Review of Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976) by Tony P — 17 Dec 2009
A strange farce with some rather pungent political commentary spliced into it. The atmosphere is yet another unruly and colorful backdrop definitive of the late Robert Altman. The ensemble tumbles and toils in the promotion of Buffalo Bill Cody's historically inaccurate and completely masturbatory Wild West Show.
When Sitting Bull arrives to participate in the theatrics, the group of showbiz profiteers are trumped by not only the honor of the old Native American, but of the suspicious financial finaggling of his interpreter, William Halsey (played by the enormous Will Sampson from One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest).
What ensues is a hysterical mess of situational comedy and some firm finger-pointing at the misbegotten and fictionalized heroism that taints the United States' history. The balance is struck only in the way that Robert Altman could.
Paul Newman is spectacular, embodying the aging American hero with cynicism and vanity. Buffalo Bill and The Indians is a subtle film of tremendous scope.
This review of Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976) was written by Tony P on 17 Dec 2009.
Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson has generally received mixed reviews.
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