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 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 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 Morgan 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, to be her slave and help her with daily chores.In the village, Morgan meets Running Deer, 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, whose mother was Sioux and father was French.Batise becomes Morgan's friend and interpreter.Batise ...

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Plot Keywords:

warrior | marriage | native american | stealing a horse | horse | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Western

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Certificate:

M

Details

Country:

Mexico USA

Language:

English Sioux French

Release Date:

May 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Mann, den sie Pferd nannten

Filming Locations:

Happy Jack, Arizona, USA

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of three notable westerns made from the stories of Dorothy M. Johnson. The others are: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), and The Hanging Tree (1959).

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Goofs

Throughout the film the actress playing Running Deer can be seen with medium long, nicely manicured fingernails.

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Quotes

Batise: Lucky for you, chief like angry. You yell, make strong. Until winter comes!
[evil laugh, walking away]
Batise: Until winter comes!

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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.

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Connections

Referenced in Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Show No. 7005 (2005)

User Reviews

Silverstein's camera captures beautifully the expansive outdoor of the Sioux way of life and their rituals…

The year is 1825…

The story begins with a British aristocrat named John Morgan who finds himself captured by Sioux warriors… At first he's mocked and treated like an animal and then he's dragged to their camp where he is given to work for an old squaw (Judith Anderson).

Before too long the 'grand white gentleman' up with another captive Batise (Jean Gascon) whose family was all massacred five years ago by the Indians acts as translator for Morgan… One day after killing two Shoshone Indians from another tribe and scalping one of them, John gains trust and respect from his captives thus paving the way to be soon a warrior, then a loving husband…

The film's centerpiece is the Sun Vow that Morgan must bear to prove his courage to withstand all tests of pain in order to gain the hand of Running Dear (Corinna Tsopei) sister of Chief Yellow Hand (Manu Tupou). As the English nobleman is white, he is considered weak and he'll give up in the moment of truth…

There are also other truly memorable moments in the film: how the Indian virgin prepares herself for marriage—how she takes her sweat bath to be pure; and the tragic events when an Indian mother loses and has no other son or man, how she cuts off her forefinger and when winter comes she dies from the freezing cold…