Dances with Wolves (1990)

Lt. John Dunbar, exiled to a remote western Civil War outpost, befriends wolves and Indians, making him an intolerable aberration in the military.

Director:

Kevin Costner

Writers:

Michael Blake (screenplay), Michael Blake (novel)

Stars:

Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene

Won 7 Oscars. Another 34 wins & 28 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Costner	...	Lieutenant Dunbar
Mary McDonnell	...	Stands With A Fist
Graham Greene	...	Kicking Bird
Rodney A. Grant	...	Wind In His Hair
Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman	...	Ten Bears (as Floyd Red Crow Westerman)
Tantoo Cardinal	...	Black Shawl
Robert Pastorelli	...	Timmons
Charles Rocket	...	Lieutenant Elgin
Maury Chaykin	...	Major Fambrough
Jimmy Herman	...	Stone Calf
Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse	...	Smiles A Lot
Michael Spears	...	Otter
Jason R. Lone Hill	...	Worm
Tony Pierce	...	Spivey
Doris Leader Charge	...	Pretty Shield

Storyline

Lt. John Dunbar is dubbed a hero after he accidentally leads Union troops to a victory during the Civil War. He requests a position on the western frontier, but finds it deserted. He soon finds out he is not alone, but meets a wolf he dubs "Two-socks" and a curious Indian tribe. Dunbar quickly makes friends with the tribe, and discovers a white woman who was raised by the Indians. He gradually earns the respect of these native people, and sheds his white-man's ways.

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Plot Keywords:

frontier | outpost | hero | wolf | sioux tribe | 

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Taglines:

The journey begins this November. Discover it for yourself.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Western

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English Sioux Pawnee

Release Date:

21 November 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Danza con lobos

Filming Locations:

Badlands National Park, Interior, South Dakota, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$19,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$184,208,848 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tig Productions, Majestic Films International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

181 min 224 min (extended) 236 min (director's cut) 236 min (DVD special edition)

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Because of budgetary overruns and general industry reluctance to invest in a Western, Kevin Costner was forced to dig deep into his own pockets to make up the film's $18 million budget. As it then went on to gross over $100 million, he himself earned an estimated $40 million from his original investment.

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Goofs

The flag flying at Ft. Sedgwick is the flag with 50 stars rather than the flag used during the Civil War.

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Quotes

John Dunbar: [to his army captors who are interrogating him, in Lakota] My name is Dances with Wolves. I have nothing to say to you. You are not worth talking to.

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Connections

Featured in Dances with Wolves: The Creation of an Epic (2003)

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Soundtracks

"Fire Dance"
By Peter Buffett

User Reviews

Best Native American Film Ever Made

This film is certainly one of the finest films out of Hollywood in recent years. It accuratly shows how "The White People" ran roughshod over the native americans and eventually took everything they had (their land, buffalo, etc.). The end of the film is heartbreaking where it says on screen that the Indians and the Horse culture were "passed into history." I suggest every history teacher show this film in their classes so future generations can see what a proud race of people the native americans are, and what we did to them.