Powwow Highway (1989)

Director:

Jonathan Wacks

Writers:

David Seals (novel)
Janet Heaney (writer) ...
(more)

Release Date:

24 February 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Social realism regarding struggles of reservation-dwelling Native Americans in the North Central states of the US...

Plot Keywords:

Native American | Road | Road Trip | Police | Discrimination

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

A Martinez	...	Buddy Red Bow
Gary Farmer	...	Philbert Bono
Joannelle Nadine Romero	...	Bonnie Red Bow
Amanda Wyss	...	Rabbit Layton
Sam Vlahos	...	Chief Joseph
Wayne Waterman	...	Wolf Tooth
Margot Kane	...	Imogene
Geoffrey Rivas	...	Sandy Youngblood (as Geoff Rivas)
Roscoe Born	...	Agent Jack Novall
John Trudell	...	Louie Short Hair
Wes Studi	...	Buff
Tony Frank	...	Captain Roberts
Chrissie McDonald	...	Jane Red Bow
Sky Seals	...	Sky Red Bow
Maria Antoinette Rogers	...	Aunt Harriet
Nicholas Anthony	...	Condo-Man
Kandi Brooks	...	Hi-Fi Hut Cashier
Dalin Gomez	...	Lucinda Sanchez
Rodney A. Grant	...	Brave on Horse (as Rodney Grant)
Graham Greene	...	Vietnam Vet
Irene Handren-Seals	...	Jail Guard
Lafayette J. Harris	...	Stockyard Foreman
Bill T. Head	...	Sioux Driver
Ron Holmstrom	...	Police Officer (as Ron Holstrom)
Mike Means	...	Young Buddy
Marc Miles	...	Patrolman
Nuchie Nashoba	...	Condo-Woman
Rogene Not Afraid	...	Floozy
Leigh Opitz	...	Waitress
Patrick Randal	...	Hi-Fi & Car Salesman
Stephanie Roberts	...	Secretary
Ariane Rowland	...	Young Bonnie
Chris Rowland	...	Light Cloud
Keith Shoulder Blade	...	Young Philbert
Titus Shoulder Blade	...	Manny
Adam Taylor	...	Bull Miller
Patricia Van Ingen	...	Pueblo Woman (as Pat Van Ingen)
Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman	...	CB Radio Voice (voice) (as Floyd Westerman)
Del Zamora	...	Fidel de Baca
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James 'JR' Pollard	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Jonathan Wacks

Writing credits
David Seals		(novel)
Janet Heaney		(writer) &
Jean Stawarz		(writer)

Produced by
George Harrison	....	executive producer
Carl Kraines	....	associate producer
Denis O'Brien	....	executive producer
Jan Wieringa	....	producer

Original Music by
Barry Goldberg

Cinematography by
Toyomichi Kurita

Film Editing by
Jim Stewart		(as James Austin Stewart)

Casting by
Junie Lowry-Johnson

Production Design by
Cynthia Sowder

Art Direction by
Don Diers

Set Decoration by
Celeste Lee

Costume Design by
Isis Mussenden

Makeup Department
Angela Nogaro	....	hair stylist
Angela Nogaro	....	makeup artist
Joanna Robinson	....	key hair stylist
Joanna Robinson	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Aron Warner	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lee McConnell	....	second assistant director (as L.A. McConnell)
Susan E. Novick	....	third assistant director (as Sue Kaplan)
Kelly Schroeder	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Patrick Cassidy	....	assistant set decorator
Marcie Dale	....	storyboard artist
César Díez Álava	....	prop man
Batia Grafka	....	property master
Paul Arthur Hartman	....	on-set dresser
Patty Chan Morrison	....	art department coordinator
Joel Ross	....	lead man
Daniel J. Smiley	....	construction coordinator
Margie Stillwell	....	lead scenic

Sound Department
Terrisa Algarin	....	foley walker
Dody Dorn	....	supervising sound editor
Michael Dressel	....	foley editor
Wayne Heitman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Matthew Iadarola	....	sound re-recording mixer
George Leong	....	boom operator
Ed Novick	....	sound mixer
Cybele O'Brien	....	assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
David Maughan	....	special effects
G. Lynn Maughan	....	special effects supervisor
Scot Silver	....	special effects

Stunts
Rick Barker	....	stunts
Elena Bertagnolli	....	stunts
Shelley S. Boyle	....	stunts (as Shelley Boyle)
Tim Carroll	....	stunts
Summer Eubanks	....	stunts
Randy Fife	....	stunt coordinator (as Randy 'Fife')
Randy Fife	....	stunts (as Randy 'Fife')
Ron Holmstrom	....	stunt driver
Ben Loggins	....	stunts
Lee Sollenberger	....	stunt prep: cars
Russell Towery	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Andrea Chesney	....	camera loader
Kenny S. Christiansen	....	best boy electric (as Ken Christiansen)
Tom Countryman	....	camera car operator
Paul Cuffee	....	electrician
Paul Cuffee	....	key grip: second unit
Michael K. Davis	....	lighting technician
Suzanne Hanover	....	still photographer (as Suzanne Lee Hanover)
Steven Kline	....	second assistant camera
Bob Leitelt	....	grip
Kyle T. MacDowell	....	grip
Mike Moad	....	dolly grip
Vince Onken	....	electrician
Les Percy	....	key grip
Charles Smith	....	best boy grip
Philip Alan Waters	....	additional camera operator
Philip Alan Waters	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Jorgen Wedseltoft	....	first assistant camera
John Zumpano	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Janet Cunningham	....	location casting: Santa Fe
Elisa Goodman	....	casting associate: Los Angeles
William A. Johnson	....	casting secretary (as Bill Johnson)
Dixie Webster	....	location casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Hartsell Taylor	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Mark L. Mitchell	....	second assistant editor
Dan Muscarella	....	color timer
Hilarie Roope	....	associate editor
Lois Trent-Bring	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Tom Carlin	....	music editor
Joe Regis	....	music supervisor
Scott Stambler	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Michael K. Davis	....	driver
Ron Holmstrom	....	transportation captain (as Ron Holstrom)
Daniel Phillips	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Benjamin Allanoff	....	production coordinator
Kathie Broyles	....	title designer
Veronica Flynn	....	script supervisor
Hanay Geiogamah	....	technical advisor
Kevin Halloran	....	location manager
Bill Johnson	....	casting assistant
Brian McMillan	....	animal trainer
Jeffrey A. Okun	....	title designer
Paula Randol-Smith	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• HandMade Films

Distributors

• América Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (video)
• Image Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Other Companies

• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)  titles and opticals
• DDA Public Relations (DDA)  publicity
• Filmtrucks  location services
• JDH Sound  re-recording facilities
• Montana Film Office  special thanks
• Sonic Kitchen  sound editing

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:88 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Nambe Reservation, Nambe, New Mexico, USA

Company:

HandMade Films

Trivia:

Film debut of Wes Studi.

Quotes:

Sky Red Bow:Rabbit? What tribe are me and Jane?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Kitten with a Whip (#7.15)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

LORD OF THE HIGHWAY

The film was a little haunting for me.

I had a chance to spend about three weeks on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Lame Deer Montana when I was about 14. That the location for about the first half of Powwow Highway. The film makers really did a great job of capturing the tone of life for many inhabitants of the Reservation. I was also lucky enough to be there during the annual Powwow and when that part of the film came along it brought back many memories.