Buffalo Bill (1944)

The story of William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, legendary westerner, from his days as an army scout to his later activities as owner of a Wild West show.

Director:

William A. Wellman

Writers:

Æneas MacKenzie (screenplay), Clements Ripley (screenplay),

Stars:

Joel McCrea, Maureen O'Hara, Linda Darnell

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joel McCrea	...	William Frederick 'Buffalo Bill' Cody
Maureen O'Hara	...	Louisa Frederici Cody
Linda Darnell	...	Dawn Starlight
Thomas Mitchell	...	Ned Buntline
Edgar Buchanan	...	Sgt. Chips McGraw
Anthony Quinn	...	Chief Yellow Hand
Moroni Olsen	...	Sen. Frederici
Frank Fenton	...	Murdo Carvell
Matt Briggs	...	Gen. Blazier
George Lessey	...	Mr. Schyler Vandervere
Frank Orth	...	Sherman - Shooting Gallery Owner

Storyline

A fictionalized account of the life of William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody. A hunter and Army Scout in the early part of his life, he rescues a US Senator and his beautiful daughter, Louisa Frederici. Cody is portrayed as someone who admires and respects the Indians and is a good friend of Yellow Hand who will eventually become Chief of the Cheyenne. Everyone else, including the military, politicians and businessmen on the other hand hate the Indians and are perfectly prepared to trample on their lands and destroy their buffalo hunting grounds. He's eventually forced to fight the Cheyenne however. He's also met a writer, Ned Buntline, who writes about Cody's exploits and he becomes a sensation when he travels East. His career is not assured however, particularly when he attacks those in positions of authority over their maltreatment of the Native American population. He eventually establishes his wild west show that becomes an international sensation.

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Plot Keywords:

scout | wild west | senator | native american | hunting | 

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Genres:

Biography | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

April 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

Aventuras de Buffalo Bill

Filming Locations:

House Rock Canyon, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Early production charts had Vincent Price in the role of "Murdo Carvell," but he was replaced by Frank Fenton when the role was severely cut. Many of the uncredited cast had more lines and screen time than Fenton, who was credited on screen.

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Goofs

When Bill receives the letter regarding his son's illness the letter is dated the 20th of Aug. and after that date he receives an invitation for an event dated Aug. 15.

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Quotes

Sen. Frederici: Well, that's it! That's my letter you telling you I was coming. I mailed it a week before I left.
Sgt. Chips: That's nothing. Private Mulligan didn't get the letter with his reprieve until days after they hung him. Come to think of it, he never did get it.

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Connections

Featured in Biography: Linda Darnell: Hollywood's Fallen Angel (1999)

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Soundtracks

"America, My Country Tis of Thee"
(1832) (uncredited)
Music by Lowell Mason, based on the
Music by Henry Carey in "God Save the King" (1744)
Lyrics by Samuel Francis Smith (1832)
In the score when the U.S. Capitol Building is shown
Played also for a British royalty scene

User Reviews

Factual Errors

I enjoyed watching the film "Buffalo Bill." Unfortunately close blood relations of Buffalo Bill were still living at that time, and they should have made an effort not to make errors.

Louisa Frederici met Cody in Saint Louis, and served out the end of the war there planning on making her his bride. They were married in her father's home (John Frederici) on South 8th Street in Saint Louis. They left right away for a steamboat to Kansas. Her father did not go along, and was NOT a Senator.

It is a fine film, and entertaining. When Bill Cody returned to the West in 1866 he was married! There was no Linda Darnell's character. Just once I would like for Hollywood to do an exact biography without changing the facts!

I am a Frederici descendant. Terry Alan Klasek Saint Louis, Missouri