A Man Called Horse (1970)

In 1825, an English aristocrat is captured by Native Americans. He lives with them and begins to understand their way of life. Eventually, he is accepted as part of the tribe and aspires to become their leader.

Director:

Elliot Silverstein

Writers:

Jack DeWitt (screenplay) (as Jack De Witt), Dorothy M. Johnson (story)

Stars:

Richard Harris, Judith Anderson, Jean Gascon

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Harris	...	John Morgan
Judith Anderson	...	Buffalo Cow Head (as Dame Judith Anderson)
Jean Gascon	...	Batise
Manu Tupou	...	Yellow Hand
Corinna Tsopei	...	Running Deer
Dub Taylor	...	Joe
James Gammon	...	Ed
William Jordan	...	Bent
Eddie Little Sky	...	Black Eagle
Michael Baseleon	...	Longfoot
Lina Marín	...	Thorn Rose (as Lina Marin)
Tamara Garina	...	Elk Woman
Terry Leonard	...	Striking Bear
Iron Eyes Cody	...	Medicine Man
Tom Tyon	...	Medicine Man

Storyline

During the early 1800s, English Lord John Morgan (Richard Harris) is hunting in the Dakotas, but he is captured by a group of Sioux warriors. Morgan's guides are killed, but he is spared by Sioux Chief Yellow Hand (Manu Tupou), who marvels at Morgan's blond hair. Brought to Yellow Hand's tribal village, Morgan has to endure physical abuse and mockery at the hands of women and children who consider him to be a wild horse. Restrained by a rope around his neck, Morgan is given as a gift to an old squaw, Buffalo Cow Head (Dame Judith Anderson), to be her slave and help her with daily chores. In the village, Morgan meets Running Deer (Corinna Tsopei), the beautiful young sister of Chief Yellow Hand. Morgan witnesses the traditional courtship process when Running Deer is asked in marriage by a tribe member who presents Yellow Hand with gifts in return for his sister's hand in marriage. Morgan starts to fall in love with her. Also in the village is half-breed, Batise (Jean Gascon), whose ...

---

Plot Keywords:

warrior | marriage | stealing a horse | horse | male rear nudity | 

---

Taglines:

A man called "Horse" becomes an Indian warrior in the most electrifying ritual ever seen!

---

Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Western

---

Certificate:

M

Did You Know?

Trivia

For his painful Vow to the Sun initiation ceremony scene, Richard Harris wore a prosthetic chest created by Make-up Artist John Chambers.

---

Goofs

The yellow hand prints slapped onto Morgan's right shoulder and left buttock during his capture have disappeared by the time he is brought into the Sioux camp.

---

Quotes

Batise: [Explaining to John Morgan the need to undergo the painful Sun Vow ritual before he can consummate his marriage to an Indian maiden] If no pain, nothing good is born. Even seed burst to make grass.

---

Alternate Versions

Old German VHS version includes many alternate/more violent takes that are not on the US DVD (whereas the version on the DVD is the same as in the US), especially the ending is almost completely recut. On the other hand the US version includes a few lines which are not in the German version.

---

Connections

Referenced in Big Stan (2007)

User Reviews

Spectacular and Powerful Classic Western

In 1825, the Sioux, leaded by Yellow Hand (Manu Tupou), capture the English nobleman John Morgan (Richard Harris), while hunting in the United States of America. John is brutally treated like an animal by the Indian, and is given to help Buffalo Cow Head (Judith Anderson), the mother of Yellow Hand, as if he were a horse. Without understanding the language and behavior of the Sioux, he is helped by Batise (Jean Gascon), a white man made prisoner and mutilated by the Indians five years ago. Batise translates and explains the Sioux's culture for John, plotting to escape some day back to the civilization with him. After an undefined long time later, John loses his snobbish behavior and is reasonably integrated to the Sioux. One day, he kills two enemies Shoshones, who were spying and stalking the Sioux, and gains the respect of the Sioux and love of the sister of Yellow Hand, Running Deer (Corinna Tsopei). John marries Running Deer and integrates to their culture, and after a tragic attack of the Shoshones to the Sioux tribe, he becomes their leader. "A Man Called Horse" is a spectacular and powerful classic western of the 70's. The first time I saw this movie, I was a teenager and left the theater completely astonished with such a different story in that time and the violence of the scenes. Two days ago, I bought the VHS and yesterday I saw it again, and it is still a very impressive film, with magnificent performances of the cast, highlighting Richard Harris and Judith Anderson. The production is very careful, being mostly spoken in Sioux, and depicting in a realistic way, the life, the behavior, the common laws and the moral practices of the Sioux. I believe that "A Man Called Horse", with the Sioux, "Soldier Blue", with the Cheyenne and "Little Big Man", all of them from 1970, were among the first movies to show the lives of prisoners of the North American Indians in their tribes. The amazing scene of John Morgan suspended by his chest in an Indian ceremony is unforgettable and very impressive. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Um Homem Chamado Cavalo" ("Spectacular Classic Western")

Details

Country:

Mexico USA

Language:

English Sioux French

Release Date:

May 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Man Called Horse

Filming Locations:

Happy Jack, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,941,247

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$44,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinema Center Films, Sandy Howard Productions, Estudios Churubusco Azteca S.A.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1