WesternDrama

A Man Called Horse

In 1825, English peer Lord John Morgan is cast adrift in the American West. Captured by Sioux Indians, Morgan is at first targeted for quick extinction, but the tribesmen sense that he is worthy of survival. He eventually passes the many necessary tests that will permit him to become a member of the tribe.

Release Date : 1970-05-01

Language :FrenchEnglish

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Sandy Howard ProductionsCinema Center FilmsEstudios Churubusco Azteca S.A.

Production Country : MexicoUnited States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : John Morgan

Original Name : Richard Harris

Gender : Male

Character Name : Batise

Original Name : Jean Gascon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Buffalo Cow Head

Original Name : Judith Anderson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Running Deer

Original Name : Corinna Tsopei

Gender : Female

Character Name : Yellow Hand

Original Name : Manu Tupou

Gender : Male

Character Name : Joe

Original Name : Dub Taylor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ed

Original Name : James Gammon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bent

Original Name : William Jordan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Black Eagle

Original Name : Eddie Little Sky

Gender : Male

Character Name : Longfoot

Original Name : Michael Baseleon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Thorn Rose

Original Name : Lina Marín

Gender : Female

Character Name : Elk Woman

Original Name : Tamara Garina

Gender : Female

Character Name : Medicine Man

Original Name : Iron Eyes Cody

Gender : Male

Character Name : Medicine Man

Original Name : Tom Tyon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Striking Bear

Original Name : Terry Leonard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Leaping Buck

Original Name : Manuel Padilla Jr.

Gender : Male

Character Name : Warrior

Original Name : Lloyd One Star

Gender : Male

Character Name : Warrior

Original Name : Samuel White Horse

Gender : Male

Character Name : Warrior

Original Name : James Never Miss a Shot

Gender : Male

Character Name : Warrior

Original Name : Justin Thin Elk

Gender : Male

Character Name : Warrior

Original Name : Aloysius Eagleman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sioux Woman

Original Name : Lee Schaff Guardino

Gender : Male

Character Name : Member of the Yellow Hand Band

Original Name : Sonny Skyhawk

Gender : Male

Character Name : Warrior

Original Name : Jasper Redhat

Gender : Male

Character Name : Warrior

Original Name : Vince St. Cyr

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Edward Little

Gender : Male

Character Name : Medicine Man

Original Name : Jackson Tail

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

I'm not a bloody horse! This is the story of Lord John Morgan, an honest earthy person who is captured by the Sioux in 1825. Abused and treated as an animal he comes to adapt to his life in order to survive. Enduring torture and oppression he must earn their respect in order to be accepted as part of their tribe. The white man as part of a Sioux tribe story was given a major shot in the arm with Kevin Costner's Oscar bagger, Dances With Wolves in 1990. This picture came out some twenty years before Costner's stylish picture but the two films couldn't be further apart in terms of story telling. Here in Elliot Silverstein's picture, the scenery and scope is certainly lush, but the niceties stop there for this is a harsh, at times painful, story with realism dripping from each frame. Silverstein wanted to get as close as he could to the facts of the Sioux way of life, even bringing in a Sioux historian to oversee the production. The Sioux are painted on both sides of the canvas, on one side we are shown them to be violent, even sadistic, but Silverstein also portrays them as an intelligent race driven on by intense loyalty to their ways and culture. Richard Harris plays our main protagonist and has a clear license to act with immense verve and vigour, it's a memorable turn that lingers long after the credits roll. Hurting the film is a twee romance between Morgan and the Chiefs daughter (Judith Anderson) and Jean Gascon's fluctuating accents start to grate entering the film's last quarter. But really the plus points far outweigh the little irritants in the piece. The editing from Philip W. Anderson & Michael Kahn is like a whirling paean to hallucinations, and some scenes are from the top draw, most notably the Vow To The Sun ritual that literally is painful to watch. A Man Called Horse may well be of its time, but it's certainly a very interesting and highly intelligent film. 7/10