The Return of a Man Called Horse (1976)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Irvin Kershner

Writers:

Jack DeWitt (written by)
Dorothy M. Johnson (characters)

Release Date:

4 August 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Western | Drama

Plot:

The English gentleman known as Horse, returns to the American west to save his adopted Indian tribe from extinction.

Plot Keywords:

Second Part | Ceremony | Rites Of Passage | Ritual | Sequel

Cast

Richard Harris	...	John Morgan
Gale Sondergaard	...	Elk Woman
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Zenas
William Lucking	...	Tom Gryce (as Bill Lucking)
Jorge Luke	...	Running Bull
Jorge Russek	...	Blacksmith
Claudio Brook	...	Chemin De Fer (as Claudio Brooke)
Enrique Lucero	...	Raven
Regino Herrera	...	Lame Wolf
Pedro Damián	...	Standing Bear (as Pedro Damian)
Humberto López	...	Thin Dog (as Humberto Lopez)
Alberto Mariscal	...	Red Cloud
Eugenia Dolores	...	Brown Dove
Patricia Reyes Spíndola	...	Gray Thorn
Ana De Sade	...	Moon Star

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 (video rating, cut) | UK:AA (theatrical release, cut) | West Germany:12 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Custer State Park - 13329 U.S. Highway 16A, Custer, South Dakota, USA

Company:

Sandy Howard Productions

Trivia:

Director Irvin Kershner has said that of all his films, this one has the best score (by Laurence Rosenthal), as it plays like a small scale opera.

Movie Connections:

Follows A Man Called Horse (1970)

What TV did for this sequel is almost "Horse feathers".

As mentioned I watched both this and the classic original last night (03/27/08)back to back because my local library had both.

In my review of "All Quiet On The Western Front",I stated that re-makes are hard to do,especially a TV movie version. TV sequels to theatrical films are just as difficult. The idea and story of John and/or Horse returning to seek solace and then fighting battles with his adopted tribe should have easily been,not just a great adventure but a film that makes some strong statement,like the original.

Unfortunately,the constraints and pitfalls of TV make this difficult sometimes. One thing for sure in my view is the use of that "Little House On The Prarie"-like music in scenes. In the opening it's fine,he's returning to America and looking forward to seeing everyone again.

When things get more serious & violent later,it really has no place here. This kind of story and this kind of music do not mesh very well. As for the actors playing Native-Americans,TV always did go for an easier route. I mean,this was the same medium that wanted us to believe John Travolta was 16 on "Welcome Back Kotter" when he was actually in his 20s.

On the upside the movie,for 70s TV,is fairly daring and represents the times as they were then. What's really best about it,is that it concludes the true story of a unique man and character. It's just too bad it wasn't made for the cinema,with writers and directors and larger named actors. It could have given a much greater sense of urgency and compassion on our part as viewers.

The first movie is really the only reason to watch this sequel,aside from the story of it's central character. Seven out of ten,2 points off for what it lacks and 1 more for that corny 70s TV music. (END)