Geronimo: An American Legend

UPC: 043396587090

Studio: Columbia TriStar

MPAA Rating: PG13   Contains:[Graphic Violence, Questionable for Children, Profanity, Western Violence]

Summary: Walter Hill directs John Milius's script (co-written by Larry Gross) depicting a revisionist perspective on the "Geronimo Campaign" and how Geronimo, with 34 men, managed to elude 5000 U.S. cavalry men between 1885 and 1886 before his surrender at the Canyon of the Skeletons in September 1886. The film centers upon Charles Gatewood (Jason Patric), the U.S. Cavalry lieutenant who is charged with capturing the elusive Apache leader. Gatewood is torn by a grudging respect for Geronimo and his people and his duty to his country. But then all the white men in the film have a respect for Geronimo, even as they are trying to hunt him down and kill him. General Charles Crook (Gene Hackman), charged with overseeing the forced settlement of the Apaches on reservations, has nothing but admiration for Geronimo. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Category: Western

Awards: Best Sound – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Sound – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Sound – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Sound – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Features: Theatrical Trailers
Interactive Menus
Scene Selections

Geronimo: An American Legend

Format: DVD

Release Date: 11/17/1998

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Pre-1954 Standard

Runtime: 115 Minutes

Language(s) English,French

Subtitles: English,French

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Karl Williams

One of two tragically underrated Westerns produced in the mid-'90s (the other being 1994's Wyatt Earp), this grand, sweeping adventure boasts taut direction from Walter Hill and several great performances from its male leads. While a na?ve soldier well played by a then-unknown Matt Damon is ostensibly the main character here, the real heart and soul of the film is Charles Gatewood, a soldier sympathetic with his enemy nearly to the point of sedition and played with mute, feral feverishness by Jason Patric. Superlative performances are also delivered by Gene Hackman as a morally conflicted general, Robert Duvall as an uneducated scout, and particularly Wes Studi as the title character, repeating his intense, furious supporting work in the previous year's The Last of the Mohicans (1992). The sad outcome of the Native Americans' war against the U.S. Army is well known, but the film's script by John Milius focuses on key events and battle strategy -- predictably, given the screenwriter's martial interests -- making the film more textbook history lesson than emotional journey. For those seeking another Dances with Wolves (1990), the end result is sure to be disappointing, but for those seeking a more dispassionate, realistic handling of Western lore, the film is ultimately a satisfying one. The lack of audience interest in Geronimo: An American Legend may be at least partially explained by the competing made-for-TV movie Geronimo (1993), which was released the same year, necessitating a last-minute title change for this version. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Cast and Crew: M.C. Gainey  Actor 
Pato Hoffmann  Actor 
Mark Boone, Jr.  Actor 
Walter Robles  Actor 
Scott Wilson  Actor 
Luis Contreras  Actor 
Anthony Schmidt  Actor 
Richard Martin  Actor 
Lee de Broux  Actor 
Hoke Howell  Actor 
Roger Callard  Actor 
David Barry Gray  Actor 
Michael Ruud  Actor 
Michael Adams  Actor 
Jesus Franco  Actor 
Jim Beaver  Actor 
Greg Goossen  Actor 
Jonathan Ward  Actor 
George Lee  Actor 
Sonny Skyhawk  Actor 
Robert Erickson  Actor 
Michael Stein  Actor 
John Finn  Actor 
Rino Thunder  Actor 
Reuben Cannon  Actor 
Neil Canton  Producer 
Ry Cooder  Composer (Music Score) 
Michael S. Glick  Executive Producer 
Larry Gross  Screenwriter 
Walter Hill  Director 
Walter Hill  Producer 
John Milius  Screenwriter 
Jason Patric  Actor 
Gene Hackman  Actor 
Robert Duvall  Actor 
Wes Studi  Actor 
Matt Damon  Actor 
Rodney A. Grant  Actor 
Kevin Tighe  Actor 
Steve Reevis  Actor 
Carlos Palomino  Actor 
Victor Aaron  Actor 
Stuart Proud Eagle Grant  Actor 
Stephen McHattie  Actor 

Country: USA