War Party (1988)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Franc Roddam

Writer (WGA):

Spencer Eastman (written by)

Release Date:

29 September 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

One hundred years after the Battle of Milk River, both sides agreed to reenact it...No one was supposed to get hurt...The cavalry was supposed to shoot blanks...The Redskins weren't supposed to fight back.

Plot:

A group of re-enactors attempt to stage a hundred year anniversary battle between US Cavalry and Blackfeet Indians...

Plot Keywords:

Reenactment | Native American | Fugitive | Independent Film

Cast

Billy Wirth	...	Sonny Crowkiller
Kevin Dillon	...	Skitty Harris
Tim Sampson	...	Warren Cutfoot
Jimmie Ray Weeks	...	Jay Stivic
Kevyn Major Howard	...	Calvin Morrisey
Jerry Hardin	...	The Sheriff
Tantoo Cardinal	...	Sonny's Mother
Bill McKinney	...	The Mayor
Guy Boyd	...	Major Crawford, National Guard
R.D. Call	...	Posse Member #1
William Frankfather	...	The Governor
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Colin Ditweiler
Dennis Banks	...	Ben Crowkiller / Dead Crow Chief
Saginaw Grant	...	Freddie Man Wolf
Rodney A. Grant	...	The Crow (as Rodney Grant)

Also Known As:

War Game (USA)

Runtime:

Denmark:99 min | USA:97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Montana, USA

Company:

Hemdale Film

Quotes:

Skitty Harris: Hey, I'm three-eighths.
Sonny Crowkiller: Yeah, and five-eighths nuts.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Drama Connections: Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (#1.1)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Ma Ha Pi

Interesting film that deals with a problem that still exists.

War Party (1988) was a film about the racial tensions that exist between the local Native Americans and their white neighbors. An annual re-enactment commemorating a vicious slaughter of Indians at the hands of the U.S. Calvary ignites a powder keg of racial anger that has been brewing amongst the youngsters. During the mock battle, two Indian youths (Billy Wirth and Kevin Dillion) defend themselves from a loud mouth yokel (Kevyn Major Howard) who decides to bring live ammunition to the show. Will the powder keg explode? Who will fall victim to this ignorance? Can the two races still co-exist after this tragedy?

A very underrated film. What I liked about it was that it dealt with an issue that still exist in this country. Even though it's not in the open, racial tensions between the whites and Indians will always be there. It'll take education and acceptance to do away with it. But many people are still ignorant to the fact. I wish this movie was available on D.V.D. I saw it most recently on satellite t.v. A very underrated movie that's still searching for an audience.

Recommended.