The Savage Innocents (1960)

An Eskimo who has had little contact with white men goes to a trading post where he accidentally kills a missionary and finds himself being pursued by the police.

Director:

Nicholas Ray

Writers:

Hans Ruesch (adaptation), Franco Solinas (adaptation),

Stars:

Anthony Quinn, Yoko Tani, Carlo Giustini

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anthony Quinn	...	Inuk
Yoko Tani	...	Asiak
Carlo Giustini	...	Second Trooper
Peter O'Toole	...	First Trooper
Marie Yang	...	Powtee
Marco Guglielmi	...	Missionary
Kaida Horiuchi	...	Imina
Lee Montague	...	Ittimargnek
Andy Ho	...	Anarvik
Yvonne Shima	...	Lulik
Anthony Chinn	...	Kiddok
Francis De Wolff	...	Trading Post Proprietor
Michael Chow	...	Undik
Ed Devereaux	...	Pilot
Nicholas Stuart	...	Commentarist

Storyline

An Eskimo who has had little contact with white men goes to a trading post where he accidentally kills a missionary and finds himself being pursued by the police.

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Plot Keywords:

ice | investigator | inuit | accident | accidental death | 

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Taglines:

A moving story of the clash between the primitive Polar world and modern civilisation. [Video]

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Genres:

Adventure | Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

France Italy UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 February 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

Top of the World

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gray Films, Joseph Janni/Appia Films, Magic Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Peter O'Toole demanded that his name be removed from the film's opening and closing credits because his voice was dubbed by another actor.

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Quotes

Asiak: [Showing Inuk their newborn baby] It came to pass that a woman brought forth a child.
Inuk: [Not comprehending at first] How so?
[Holds up baby]
Inuk: Someone has seen bear cubs that were better looking
Asiak: He will improve as he grows, but he has everything he needs.Even a name. His name is Papik.
Inuk: How do you know his name is Papik?
Asiak: Because this useless woman likes that name.
Inuk: [laughs and plays with infant and touches its mouth, then suddenly freezes mid-air] Asiak, he has no teeth, You must have broken some taboo!
Asiak: ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Permanent Vacation (1980)

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Soundtracks

"Sexy Rock"
Written by Angelo Francesco Lavagnino and Mario Panzeri
Performed by Colin Hicks

User Reviews

An excellent movie

In the late sixties, bob dylan was asked how he came to write the song "Quinn the Eskimo". He replied that he'd seen this movie in which Tony Quinn played an Eskimo. The Savage Innocents is that movie. (In a much later book about his lyrics, Dylan says he doesn't remember how the song came about- like many of us, ol' bob's memory ain't what it used to be.)

This is the most accurate portrayal of Eskimo customs ever to come out of Hollywierd. It contrasts the cultural practices of Inuit and North American societies at a time when many Inuit people had not yet encountered the white man and his ways. The movie asks the question "who is savage and who is innocent?" The movie is full of memorable performances and "sound bites". You'll come away with a new appreciation for traditional Eskimo culture and more than a few new quotable quotes.

When Quinn the Eskimo gets here, everybody's gonna jump for joy!