This is a likable piece of satire which, for the most part, doesn't take itself too seriously. A lot of the other IMDb reviewers take it awfully seriously, which I would chalk up mostly to sentiment: I'm guessing they saw it when they were young, and found it wildly likable. The story is of Jack Crabb (Dustin Hoffman) reminiscing about the Old West, from his boyhood as one of the first white settlers, to his ancient old age, when the Old West and Indian culture had disappeared.
His life alternates between white people, who are dopes and hypocrites, and Indians, who aren't much better. The exception is Chief Dan George, who is astonishing. I'm guessing it was his performance that caused the New York Times reviewer of the day to call this an "important movie." It may also be that this was one of the first major motion pictures which did not depict the Indians as either savages or noble savages; but with the exception of Chief Dan George, they are mostly goofballs, which I suppose is a step up from savages.
There's hardly a whit of reality to this frontier romp. Faye Dunaway is a delight as the nymphomaniac wife of a porcine preacher. Richard Mulligan, as General Custer, gives a weird anti-war speech which is about Vietnam, not the Little Big Horn. Jeff Corey, as Wild Bill Hickok, tells Dustin Hoffman he doesn't have "murder in his eyes," but then again, that's okay, nobody does in this movie.
But the performance of Chief Dan George! What a terrific piece of work! What timing! What realism! He has a speech on the difference between white people and Indians that is one of the most profound things I have ever heard in a movie.
Otherwise, this movie is mostly for laughs. I had the sense Tim Conway and Don Knotts were hovering just off camera, suited up and ready. Hoffman gives a sustained "gimmick" performance which is pretty likable.
His life alternates between white people, who are dopes and hypocrites, and Indians, who aren't much better. The exception is Chief Dan George, who is astonishing. I'm guessing it was his performance that caused the New York Times reviewer of the day to call this an "important movie." It may also be that this was one of the first major motion pictures which did not depict the Indians as either savages or noble savages; but with the exception of Chief Dan George, they are mostly goofballs, which I suppose is a step up from savages.
There's hardly a whit of reality to this frontier romp. Faye Dunaway is a delight as the nymphomaniac wife of a porcine preacher. Richard Mulligan, as General Custer, gives a weird anti-war speech which is about Vietnam, not the Little Big Horn. Jeff Corey, as Wild Bill Hickok, tells Dustin Hoffman he doesn't have "murder in his eyes," but then again, that's okay, nobody does in this movie.
But the performance of Chief Dan George! What a terrific piece of work! What timing! What realism! He has a speech on the difference between white people and Indians that is one of the most profound things I have ever heard in a movie.
Otherwise, this movie is mostly for laughs. I had the sense Tim Conway and Don Knotts were hovering just off camera, suited up and ready. Hoffman gives a sustained "gimmick" performance which is pretty likable.