BUFFALO BILL AND THE INDIANS, OR SITTING BULL'S HISTORY LESSON

US, 1976, 123 minutes, Colour.
Paul Newman, Joel Grey, Burt Lancaster, Kevin Mc Carthy, Harvey Keitel, Geraldine Chaplin, Will Sampson.
Directed by Robert Altman.

Buffalo Bill and the Indians is the film that Robert Altman made after "Nashville". It retains so much of the acidic comment on America and its heritage, but has little of what compassion there is in Nashville. It is significant that Nashville was released in 1975, Buffalo Bill in 1976, the year of the Bicentenary. Apparently, the real Bill Cody was a pompous phoney. It is interesting to note that William Wellman, who wrote and directed the film glorifying Buffalo Bill in the 40s, a film with Joel Mc Crea and Maureen O'Hara, has in his autobiographical writings some comments about how he wrote an original script which portrayed Buffalo Bill in much the same way as in the Altman film. However, it was torn up at the time.

This film is not afraid to portray Bill as the phoney and say that his wild west superstar show is an image of how many of Americans see their history and yet fail to see through it. Altman willingly shows it. By having heavy-handed and heavy-tongued characterisations, he can offer blunt, bludgeoning dialogue and satiric situations that are brought home vividly by his stars. Modern superstar Paul Newman ironically portrays the old superstar. Joel Gray and Harvey Keitel are his assistants. However, some compassion comes in the dignity of Sitting Bull, his Indian assistant., played by Will Sampson and in Geraldine Chaplin's unusual portrayal of Annie Oakley. Burt Lancaster appears with a commentary on Bill's rise to fame and superstardom. As with many Altman films, it is very clever.

1. This film as a Robert Altman film? Altman's reputation and style? The emphasis of the title? The fact that it was based on a play called 'Indians'?

2. The impact of the film on American audiences, on non-American audiences? The release of the film in 1976, in the bicentenary year? The presentation of America, the emphases on flags and anthems and American values? The criticism of America?

3. The particular characteristics of Altman's style: his use of natural sounds and conversations, the use of Panavision, colour, especially the golden hue for the 'golden west'? Location photography for the wild west show, the background of the mountain scenery? The natural sounds, the use of music, especially the themes and Buffalo Bill's theme? The opera and classical music inserts?

4. The importance of the show business background of the film? The presentation of a specialized troupe and the characters within this troupe? Their functions within the troupe? The significance of the credits and the explanation of the characters in terms of their show business function?

5. The film's attitude towards show business, American style? The film itself, the credits, Paul Newman as a superstar playing Buffalo Bill? The setting of the whole film in Buffalo Bill's wild west? Show business and the background of fakery, the glorifying of myths and legends, show business and the effect on the people in it, the playing of roles and roles taking over? The participation of the audience, expectations of audience attitudes, the changeability and fickleness of crowds? The film's criticism of show business? The presentation of America as a show business country?

6. The film as a western? The portrayal of Buffalo Bill as the man who made the west what it was, the ironic implications of this, especially as regards phoniness and the plight of the Indians? Buffalo Bill's wild west as the symbol of the west and of America? The importance of Paul Newman playing Buffalo Bill in this context? The importance of Burt Lancaster giving the commentary? The role of the producer in this kind of wild west; Nate Salisbury and his role and influence? Burke and his publicity and contracts?

7. The importance of Ned Buntline as the narrator and the chorus of the events? What was his basic point of view? The nature of his disillusionment? The initial contrast of his story as promoting Buffalo Bill and the others who claimed to create the legend? The character of Buntline, his sitting in the bar and telling stories, Buffalo Bill's fear of him, the final confrontation with Bill, Buntline's telling of the truth, his disillusionment and his riding off?

8. The character of Buffalo Bill? What was the reality? Was there any reality? The legend created for show business purposes? Bill and the belief in the legend? Buffalo Bill's style in terms of dress, Ms hair, music, his attitudes towards people? The troupe and their deference towards him? His telling stories about his life and reliving them? The fact that he was getting old, his drinking? The importance of the sequence with the photo and his placing of people? Buntline's comment on his talking into a mirror and the scenes of Bill and the mirror? Buffalo Bill as a conqueror, a man of vanity? His attitudes towards the opera stars?

9. The title and the emphasis on Buffalo Bill confronting the Indians? The realities of the past, the references to Little Big Horn and the re-creations in the show? Bill and his superior attitudes? His humiliation of the Indians? His dislike of Sitting Bull? His wariness of Halsey? The Indians escaping and his leading the posse to bring them back and failing? His phoney talking himself out of this situation? His humiliation of the Indians in front of the President? His advising the President in ways to behave and doing political deals? The importance of the fact that Sitting Bull would haunt Bill? The significance of the confrontation and his monologue to the imagined Sitting Bull? The irony of his final battle in the show against Sitting Bull, as played by Halsey? How much bitterness did the film have in its presentation of Buffalo Bill confronting the Indians?

10. The contribution of the character of Salisbury? His beliefs in the show? Salisbury as a small man, a leader and announcer, the significance of his speeches behind the microphone? His deference to Bill and doing the deals, protecting Bill? His attitudes towards the Indians? Towards their portrayal in the show? Towards the other members of the troupe? Was he a likeable character? Was he meant to be?

11. The role of Burke, his publicity and imitation of Bill, his doing deals with the Indians, directing the style of publicity, mouthing the cliches about the show and the west?

12. The reason for the presence of Ed, Buffalo Bill's nephew? A naive and stupid young man? His work in the show, mouthing of Bill's attitudes, insulting the Indians during the President's speeches? His significance as the younger generation of Americans, influenced by Buffalo Bill, turning out as repulsive characters?

13. The legends about Annie Oakley and Frank Butler and their presentation? The humour and irony of their act? Annie's skill and yet her missing, especially her wounding of Frank Butler? Frank Butler as a ladies' man, subject to Annie, in fear of her missing with the shooting? The phoniness of them both? And yet the compassion of Annie Oakley for Sitting Bull? The issue of the places in the photograph etc.? How much did Annie Oakley give in terms of humanity and compassion to the film?

14. The portrayal of the cowboys in the show, the Indians, the Mexicans, the singers in the camp and their influence on Bill, the negroes and their taking the place of Sitting Bull? The racist comments throughout the film and audience response to these?

15. How central was Sitting Bull to the whole film? The heritage of the past and his achievement, the truth about Little Big Horn, the deal done to get him into the show, the advertising? His dignity, especially when Bill hoped that he would be humiliated, and Bill's looking from behind the curtains? The audience applause? The nature of Sitting Bull's dreams, his hopes for his people, meeting the President? His participation in the show? Halsey's dignity and being interpreter for Sitting Bull? Their departure from the camp to fulfil the traditions? The irony of Sitting Bull's death? The significance of his haunting Buffalo Bill? The final seeming sell-out when Halsey played Sitting Bull and was defeated by Bill in the final show?

16. How important were the details of the show, the skill of the west, the details of life within the troupe? The ordinary mundane details of the camp, the rooms, Bill's drinking, Indian quarters, the tents across the river etc.?

17. The importance of introducing the President of the United States? Cleveland and his personality, his honeymoon, admiration for the show, response to the presentation and the threat of the Indians, his presence at the banquet, his refusal to help the Indians before they had asked their question? Bill's supporting Mm? The personality of his wife and her comments? What was the significance of the old world song at this kind of banquet, culture in the American west and its irony?

18. what were the major themes about the west, about America and its heritage, the Nineteenth Century influencing the present century, legend and myth and the necessity of demythologising?