THE SAVAGE
US, 1952, 95 minutes, Colour.
Charlton Heston, Susan Morrow, Peter Hanson, Joan Taylor, Don Porter.
Directed by George Marshall.
The Savage is a colourful but small-scale western of the early '50s. With Broken Arrow in 1950, there was much more sympathetic treatment of the Indians and their situation in Hollywood westerns. This film follows this pattern. In the early '70s there was a reawakening of interest in the Indians with more lavish films about them such as Soldier Blue and Little Big Man. There was also a critique of the relationships between white men and red men. This film is an early Charlton Heston vehicle and he shows his usual style of heroism. The screenplay was written by Sidney Boehm, who was responsible for many intelligent scripts for genre films.
1. Audience expectations of a western? Indian story, cavalry? Enjoyable, conventional?
2. The western style of the '50s? The presentation of the Indian way of life, the critique of the white man's attitudes? Racial themes? Peace? An optimism? The significance of the title and the discussions about the true nature of civilisation? 'Civilisation by extermination'?
3. The production values of the film - colour photography in South Dakota, the presentation of the Indian way of life? The film as a Charlton Heston vehicle?
4. The biography of Jim Aherne? The impact of his telling his life story, expectations? His white civilisation background, his Indian training. The brotherhood with red and white? The inevitable crisis, his attempts at peace, his vengeance, his learning his lesson and the communicating of this for Indian-White? peace?
5. The theme of civilisation: books, culture? The fort and people gossipping about him? Laws and their administration - white laws, Indian laws? The judgments on the two civilisations?
6. The presentation of the Indian clashes - Sioux versus Crow? The Crow attack on the wagon and the killing of all the whites? Jim's grief at the death of his father? The Sioux attacking the Crows and saving him? The impact of his father's death?
7. The film's sketching Jim's growing up with the Indians? His relationship with the Chief as his father? His Indian mother, sister? The details of the way of life? The antagonism towards the Crows? The treaties with the whites and the antagonism? The possibility of Indian wars?
8. Charlton Heston's style, the character of Jim? War Bonnet as his name? Life in the camp, fishing sequences? His place in the Great Council? His going as a scout and encountering the whites at the fort, his curiosity, the books, the fascination with Tully, the meal and cooked meat, manners, his learning to dance? His assessment of the whites. His attitude towards the treaties? The inevitability of clash and the officer who was against him?
9. The experience of Lutta and her capture, death? The Crows and their cruelty, the officers and their killing? The emotional impact and vengeance for Jim? His rescuing of Lutta and his confrontation of the cowardly Indians and their death? Death, law honour?
10. His using his scouting ability to trap the whites? Leading them to the Crow village, helping them with the explosives and the wagon? The antagonism with the officer and the Corporal killing him?
11. The Crow escapees, Jim's going in the night for a council meeting, his leading the whites into the ambush? The arrival of the women and children and his decision to save them against his Indian background and principles?
12. The Sioux and their disgust, his father's confrontation, the adviser and his advice? The living out of the law and his father's spearing his son? His living? The importance of Jim's message and persuading the Sioux not to wage war? The inevitability of their defeat?
13. The optimism of the ending? Jim finding his place with the whites? The them of elbow room and peaceful living together? The possibilities for peace with the Indians? The history of the West? Its acceptance in the 20th. century?
