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

When Sgt. Chips is delivering mail at the beginning of the film, one of the mailboxes he delivers to is labeled "2nd Lt. A. MacKenzie". Æneas MacKenzie was one of the film's writers.

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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

Louisa Frederici Cody: Who are you?
[the woman turns around]
Louisa Frederici Cody: An Indian! What do you mean by breaking into my room and stealing my clothes?
Dawn Starlight: I-I didn't come here to steal
Louisa Frederici Cody: Maybe you Indians have different word for it, but that my dress you have on
Dawn Starlight: I tell you I didn't come here to steal

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Connections

Featured in 100 Years of the Hollywood Western (1994)

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Soundtracks

"Auld Lang Syne"
(1788) (uncredited)
Traditional Scottish 17th century music
Lyrics by Robert Burns
In the score for Bill's farewell speech at the end

User Reviews

Buffalo Bill (1944)

While as Biography, "Buffalo Bill" is probably as accurate as the depiction of Custer in "They Died With Their boots On", it is still excellent film making and a fine vehicle for stalwart Joel McCrea, who, despite performances in excellent non-westerns such as "Sullivan's Travels" and "Foreign Correspondent" was known primarily as a Cowboy Star.

I would also hold this film up as another example, along with John Ford's Cavalry Trilogy, of a film which depicted Native Americans as a noble race, victimized by the march of western civilization, long before the advent of films such as "Little Big Man" or "Dances With Wolves" The White Man is clearly the villain in this and the Ford films. Early on, Cody admonishes a Government representative, telling him that Yellow hand (Anthony Quinn, who also plays Crazy Horse in "They Died With Their boots On") is a Prince of his people, and should be treated as such.

Plus, if the reunion at the shooting gallery and the Wild West Show farewell scenes don't put a lump in your throat, better check your pulse.