Reading previous reviews of The Plainsman, some are not impressed with its lack of historical accurately. As one member stated in reference to the narrative, "now that's eleven years that if you took this film literally compressed to about three months. I found that a wee bit too much to swallow". They seemed to have missed the point, The Plainsman was never made with the intention of being historically accurate, it was made as a piece of wild western fantasy as Cecil B. DeMille said "I make pictures for people, not critics". It is obvious from the opening credits which state, "the story that follows compresses many years, many lifes and widely separated events into one narrative". So the spectator watching The Plainsman should know it is not be a realistic portrayal of the individuals involved, just a grand spectacle of Western adventure which is one of enjoyment.
At the core of the narrative is Wild Bill Hickok, played with rugged masculinity by Gary Cooper, who when thrown into a war against hostile Indians comes up against John Lattimer, the antagonist who has been selling unused rifles to Indians on behalf of military industrialist. Finding out about his actions, Hickok as the typical Western hero brands his sense of justice by taking on Lattimer. Confronting him for his actions Cooper gives to the character of Hickok a strong sense of certainness regarding his position, using his presence to intimidate the immoral Lattimer. Being the hero of The Plainsman, Hickok has a great essence of masculinity which he enforces to rightfully seek justice. The subject of masculinity is a recurring motif in many Westerns and The Plainsman is no exception.
The masculinity element comes into play in the subplot of Hickok's friend Buffalo Bill attempting to settle down with his new wife, who is unfamiliar to the ways of the Wild West. Hickok from time to time teases Bill about his desire of modern living and when Bill is called upon to serve his country against war raged Indians he hesitantly does his duty to prove his masculinity. Yet even though masculinity is at the core of Hickok's personality he is also human in the ways of love. As in their previous venture in Frank Capra's Mr Deeds Goes to Town, Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur (as Calamity Jane) share a wealth of mesmerising chemistry that is a great dynamic to The Plainsman and each scene they share is of excellent standard in terms of drama, comedy and romance particularly their reunion scene with Calamity Jane kissing Hickok with such passion and with equal enthusiasm stating "you're not wiping it off, you're rubbing it in!".
In battle sequences The Plainsman does not disappoint with the scenes delivered to the audience with fast pace and the music accompanying the scenes to such a degree that you become completely engaged with Hickok, Bill and others ferociously firing upon the enemy to save the day. If there is a downside to The Plainsman it is that of the typical portrayal of the Indians as simple idiots who may offer some comic value but is a worn out cliché, even by 1936.
Despite this small negative criticism I still believe The Plainsman is an enjoyable piece of cinema which entertains us with its fast paced action and intimate character relationships in equal measure.
At the core of the narrative is Wild Bill Hickok, played with rugged masculinity by Gary Cooper, who when thrown into a war against hostile Indians comes up against John Lattimer, the antagonist who has been selling unused rifles to Indians on behalf of military industrialist. Finding out about his actions, Hickok as the typical Western hero brands his sense of justice by taking on Lattimer. Confronting him for his actions Cooper gives to the character of Hickok a strong sense of certainness regarding his position, using his presence to intimidate the immoral Lattimer. Being the hero of The Plainsman, Hickok has a great essence of masculinity which he enforces to rightfully seek justice. The subject of masculinity is a recurring motif in many Westerns and The Plainsman is no exception.
The masculinity element comes into play in the subplot of Hickok's friend Buffalo Bill attempting to settle down with his new wife, who is unfamiliar to the ways of the Wild West. Hickok from time to time teases Bill about his desire of modern living and when Bill is called upon to serve his country against war raged Indians he hesitantly does his duty to prove his masculinity. Yet even though masculinity is at the core of Hickok's personality he is also human in the ways of love. As in their previous venture in Frank Capra's Mr Deeds Goes to Town, Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur (as Calamity Jane) share a wealth of mesmerising chemistry that is a great dynamic to The Plainsman and each scene they share is of excellent standard in terms of drama, comedy and romance particularly their reunion scene with Calamity Jane kissing Hickok with such passion and with equal enthusiasm stating "you're not wiping it off, you're rubbing it in!".
In battle sequences The Plainsman does not disappoint with the scenes delivered to the audience with fast pace and the music accompanying the scenes to such a degree that you become completely engaged with Hickok, Bill and others ferociously firing upon the enemy to save the day. If there is a downside to The Plainsman it is that of the typical portrayal of the Indians as simple idiots who may offer some comic value but is a worn out cliché, even by 1936.
Despite this small negative criticism I still believe The Plainsman is an enjoyable piece of cinema which entertains us with its fast paced action and intimate character relationships in equal measure.