This movie shows somewhat of an Indian resistance movement before the American Indian Movement of 1973. I never read the book "Nobody Loves a Drunken Indian", but it sounds like a good book. It was probably better than this movie. This movie might have been better with more Indian actors in it, but, then, would it have had enough star power to attract viewers? Now for the movie: I remember a 1940s Chevrolet truck in it. There was a horse that was hard to ride with a saddle on it. An Indian destroys a white man's bulldozer, but later some Indians get together with the owner for a bender. It seems the Indians had an old deed or treaty that gave them title to the land under a city. Seems like maybe the city was Phoenix. Some Indians go to the city to serve notice. Will they get very far?
10 Reviews
stop drinking
SnoopyStyle7 December 2020
Flapping Eagle (Anthony Quinn) is an Indian living on a poor reservation. He and his friends struggle to make a living while dealing with racist cops like Sgt. Rafferty whenever they leave their reservation. They get drunk and grow apathetic. His buddy Eleven Snowflake actually publishes an obituary in the newspaper. Flap has an idea to lead a revolt with Eleven writing the story.
There is one moment when the movie surprised me with an opportunity for a great turn. When the construction supervisor takes the turn, this could become something. There is an over-arching issue with this story. These guys are drunks and they're not funny drunks. It's pathetic and rather annoying. He needs to get clean as the inciting incidence for his activism. Once he's clean, he gets a new vision of his purpose in life. That's a better character progression. As it stands, he's all over the place. The movie wants to be a comedy but frustration with him also frustrates the humor. It's a bumpy road but it does eventually get to the right place.
There is one moment when the movie surprised me with an opportunity for a great turn. When the construction supervisor takes the turn, this could become something. There is an over-arching issue with this story. These guys are drunks and they're not funny drunks. It's pathetic and rather annoying. He needs to get clean as the inciting incidence for his activism. Once he's clean, he gets a new vision of his purpose in life. That's a better character progression. As it stands, he's all over the place. The movie wants to be a comedy but frustration with him also frustrates the humor. It's a bumpy road but it does eventually get to the right place.
A Highly Recommended Character Study
cannibalchuck6 August 2004
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
Poorly done story of modern Native Americans
bux24 October 1998
Have you ever read a book, then seen the movie, and wonder-How did they screw it up so bad? This is one of those. The book by Huffaker, "Nobody Likes a Drunken Indian" was great, riotously funny...this movie is not. It seems as though nobody cared enough to move the direction along so we CARED about the characters. This movie, which touches on some real concerns about Indians, makes you wonder why we haven't seen more comedies about the holocaust, or slavery. Not well done.
Hearts but not heads in the right place
jameselliot-113 May 2019
The sentiment is appreciated but not the execution. The ongoing plight of the Native American is the worthy subject but having the key roles played by whites was the usual Hollywood BS and comes across as exploitative and stereotyped. Quinn was a great actor but his drunken bear of a man routine wears out fast, as it did in A Dream of Kings.
It was a great movie!
gumby1-110 December 2005
I remember seeing this movie as a boy at the Intermountain Indian School in Brigham City, Utah. I thought it was a very good movie. It kept me laughing (like the book) for years. I still think of this movie and laugh on occasion. At the risk of sounding like I don't care (but being part Osage) I would like to say that the Native American uprising on the 70's (and in part fueled by getting the native plight out to the general population which this movie did) worked! The Native American Nations (at least the ones with any motivation) are prospering. The Osage have Oil on the res. Most reservations now have gaming on them that draw money to the res. Anyone that talks of the plight and whines of the times as they are now should try to become a quiet old man. I await the re-make of this fine film!
i still think about this one
wexray17 July 2008
i saw this at a drive in 1971.i'll always think of it every time authority figures disrespect people who want to try to do what's right or fair(that's near-constantly in today's world).flap just wanted what everyone wants,he was kinda sneaky,but mostly he was trying to help his friends(and having fun at the expense of the authorities)i laughed and still do,even though i can't remember a lot of it now.Anthony Quinn did a great job of acting,creating a character that i can relate to and identify with.it is not only politically significant,but very entertaining.this should be re-released in an updated format for more than one reason.please bring it to DVD.
nostalgic notes
fairytale177612 January 2003
Tears and laughs, this is what I remember about seeing this
movie in the late 70's. The Last Warrior was the title I knew it under, turns out, this was
the title they used in Europe for it, and it's a much better title than
Flap. I read the book, in it's German translation. I still like it. Wish I could see it again, my memory is a little fuzzy on it, but in my
mind, it was a great movie, tearing at my emotional strings. At that time, I would have considered it racially progressive, as it
employed Native American actors and spotlighted the plight of life
on reservations. I don't know how I would judge it today, but 20+ years ago, I gave it an A++ rating.
movie in the late 70's. The Last Warrior was the title I knew it under, turns out, this was
the title they used in Europe for it, and it's a much better title than
Flap. I read the book, in it's German translation. I still like it. Wish I could see it again, my memory is a little fuzzy on it, but in my
mind, it was a great movie, tearing at my emotional strings. At that time, I would have considered it racially progressive, as it
employed Native American actors and spotlighted the plight of life
on reservations. I don't know how I would judge it today, but 20+ years ago, I gave it an A++ rating.
