Flap (1970)

Comedy based on the plight of modern Native Americans living on reservations.

Director:

Carol Reed

Writers:

Clair Huffaker (novel), Clair Huffaker (screenplay)

Stars:

Anthony Quinn, Claude Akins, Tony Bill

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anthony Quinn	...	Flapping Eagle
Claude Akins	...	Lobo Jackson
Tony Bill	...	Eleven Snowflake
Shelley Winters	...	Dorothy Bluebell
Victor Jory	...	Wounded Bear Mr. Smith (Attorney at Law)
Don Collier	...	Mike Lyons (Construction Boss)
Victor French	...	Sgt. Rafferty (Sheriff's Dept.)
Rodolfo Acosta	...	Mr. Storekeeper / Ann's Father
Susana Miranda	...	Ann Looking Deer
Anthony Caruso	...	Silver Dollar (Tribal Chief)
William Mims	...	Steve Gray (District Attorney's Office)
Rudy Diaz	...	Larry Standing Elk (Tribal Policeman)
Pedro Regas	...	She'll-Be-Back-Pretty-Soon
John War Eagle	...	Luke Wolf
J. Edward McKinley	...	Harris (Mayor's Advisor)

Storyline

A hard-drinking, reckless-living Indian named Flapping Eagle decides that his people have been pushed around by the white man long enough. Mounting his horse H-Bomb, Flap proceeds to hijack a railroad, lasso a helicopter, and begin the Last Great Indian Uprising. His assaults on the Establishment provide an earnest indictment of Indian neglect by the U.S. government.

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Plot Keywords:

treaty | uprising | rodeo | bordello | fugitive | 

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Taglines:

A warning to the Mayor: FLAP is here! The Indians have already claimed Alcatraz. City Hall may be next. You have been warned.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

November 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nobody Loves Flapping Eagle

Filming Locations:

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cine Vesta Associates, Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Richard Harris was originally cast as Flap but was replaced shortly after filming began by Anthony Quinn because of "creative differences".

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Soundtracks

"If Nobody Loves"
Music by Marvin Hamlish
Lyrics by Estelle Levitt
Sung by Kenny Rogers & The First Edition

User Reviews

A Highly Recommended Character Study

It's been a few years since I've seen "Flap," and admittedly the memory is perhaps a little fuzzy in places. Though I've never read Huffaker's "Nobody Likes a Drunken Indian," the movie still stands out as a character study which needed to be told. Showing both sides of life on a remote, post-war reservation, its characters displayed bits and pieces of people I've known on and around a nearby reservation in this region. Also, the destruction of the bulldozer, subsequent bender with its owner, and the theft of a railroad car provided much needed moments of comedy to the ever present backdrop of the plight of the natives. Though few are likely to have heard of this movie, and though I've heard it is currently out of print, I feel it is long overdue for a remake and yes- some improvements. Still, it's one of those films that is well worth a look. -Chuck