Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson

UPC: 027616861047

Studio: MGM

MPAA Rating: PG   Contains:[Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language]

Summary: "Truth is whatever gets the loudest applause." Debunking western myths even more than he did in McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971), Robert Altman's Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976) sardonically explores the gap between western history and legend in show biz-obsessed America. Megalomaniac "Buffalo Bill" Cody (Paul Newman) assumes the legend created for him by writer Ned Buntline (Burt Lancaster), aided and abetted by his producer (Joel Grey) and his publicist (Kevin McCarthy), perpetuating myths of white triumph over savage "Injuns" in his Wild West show, as audiences cheer him on and buy his merchandise. But when Sitting Bull (Frank Kaquitts) joins the troupe with his interpreter (Will Sampson), his request for authenticity threatens to throw a wrench into the proceedings. Regardless of how Bill may feel about the facts, he must bow to the preferences of the paying public. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

Category: Western

Awards: Golden Bear – Berlin International Film Festival

Features: "From the Prairie to the Palace" original featurette
Original theatrical trailer
Teaser trailer
English: mono
French & Spanish subtitles

Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson

Format: DVD

Release Date: 05/08/2001

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Cinemascope

Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, 1 USA & territories, Canada

Runtime: 123 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Subtitles: Spanish,French

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1 --
0. Scene Selections
1. Title/Show Business [11:36]
2. The Star! [5:02]
3. Sitting Bull Is Tired [9:14]
4. The Chief's Demands [8:01]
5. Womanizing Hot Shot [6:11]
6. A Few Rewrites [9:59]
7. Wild West Premiere [5:12]
8. Annie Shots Her Gun [:30]
9. The Indians Escape [7:08]
10. Empty-Handed Bill [7:58]
11. Generous & Flexible [:44]
12. Cleveland's Close Call [6:22]
13. The Summit [5:44]
14. Facing The Legend [8:23]
15. A Bluff in Red & White [9:57]
16. Another Show/Credits [4:56]

Lucia Bozzola

Exploring thematic terrain similar to Nashville (1975), Robert Altman and co-writer Alan Rudolph turn Arthur Kopit's play Indians into a blunt indictment of contemporary pop culture and the fallacies of western pop history. The star may perpetuate lies to sell tickets, but the audience buys those tickets and worships the star's "heroic" image, guaranteeing that the lies, and their legacy of Native American abuse, will endure. Altman denies a similar star- worshipping satisfaction to his movie audience, obscuring his own star with facial hair and few close shots (as he did with Warren Beatty in McCabe and Mrs. Miller), even as Paul Newman's presence also lends Buffalo Bill "star quality." Audiences and critics did not look kindly on Altman's schematic critique, ensuring that Buffalo Bill and the Indians' ironic view of American history-making was little seen in its Bicentennial year release. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Alex Green  Actor 
Bonnie Leaders  Actor 
Michael J. Kaplan  Actor 
Robert Altman  Director 
Robert Altman  Producer 
Robert Altman  Screenwriter 
Richard Baskin  Composer (Music Score) 
Alan Rudolph  Screenwriter 
David Susskind  Executive Producer 
Paul Newman  Actor 
Joel Grey  Actor 
Kevin McCarthy  Actor 
Harvey Keitel  Actor 
Allan Nicholls  Actor 
Geraldine Chaplin  Actor 
John Considine  Actor 
Will Sampson  Actor 
Burt Lancaster  Actor 
Robert DoQui  Actor 
Mike E. Kaplan  Actor 
Bert Remsen  Actor 
Denver Pyle  Actor 
Noelle Rogers  Actor 
Evelyn Lear  Actor 
Pat McCormick  Actor 
Shelley Duvall  Actor 

Country: USA