Sunday, August 26, 2018

Buffalo Bill and the Indians (1976) - Robert Altman

Plot:  Buffalo Bill tries to get Sitting Bull to join his Wild West Show
Stars:  Paul Newman, Burt Lancaster, Geraldine Chaplin
Best Quote: Altman makes the point that Buffalo Bill was a flamboyant fraud, then belabors it for two hours. Not without interest, but still one of the director's duller movies - Leonard Maltin.

Even Altman fans don't much like Buffalo Bill and I wouldn't disagree.  Problem one is Paul Newman as "Bill Cody".  As written, the character should be larger-than-life, full of bluster and Old Western charm. Which Paul Newman isn't. He's  handsome as hell in his dyed goatee , but he's not a cowboy and Newman was never "larger than life".  He was "Fast Eddie" or the cool prison inmate or PI.  Nor was he good at comedy. The part should've gone to Burt Lancaster, who effortlessly dominates  his few scenes.

Other problems?  Its a long shaggy dog story with no character development, has bad sound, and some cheap looking sets.  There a few good scenes, and a few good characters (Sitting Bull and William Halsey) - but the movie could be 30 minutes shorter, without losing a thing.

Politics? Of course, its a revisionist Western - Altman wouldn't make any other kind.  We get the same tired point over and over: the Indians are good/noble - the whites are cheats/frauds.

Summary:  Its more interesting to read about then see. Very minor Altman. Lancaster fans shouldn't bother - he's only onscreen for 15 minutes.

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