a look at the native american story
ksf-24 June 2019
Anthony Quinn is first american Flapping Eagle, and of course, Shelley Winters as Dorothy. (she seemed to be miscast SO many times, in my tiny little opinion.) Story of life on the reservation. Quinn had been in films since the 1930s, so he was a seasoned pro by now, but he is so grandiose and over the top, that it gets kind of silly. Workers are blowing up all the land around the native americans to build a new highway, including their burial grounds. ( whether or not it really IS a burial ground, is up for debate.) this is a strange, serious yet comical take on the plight of the american indian groups, defending their land, as usual, against invasion by the white man. the audience is in on both the seriousness and the humorous approach, much like watching All in the Family. Directed by British Carol Reed. had a mix of hits and bombs; directed The Third Man. and won the Oscar for Oliver! Flap was filmed out in the desert of new mexico. Written by Clair Huffaker, who wrote THREE films for John Wayne!
The Last Warrior
kapelusznik183 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
****SPOILERS**** Anthony Quinn in one of his best later movies, after winning the Acdemy Award in "Lust for Life" in 1956, is the hard drinking as well as womanizing native American full-blooded Indian Flapping Eagle who ends up flapping himself into history. It was Flapping Eagle who becomes a activist for his fellow Indians when a construction company planned to build a highway straight through an ancient Indian burial ground on his reservation. Quickly dropping his out of control lifestyle of whoring and boozing Flapping Eagle or "Flap" as he's called by his friends does everything to prevent the highway from being built even sabotaging the equipment thats used to build it.
Facing jail time for his unlawful actions "Flap" soon uses the "White Mans" own laws to win his case in court with the help of self thought, in the law, Indian Wounded Bear aka Smith, Victor Jory,who finds a clause or loophole in the law stating that the land which the reservation is on is Indian territory not that of the construction company. Using heavy and underhanded tactics the company uses the law in the person of halfbreed Indian Sgt Refferty, Victor Franch, to do its dirty work for it.
***SPOILERS*** It's when "Flap" had a train loaded with cattle and earth moving equipment derailed and end up on Indian territory thus, according to a 19th century treaty , making it Indian property Sgt. Rafferty in an act of cold hearted revenge shot one of the Indians and good friend of "Flap" Indian wise-man She'll-Be-Back-Pretty-Soon, Pedro Regas, dogs who, in always attacking and biting him, he had in for him that "Flap" lost it. Getting Sgt. Rafferty alone in an Indian China & Novelity Shop and slugging it out with him despite getting worked over himself "Flap" put Sgt.Rafferty in the hospital on traction thus having him become a fugitive from the law.
Just when "Flap" was about to achieve what he set out to do in giving his fellow Indians respect as well as their land back by the courts he's gunned down by of all people Sgt. Rafferty who despite his injuries and being strapped into a hospital bed was able to hit him right in the heart from the safety of his hospital room window! A shooting feat that would even rival if not suppress the "Magic Bullet" theory BS explanation by the the now totally discredited, by as much as 90% of the American people, Warren Commission. Still despite not living to see it "Flap" did what he set out to do and it was his second in command the hotheaded young Indian warrior 11 Snowflake, Tony Bill, who was to pick up to ball or tomahawk after him!
Facing jail time for his unlawful actions "Flap" soon uses the "White Mans" own laws to win his case in court with the help of self thought, in the law, Indian Wounded Bear aka Smith, Victor Jory,who finds a clause or loophole in the law stating that the land which the reservation is on is Indian territory not that of the construction company. Using heavy and underhanded tactics the company uses the law in the person of halfbreed Indian Sgt Refferty, Victor Franch, to do its dirty work for it.
***SPOILERS*** It's when "Flap" had a train loaded with cattle and earth moving equipment derailed and end up on Indian territory thus, according to a 19th century treaty , making it Indian property Sgt. Rafferty in an act of cold hearted revenge shot one of the Indians and good friend of "Flap" Indian wise-man She'll-Be-Back-Pretty-Soon, Pedro Regas, dogs who, in always attacking and biting him, he had in for him that "Flap" lost it. Getting Sgt. Rafferty alone in an Indian China & Novelity Shop and slugging it out with him despite getting worked over himself "Flap" put Sgt.Rafferty in the hospital on traction thus having him become a fugitive from the law.
Just when "Flap" was about to achieve what he set out to do in giving his fellow Indians respect as well as their land back by the courts he's gunned down by of all people Sgt. Rafferty who despite his injuries and being strapped into a hospital bed was able to hit him right in the heart from the safety of his hospital room window! A shooting feat that would even rival if not suppress the "Magic Bullet" theory BS explanation by the the now totally discredited, by as much as 90% of the American people, Warren Commission. Still despite not living to see it "Flap" did what he set out to do and it was his second in command the hotheaded young Indian warrior 11 Snowflake, Tony Bill, who was to pick up to ball or tomahawk after him!
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