Little Big Man (1970)

Jack Crabb, looking back from extreme old age, tells of his life being raised by Indians and fighting with General Custer.

Director:

Arthur Penn

Writers:

Thomas Berger (novel), Calder Willingham (screenplay)

Stars:

Dustin Hoffman, Faye Dunaway, Chief Dan George

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dustin Hoffman	...	Jack Crabb
Faye Dunaway	...	Mrs. Pendrake
Chief Dan George	...	Old Lodge Skins
Martin Balsam	...	Mr. Merriweather
Richard Mulligan	...	Gen. George Armstrong Custer
Jeff Corey	...	Wild Bill Hickok
Aimee Eccles	...	Sunshine (as Amy Eccles)
Kelly Jean Peters	...	Olga Crabb
Carole Androsky	...	Caroline Crabb (as Carol Androsky)
Robert Little Star	...	Little Horse
Cal Bellini	...	Younger Bear
Ruben Moreno	...	Shadow That Comes in Sight
Steve Shemayne	...	Burns Red in the Sun
William Hickey	...	Historian
James Anderson	...	Sergeant

Storyline

Jack Crabb is 121 years old as the film begins. A collector of oral histories asks him about his past. He recounts being captured and raised by indians, becoming a gunslinger, marrying an indian, watching her killed by General George Armstrong Custer, and becoming a scout for him at Little Big Horn.

---

Plot Keywords:

voice over narration | told in flashback | based on novel | raised by indians | george armstrong custer | 

---

Taglines:

Either The Most Neglected Hero In History Or A Liar Of Insane Proportion!

---

Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Western

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences and some sexual content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 December 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pequeño gran hombre

Filming Locations:

Alberta, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinema Center Films, Stockbridge-Hiller Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

139 min 147 min (copyright length)

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (Spanish release) Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The main tune played when the the 7th Cavalry were attacking on the Washita River and during the Battle of Little Big Horn is an Irish jig titled "Garry Owen". This song was the official song of the Seventh Cavalry of the U.S. Army - Lt. Col. Custer's cavalry. However, the music is actually a medley which consists of The Garry Owen and St. Patrick's Day.

---

Goofs

When Shadow That Comes In Sight rescues young Jack and Caroline after their parents were killed, you can see Caroline put her foot up to a stirrup as she mounts the horse behind Shadow. When she dismounts it appears that Shadow, like most other Cheyennes, rides bareback.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Jack Crabb: I am, beyond a doubt, the last of the old-timers. My name is Jack Crabb. And I am the sole white survivor of the Battle of Little Big Horn, uh, uh, popularly known as Custer's Last Stand.

---

Connections

Referenced in Marathon Man (1976)

---

Soundtracks

Amazing Grace
(uncredited)
Traditional
Arranged by Henry Thacker Burleigh
Sung by parishioners in church

User Reviews

Sprawling comedy-western with memorable moments.

One of the greatest American films of the 70's, a long but enjoyable western epic told with verve and insight. Dustin Hoffman excels in one of his early film roles, throwing himself into its physical demands with obvious enthusiasm and in the process creating one of his most endearing characters.

But he had to be on his toes in the face of much scene-stealing by a host of experts, including Richard Mulligan as the screwiest Custer you'll ever see, Martin Balsam as the eternally optimistic Mr. Merriweather, and Chief Dan George as Old Lodgeskins, a noble, wise and very funny Native American patriarch. This, along with "Bonnie and Clyde," represented the pinnacle of Arthur Penn's directing career: he handles the tonal shifts from comedy to tragedy with unerring control. Beautifully photographed and scored, with a wry, picaresque script by Calder Willingham from Thomas Berger's novel. Memorable images abound, from the rousing stagecoach chase, to an erotic bath delivered by the beauteous Faye Dunaway, to the horrific attack on a snowbound Indian village by the U.S. Cavalry, accompanied by a sprightly fife-and-drums march, to George's dignified ritual of death under threatening skies that doesn't quite turn out the way he planned. A funny, poignant tale, skillfully told, and a reminder of the fragility and randomness of life and love.