CHIEF CRAZY HORSE
US, 1955, 86 minutes, Colour.
Victor Mature, Susan Ball, John Lund, Ray Danton, David Janssen.
Directed by George Sherman.
Chief Crazy Horse comes from the mid-fifties when there was a movement in Hollywood of sympathetic portrayal of the Indians. Starting from Jeff Chandler's portrayal of Cochise in Broken Arrow, 1950, there were quite a number of spectacular Indian films such as White Feather promoting sympathy for the Indians. This of course was long overdue. Victor Mature is effective in this kind of role and shows something of the heroism and the dreams of Chief Crazy Horse. Much more sympathetic films were made in the late sixties and seventies emphasising the life of the Indians as in A Man Called Horse or the atrocities wrought by both parties for example, Soldier Blue and Little Big Man.
1. A good Western? A 50s tribute to the Indians? Impact in the style of the time, now?
2. Production qualities: colour, Cinemascope, Universal production - with its quality B-grade Western tradition? Victor Mature as star? His presence?
3. The structure of the film with its flashback, the atmosphere of the history of the West? In retrospect, the mystique of the Indians?
4. How well did the film emphasise the mystique? The old times with the buffalo roaming the plains, the Indian nations and their attitudes towards their heroes, the religious overtones? The initial death of the Chief and the prophecies of destiny? the ingredients of the prophecy and their fulfilment in Crazy Horse’s life? The colourful visual presentation of these visions?
5. The presentation of the Sioux and their situation? The American exploiters, the gold seekers in the black hills, the treaties and their being broken? The comment on American history? Guilt?
6. Victor Mature's style and portrait of Crazy Horse? As a noble human being? The rivalry for marrying, his heroism? The stances that he took? The fulfilment of prophecy? His status among the tribe? His decision to be Chief? His exercise of leadership?
7. The humane Crazy Horse with his wife and the courting the child? The support of the wife and the pain of the child's death?
8. How obviously villainous was the Sioux villain? The rivalry, the going to the Army, the presence with the Army and the shouting, the vengeance? Fulfilment of prophecy?
9. Twist and his reminiscences, trappers, loyalties to the tribe, gratitude to the Indians, friendship with Crazy Horse and helping him with his marriage? His divided loyalties and his decisions throughout the Indian wars?
10. The portrayal of the Army and their attempts to control the situation? Circumstances demanding particular responses and their almost going against principle?
11. The contract with Crazy Horse and his use of Army strategy? An honourable soldier and people respecting this? His daring in going against popular decisions, defying the Army?
12. The background of the greedy whites, especially the exploiters of the gold fields and breaking the treaties about entering the black hills? The irony of the Army chief murdering the gold prospectors after the death of his son? The ugliness of this and of the American white heritage?
13. Crazy Horse's achievement and the pathos of him death? The life and death of a hero? A portrait of Indian heroism and American conscience?
