Review of Little Big Man (1970) by Mike M — 21 May 2010

Arthur Penn was the king of black comedy back in the hippie era. From films like "Bonnie and Clyde" to "Alice's Restaurant," he had it all.

Then he made "Little Big Man," released one year after Sam Peckinpah made the Western a bit more uncomfortable, and redefined a genre known for being constantly redefined (recently by Jim Jarmusch in the mid '90s) by not only adding a healthy amount of black comedy, but also some very shocking characterization involving Native Americans. How? Dustin Hoffman plays a white guy who becomes Indian, but becomes a prodigal son to all.

Very, very good tale on youth alienation - a very funny, poignant one too - and also one that makes us think twice when we see Indians kidnap a girl in many a John Wayne film. "Is it fair? Do they deserve this treatment?" this film asks us. And my God, it says no.

There's no stereotypical Indian in here. There's the Jewish Indian (Hoffman), the comically-existential Indian (Chief Dan George, a victim of Dawes Act assimilation, in a very outstanding performance), the gay Indian, the contrary Indian, and the polygamous Indian. No stereotypes here - none want to fight much, save for contrary over there.

I recommend this to anybody who thinks that Westerns suck. This will change your mind.