian in modern America. (One could make a similar film of the modern Aborigine in modern Australia). The treatment is rather comic and melodramatic, which may not be so far from what sometimes happens. It does not make the greatest of films, but it does not deserve arbitrary dismissal.

Anthony Quinn gives yet another of his impersonations of a different ethnic group, something he does without much difficulty. Hostile critics referred to him as Zorba the Indian. The critics were also hostile to the director, Carol Reed, famous for his powerful British films of the late forties and fifties such as Odd Man Out, The Third Man, A Kid for Two Farthings.

1. Did the title sum up the mood and message of the film? The alternate title was "Nobody Loves Flapping Eagle". Would that have been better?

2. Did the film preach in communicating its message, or was it necessary for this type of film?

3. Was the film fair in its presentation of the modern Indian's plight? His reaction against the white man and its presentation of the white man? The impact of the initial incidents and the atmosphere of the song and words during the credits?

4. Which incidents in the film brought out best the character of Flap? Was he intelligent, shrewd, did he feel oppressed? Why did he become involved in a revolution? Was Anthony Quinn convincing as Flap and as an Indian?

5. Was Eleven Snowflakes a young idealist, a younger image of Flap? Did you think him an interesting character - enthusiastic, earnest, ability to write? How did the film highlight his importance - within the group, writing, taking over the speech when Flap was absent? His final appeal at the end?

6. How impressive was Wounded Bear Smith as a character - a self-made lawyer, being an Indian, knowledge of treaties, contribution to Flap's revolution?

7. Flap's friend - a husky muscle man, rather simple? His friendship with Flap, his grief at Flap's death? What did he contribute to the understanding of the plight of the Indians?

8. Here the film's situations credible? were the police credibly presented? The tribal police, the county police? Do the Indians suffer such oppression?

9. The role of alcohol in the lives of the Indians - was this stressed, realistic, damaging?

10. The meaning and impact of the confrontation with the road-makers? What principles and emotions were involved? Did the Indians have the right to confront the road workers? Their reaction? The tribal council and its condemnation of Flap over this incident, wanting to offer reparation?

11. The incident of the grave - was this meant to be taken realistically or was it a symbol? Did Flap and his friends have the right to move the grave? Reaction of the chief workman, his sincerity in trying to help the Indians, do his job? The irony of the fight between him and Flap and Rafferty's intervention? why did the worker side with the Indians?

12. How villainous was Rafferty? What did he have against the Indians (he was part Indian)? Why did he abuse the law which was on his side? Shooting the dog - was this in preparation for shooting Flap? What motivated him?

13. How important were the brothel sequences for the film? What did they reveal about the characters? Was Dorothy an important character in the film? What did the reveal about Flap? The style of Flap's imagined dancing and romanticising the brothel?

14. The picture of the ordinary Indians who were not involved in the revolution? The old man and his dogs, tribal elders and their council? The Indian who ran the store and was afraid to get involved? The girl? The Indians listening apathetically to Eleven Snowflakes' speech?

15. How interesting was the incident with the train? What point was being made?

16. Was the death of the dog and the old man playing too touch on our emotional response?

17. The importance of the fight between Flap and Rafferty? Was it overdone - the smashing up of the shop? Did it give enough basis for Rafferty's hatred, the need for Flap's escape? Why did Flap want to fight? Was he justified? Where was audience sympathy in his attempt to escape?

18. The demonstration - how effective was this? Was it a fitting culmination to the film? Was the point well made about land rights and treaties?

19. The meaning of Flap's death? Giving his life for a cause, dressed in his Army clothes, having made his stand?
Was he more successful as a symbol in death than in life? Was this a fitting end to the film?

20. The symbolism of Flap's achievement in death in contrast with his achievement when alive - his working around the town, confrontation with the earth-movers, destruction of the equipment, the stealing of the train, the symbolism of the horse - unable to be rid of drinking, pushing Flap around; yet reliable at the end. Flap riding the horse through the desert pursued by the modern helicopter.