Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here (1969)

In 1909, when young Paiute Indian Willie Boy returns to his California reservation to be with Lola, whose father disapproves of him, a killing in self defense takes place, triggering a massive man hunt for Willie.

Director:

Abraham Polonsky

Writers:

Harry Lawton (book), Abraham Polonsky

Stars:

Robert Redford, Katharine Ross, Robert Blake

Won 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Redford	...	Cooper
Katharine Ross	...	Lola
Robert Blake	...	Willie
Susan Clark	...	Liz
Barry Sullivan	...	Calvert
John Vernon	...	Hacker
Charles Aidman	...	Benby
Charles McGraw	...	Wilson
Shelly Novack	...	Finney
Robert Lipton	...	Newcombe
Lloyd Gough	...	Dexter
Ned Romero	...	Tom
John Wheeler	...	Newman
Erik Holland	...	Digger (as Eric Holland)
Garry Walberg	...	Dr. Mills

Storyline

Based on true events, Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here, tells the story of one of the last Western manhunts, in 1909. Willie Boy, a Native American, kills his girlfriend's father in self defense, and the two go on the run, pursued by a search posse led by Sheriff Christopher Cooper.

---

Plot Keywords:

paiute indian | on the run | manhunt | posse | california | 

---

Taglines:

The Willie Boy incident was the most savage chapter in frontier history !

---

Genres:

Drama | Western

---

Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Italian censorship visa # 55008 delivered on 18 November 1969.

---

Goofs

Many of the shirts worn by the men throughout the film are in the style of modern shirts. They have buttons that run their full length in the front and can be put on by pulling them over and around the shoulders. These types of shirts were not manufactured until the 1920s, about a decade after the 1909 setting of the film.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Tom: Did you see that crazy Calvert go by?
Willie Boy: Ate his dust.
Tom: When did you get back to Banning, Willie Boy?
Willie Boy: Five o'clock freight.
Tom: Goin' to the fiesta?
Willie Boy: Is that where you're goin', Tom?
Tom: Trailin' Mr. Calvert with a tow just in case he breaks down - or breaks his neck.
Willie Boy: Well, I guess that's where I'm goin'.

---

Connections

Featured in Red Hollywood (1996)

User Reviews

This film is overlooked too often

I consider Robert Blake's performance in this movie to be one of his best, and this comes from someone who has always thought he was a fine actor. Robert Redford, too, shines here as the sheriff, and almost all the supporting cast keeps up with the two male leads.

Blake's character is a Paiute Indian who is the object of a manhunt which is sensationalized by the press because of its concurrence with a visit by President Taft. The sheriff is pressured into hunting down the Indian and the girl he loves but whose father has forbidden the match.

It's a good solid early-1900s Western with much better-than-average acting. But it's not so much an action film as it is a character study -- of Blake's character and, to a lesser degree, Redford's. It brings to life the racism and exploitation that white Europeans brought with them to America.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 October 1969 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Willie Boy

Filming Locations:

Pioneertown, California, USA

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,949

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1